Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical context, bread holds significant symbolic and ritualistic importance, particularly in relation to sacrifices and offerings. The concept of "bread sacrificed" can be explored through various scriptural references and practices that highlight its role in worship and covenantal relationships between God and His people.Old Testament Context In the Old Testament, bread is often associated with sacrificial offerings. The grain offering, or "minchah," was a common form of sacrifice that included bread or cakes made from fine flour, oil, and frankincense. Leviticus 2:4-5 describes the preparation of these offerings: "When you present an offering of grain baked in the oven, it must consist of fine flour—either unleavened cakes mixed with oil or unleavened wafers anointed with oil. If your offering is a grain offering prepared on a griddle, it must be of fine flour, unleavened, and mixed with oil." These offerings were a means of expressing devotion, thanksgiving, and atonement. The bread, as part of the grain offering, symbolized the fruits of human labor and the sustenance provided by God. It was a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where the people acknowledged God's provision and sovereignty. The Bread of the Presence Another significant aspect of bread in sacrificial contexts is the Bread of the Presence, also known as the Showbread. This bread was placed on a table in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple, as described in Exodus 25:30 : "And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times." The Bread of the Presence consisted of twelve loaves, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, and was a perpetual offering before the Lord. The Bread of the Presence symbolized God's continual provision and His presence among His people. It was a sacred offering, and only the priests were permitted to eat it, as outlined in Leviticus 24:9 : "It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in a holy place, for it is most holy to him from the offerings made by fire to the LORD. This is a permanent statute." New Testament Fulfillment In the New Testament, the sacrificial symbolism of bread finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. During the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper, using bread as a symbol of His body, which would be sacrificed for the sins of humanity. In Matthew 26:26 , it is recorded: "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, 'Take and eat; this is My body.'" This act established a new covenant, where the bread became a representation of Christ's sacrificial offering. The Lord's Supper, or Communion, is a continual reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and the believer's participation in His death and resurrection. Spiritual Significance The sacrificial aspect of bread in the Bible underscores themes of provision, covenant, and redemption. It serves as a tangible reminder of God's faithfulness and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The use of bread in sacrificial contexts invites believers to reflect on their dependence on God for spiritual sustenance and the grace provided through Christ's atoning work. Nave's Topical Index Leviticus 21:6,8,17,21,22They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy. Nave's Topical Index Leviticus 22:25 1 Samuel 2:36 2 Kings 23:9 Library It is Likewise Decreed that Deacons who have Sacrificed and ... Bread and Wine Whether Christ Suffered at a Suitable Time? Preparation for Passover. Disciples Contend for Precedence. Whether this Sacrament Ought to be Made of Unleavened Bread? Spiritual Meaning of the Passover. The Three Essentials of Prayer Easter Sunday Country Presbyters May not Make the Oblation in the Church of the ... Whether the Paschal Lamb was the Chief Figure of this Sacrament? Resources What did Jesus mean when He said, “This is my body, broken for you”? | GotQuestions.orgWhat did Jesus mean when He said we must eat His flesh and drink His blood? | GotQuestions.org Why is the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper such a controversial issue? | GotQuestions.org Bread: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Bread in Times of Scarcity, Sold by Weight Bread was Baked: On Coals of Fire Bread with Water, the Food of Prisons Bread: (Eating Without Scarceness) of Plenty Bread: (Fulness of) of Abundance Bread: (Of Adversity) Heavy Affliction Bread: (Of Deceit) Unlawful Gain Bread: (Of Wickedness) Oppression Bread: (Partaking of) Communion of Saints Bread: (Seeking of Begging) Extreme Poverty Bread: (Want of) Extreme Poverty Bread: (When Broken) the Death of Christ Bread: Called the Staff of Life Bread: Crumb of, Used to Wipe the Fingers, Thrown Under the Table Bread: First Fruit of, offered to God Bread: How Prepared: Baked in Ovens Bread: How Prepared: Cracknels Bread: How Prepared: Made Into Loaves Bread: How Prepared: Mixed With Oil Bread: How Prepared: On Coals of Dung Bread: How Prepared: On Hearths Bread: Kinds of Bread of Affliction Bread: Kinds of Leavened (Made With Yeast) Bread: Kinds of Unleavened (Made Without Yeast) Bread: Made of Manna (In the Wilderness) Bread: Multitudes Miraculously Fed by Christ With Bread: Nutritious and Strengthening Bread: Offered With Sacrifices Bread: Often Given As a Present Bread: Often Put for the Whole Substance of Man Bread: Ordinary, Called Common Bread Bread: Placed on Table of Shew Bread Bread: Plenty of, Promised to the Obedient Bread: Sacred, Called Hallowed Bread Bread: Scarceness of, Sent As a Punishment Bread: Served Round After Funerals Bread: Symbolical of the Body of Christ Bread: The Principal Food Used by the Ancients Bread: Troughs Used for Kneading Bread: when Old, Dry and Mouldy Related Terms |
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