Teaching about Prayer and Fasting

Matthew 6:5-18

5. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.
6. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7. When you pray, do not keep talking on and on the way ungodly people do, they think they will be heard by repeating their requests over and over.
8. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9. So pray this way:  Our Father in heaven, may your name be sanctified and honored,
10. may your kingdom come,  may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11. Give us today our daily bread,
12. and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.
13. Protect us from temptation and from the evil one. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]
14. For if you forgive others when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
16. And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they make their faces look sad to show people they are fasting. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward.
17. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face,
18. so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.