How to Pray

⁵ “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.^{(A) 6} But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^{[a](B) 7} When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words.^{(C) 8} Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.^(D)

The Lord’s Prayer

⁹ “Therefore, you should pray like this: ^(E)

¹⁴ “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well.^{(K) 15} But if you don’t forgive others,^[e] your Father will not forgive your offenses.

How to Fast

¹⁶ “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they disfigure their faces ^(L) so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,^{(M) 18} so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^[f]

Ask, Search, Knock

⁷ “Ask,^(A) and it will be given to you.^(B) Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door^[a] will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds,^(C) and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ⁹ Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil,^(D) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.