GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
Matthew 6:11

"Give us this day our daily bread" was a phrase that almost became a joke when I made my first trip into Eastern Europe a few years ago.  I was visiting Hungary and at the place where the conference I was attending was being held, the menu for the morning read the same every day:  bread, cheese, and tea.  Every evening the morning menu was reused.  And for the noon meal, although meats and vegetables were present, there was the old staple - bread.  But it wasn't until I changed location to a small typical four room flat in Budapest that this petition in the Lord's Prayer took on new meaning for me.  Every morning I would watch the ladies hurry off to the local markets to purchase the food items necessary for the day, and heading the list, yes, you guessed it, bread.

There are some profound truths in this simple petition that should revolutionize how we view our everyday needs and God's supply. 

First, let us ask ourselves just what is daily bread?  It is very interesting that the word Matthew uses in Matthew 6:11, and that is translated "daily", was unknown outside of this occurrence, leading some to believe that Matthew probably made up this word.  Then, a few years ago, a papyrus fragment was found with this word "daily" written upon it.  This little piece of papyrus was not some great theological discourse; it was not part of an historical document; it was a woman's shopping list.  This word reminded her to buy what she needed for that day.

The word came to mean "of the day that is coming."  When it was used at night, it referred to tomorrow's food.  When it was used in the morning, it referred to today's food.
I rather enjoy the way William Barclay translates this particular petition of The Lord's Prayer:  Give me the things we need to eat for this coming day.  Help me to get the things I've got on my shopping list when I go out in the morning.  Give me the things we need to eat when the children come in from school, and the men folk come in from work.  Grant that the table be not bare when we sit down together today.

Now the Greek word, translated "bread", had as its primary reference that which gave strength and health to the physical body.  It may mean bread and tea to Hungarians, rice and tea to Japanese, meat and coffee to Swedes, or pizza and Coke to Americans.  But, it can also have a broader reference to all the things we need for this life.  Listen to these remarks of Martin Luther:  Bread was a symbol for everything necessary for the preservation of this life, like food, a healthy body, good weather, house, home, wife, children, good government, and peace.  We could translate what Dr. Luther said by asking the Lord to provide for us today what we will need in order to live.

So, now we know what "daily bread" really is.  What did Jesus want us to know when He commanded us to pray for our daily bread?  That will be our focus in our next study.

Our Father, who art in heaven.  You, and You alone are the great provider for our everyday needs.  Help us to thank You for taking such good care of us.  Thank You for Your faithfulness to us.  God, You are so good to each of us.  We just want to say thank You.  In Christ's name, we give You praise.  Amen.   

 

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