In the heart of the Lord’s Prayer, nestled within Matthew 6, is a phrase of profound simplicity and deep faith: “Give us this day our daily bread.” This request, small yet significant, teaches us much about our relationship with God and the nature of our daily walk with Him.
Jesus begins this chapter with a caution against the practices of the hypocrites and pagans. He warns His disciples not to be like those who pray loudly and ostentatiously, more in love with the sound of their own voices than the God they claim to speak to. Nor should they babble repetitively like the pagans, who believe they will be heard for their many words. Instead, Jesus invites His followers into a prayer life marked by sincerity, simplicity, and trust.
In asking for our daily bread, we acknowledge our dependence on God for our most basic needs. This echoes Jesus’ teaching later in the chapter, where He points to the birds of the air: “They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26). Just as birds rely on God’s provision, we too are called to depend on Him for our sustenance.
Mattew 6:9-13 “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
This daily dependence is not just about physical nourishment. In John 6, Jesus declares Himself to be the Bread of Life. In Him, we find not only the fulfillment of our physical needs but also our spiritual hunger. By asking for our daily bread, we are also asking Christ to fill us each day with His presence, wisdom, and guidance.
John 6:31-35 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” Jesus therefore said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, it wasn’t Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.” They said therefore to him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will not be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
In a world where self-sufficiency is often celebrated, this prayer is a counter-cultural call to recognize our inherent neediness and God’s generous provision. It’s an invitation to start each day with a heart of gratitude, acknowledging that everything we have comes from Him.
As we reflect on these words, “Give us this day our daily bread,” let us approach each day with a sense of humble dependence, trusting in God’s faithful provision and finding in Christ, our Bread of Life, the true sustenance for our souls.
Digging Deeper
- Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name – Explore the Lord’s Prayer’s profound start in Matthew 6:9 with this Bible study on ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
- Why is the Bible called the Word of God? – The word of God created the universe, revealed himself throughout history in a personal way, and wants to be your personal savior.
- Failure to read and apply the Bible causes spiritual wasting disease – Failure to read the Bible and failure to apply the Bible results in a progressive spiritual wasting disease that can be eternally fatal.
- Acts 12 when everything seems hopeless – Acts 12: Just when it seems things can’t get any worse, God intervenes. We pray this is that time for the word of God to spread and multiply.