Topical Bible: Bread: Traffic In

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In biblical times, bread was a staple food and a symbol of sustenance and life. The concept of "traffic in bread" refers to the trade and commerce involving bread and grain, which were essential commodities in ancient economies. The Bible provides several insights into the significance of bread and its trade, reflecting the agricultural and economic practices of the time.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, bread is often mentioned in the context of provision and blessing. The Israelites' dependence on bread is evident in the account of the manna provided by God during their wilderness journey (Exodus 16). The importance of grain and bread in trade is highlighted in the account of Joseph, who, after interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, was put in charge of storing grain during the seven years of plenty to prepare for the seven years of famine (Genesis 41). This event underscores the critical role of grain trade in sustaining nations during times of scarcity.

The book of Proverbs also alludes to the trade of bread, emphasizing the value of honest commerce. Proverbs 11:26 states, "The people will curse the hoarder of grain, but blessing will crown the one who sells it." This verse highlights the ethical considerations in the trade of essential goods like grain and bread, advocating for fairness and generosity.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, bread continues to hold significant symbolic and practical value. Jesus' feeding of the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14:13-21) illustrates the miraculous provision and the abundance that comes from divine blessing. This miracle also reflects the communal sharing of resources, a principle that would have been familiar in the context of ancient trade practices.

The Lord's Prayer, as recorded in Matthew 6:11, includes the petition, "Give us this day our daily bread," which underscores the daily dependence on God's provision. This request for daily sustenance can be seen as a reflection of the economic realities of the time, where daily bread was a primary concern for many.

Cultural and Economic Significance

Bread was not only a dietary staple but also a significant item in trade and commerce. The production and distribution of bread involved various economic activities, from agriculture to baking and selling. In ancient Israel, as in other ancient Near Eastern cultures, the trade of grain and bread was a vital part of the economy, influencing social and political structures.

The control of grain supplies and the ability to trade in bread could determine the prosperity of a region. Cities and regions with abundant grain supplies were often centers of trade and wealth. The biblical narrative reflects this reality, as seen in the account of Ruth, where the barley harvest plays a crucial role in the unfolding of God's providence (Ruth 2).

Spiritual Implications

Beyond its physical and economic significance, bread holds deep spiritual meaning in the Bible. Jesus refers to Himself as the "bread of life" in John 6:35, saying, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst." This statement elevates the concept of bread from mere physical sustenance to a symbol of spiritual nourishment and eternal life.

In the practice of the Lord's Supper, or Communion, bread represents the body of Christ, broken for believers. This sacrament, instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19), serves as a reminder of His sacrifice and the new covenant established through His death and resurrection.

In summary, the traffic in bread in biblical times was not only an economic activity but also a practice rich with spiritual symbolism and ethical considerations. The biblical narrative weaves together the physical, economic, and spiritual dimensions of bread, offering a comprehensive understanding of its role in the life of God's people.

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Jeremiah 37:21
Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.
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Mark 6:37
He answered and said to them, Give you them to eat. And they say to him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?
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Library

On the Words of the Gospel, John vi. 9, Where the Miracle of the ...
... have His Flesh; if we had not His Flesh, we should not eat the Bread of the ... gives
money, and receives what he buys: so Christ too in this His traffic gave and ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxx on the words.htm

Elucidations.
... system of propitiatory Masses, with Masses for the dead, and that traffic in Masses
which ... at Lyons, must have in mind the Gallican Liturgy), The bread which is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/various/early liturgies/elucidations.htm

"What Mean These Stones?" Josh. Iv. 21
... Chapel, plain and convenient, but right on the street, with the busy traffic all
round ... of Him Who, the same night that He was betrayed, took bread, saying, "Do ...
//christianbookshelf.org/champness/broken bread/xxix what mean these stones.htm

The Second Day in Passion-Week - the Barren Fig-Tree - the ...
... assume a red colour - as it is expressed, in the field, with bread,' or, as ...
comparatively empty of worshippers and of those who there carried on their traffic. ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter ii the second day.htm

Jesus Attends the First Passover of his Ministry.
... Religion should not be mixed with traffic, for traffic tends toward sin ... the passover,
during the feast [the seven days' feast of unleavened bread"Leviticus 23 ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xxiv jesus attends the first.htm

Election no Discouragement to Seeking Souls
... inhabitant of the British Isles when we do but hint at the opium traffic with China. ...
I know that bread does not of itself nourish my body, "For man shall not ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 10 1864/election no discouragement to seeking.htm

John ii. 4
... up your [558] riches, may not be slothful [559] in carrying on this good traffic. ...
the Canaanitish woman, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxii john ii 4.htm

Doctrine and Discipline of the Church
... Sometimes a reed was used; later on, bread dipped in wine was administered ... so
commemorated often occurred in connection with relics; and the traffic in relics ...
/.../medley/the church and the empire/chapter xi doctrine and discipline.htm

Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome.
... Behold, He demands profit from our traffic! ... Sometimes He nourishes His children with
bread, sometimes He corrects them with the rod; both by sorrows and by ...
/.../neander/light in the dark places/gregory the great bishop of.htm

The Third Part of the Articles.
... Now, since this began to yield money, and the traffic in bulls became profitable
he ... Of the Sacrament of the Altar we hold that bread and wine in the Supper are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/the smalcald articles/the third part of the.htm