What does "Give us this day our daily bread" signify in Matthew 6:11? Text “Give us this day our daily bread.” — Matthew 6 : 11 Historical–Cultural Background First-century laborers were commonly paid at day’s end (cf. Matthew 20 : 9–10). Absence of refrigeration meant literal daily dependence on fresh provision. Jesus situates disciples where Israel stood with manna: “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day’” (Exodus 16 : 4). Requesting “daily bread” evokes that wilderness rhythm of trust. Theological Significance Of Dependence 1. God as Sustainer: “You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145 : 16). 2. Humility before Providence: Proverbs 30 : 8–9 prays, “Give me neither poverty nor riches… lest I deny You.” 3. Prayer shapes heart posture; dependence replaces anxious striving (Matthew 6 : 25–34). Christological Fulfillment Jesus identifies Himself as “the bread of life” (John 6 : 35). Physical bread prefigures the deeper need satisfied only in Him. The petition therefore embraces material and spiritual sustenance. Early Christian catechesis (Didache 8 : 2) prayed this line before Eucharist, linking it with Christ’s body. Eschatological Foreshadowing “Daily bread” can be rendered “bread for the coming day,” anticipating the messianic banquet: “Blessed is he who will feast in the kingdom of God” (Luke 14 : 15). Thus the petition reaches from present tables to future glory. Miraculous Provision Exemplified Biblical: • 1 Kings 17 : 14–16 – the widow’s jar of flour did not run out. • Mark 6 : 30–44 – five loaves feed five thousand; twelve baskets remain. Modern accounts of missionary provision mirror this pattern (e.g., George Müller’s orphanage diaries, 19 th c.), demonstrating the continuity of divine care. Ethical Implications: Work And Generosity The petition does not negate labor (“If anyone is unwilling to work, he shall not eat,” 2 Thessalonians 3 : 10) but aligns work with reliance on God. Receiving daily bread obligates sharing: “He who has two tunics should share with him who has none” (Luke 3 : 11). Countering Common Objections “Why ask when God already knows?” Jesus answers within the same discourse: prayer is relational, not informative (Matthew 6 : 8–9). Petition honors the Giver, training hearts in trust. Comparison With Luke 11 : 3 Luke’s wording, “Give us each day our daily bread,” stresses continuity; Matthew adds “today,” intensifying immediacy. Together they highlight sustained, not stockpiled, reliance. Pastoral Application Pray daily for material needs, recognizing all income, groceries, and opportunities as God’s gifts. Couple prayer with diligent stewardship, Sabbath rest, and charitable almsgiving. Summary “Give us this day our daily bread” acknowledges God as Creator-Provider, roots disciples in humble dependence, prefigures Christ the true Bread, and gestures forward to the eschatological feast. It is anchored securely in the earliest manuscripts, verified by historical testimony, and consonant with observable design in creation. Prayer for daily bread therefore unites Scripture, experience, and science in glorifying the Lord who “gives food to all flesh, for His loving devotion endures forever” (Psalm 136 : 25). |
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