We don't talk much about "the breaking of bread" anymore.
Growing up in the 1970s, the song "Let Us Break Bread Together" was a standard hymn just before Communion. Now, as an adult Christian, I have a greater understanding of why we fall to our knees together and share in the breaking of the bread that represents the body of Christ. In that moment, we are figuratively at the foot of the cross, accepting the greatest gift anyone has ever given. And we are joining our brothers and sisters in sharing that "broken bread" with the world.
What Does the Expression 'Breaking of Bread' Mean?
"The breaking of bread" always has the connotation of sharing a meal with someone. The meal may or may not include physically breaking bread. But in Jesus' day, bread was broken or torn when it was shared at a meal, with the assurance that there are enough pieces to go around (because you can always break it into smaller pieces to make more).
As Christians, we often think about breaking bread when we think about the Last Supper. In Luke 22:19, Jesus said, "And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them [the disciples], saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'" At the time, the disciples didn't understand what He meant about giving them His body and why they should eat it. Wasn't it just bread? What did Jesus mean by eating it to remember Him? Where was He going, and what did bread have to do with anything anyway?
But long before this breaking of bread, the disciples (and thousands of others) witnessed a miracle that only God or His son could perform. He broke five loaves of bread and made enough for thousands of people who came to hear him speak (John 6:1-15). The Jews would accept the free food, but many couldn't accept that Jesus later said He was the Bread of Life sent from heaven. And again, many of his disciples were left scratching their heads about what He meant. Was He referring to Himself as a provision from heaven like manna in the desert? Those who worshiped God through Moses would also have a complaint about that.
Where Does the Bible Talk about the Breaking of Bread?
Bread is a basic form of nourishment. Yet, throughout the Bible, it holds such significance that every time we look at bread, we should be reminded of God's provision, salvation, and more.
- Abraham offered bread to the three "visitors."
- God called the Israelites to make unleavened bread for the first Passover meal and then instructed them to commemorate God's mercy of the Passover every year after that for seven days (Exodus 12:15).
- God provided "bread" (manna) in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4-21).
- John 6 shares the story of feeding the 5,000, at which time Jesus took five loaves of bread, broke them (along with two fish), and fed the multitude.
- At the Last Supper, Jesus breaks bread with His disciples and tells them that this is His body given for them (Luke 22:19).
- Acts 2:42 states, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer."
Why Was the Breaking of Bread So Important in Biblical Times?
According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "all life was seen to be dependent upon the grain harvest, this in turn depended upon rain in its season, and so bread, the product at the bottom of these Divine processes, was regarded as peculiarly "a gift of God," a daily reminder of his continual and often undeserved care." The prayer before each meal in a Jewish home would be "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth." From the time of Adam, they knew they depended on every seed, raindrop, and hour of sunshine that can only come from the Creator.
Also, in biblical times, breaking bread with strangers, such as a traveler on the road who did not have enough food for the journey, was a sign of great hospitality. The ISBE quotes a proverb: "Eat salt together, be friends forever." The act was especially hospitable if food was scarce.
The context may help explain why when Jesus sent his disciples out two by two to be witnesses of Him to surrounding towns, he told them not to bring bread for themselves. In that culture, it was almost certain someone in town would be hospitable and offer a meal. If no one offered the disciples bread, the reluctance was a sign that they were not welcome–and if they weren't welcome, they should shake the dust off their feet as they left that town (Matthew 10:14).
What Is the Principle Behind Breaking Bread?
Breaking bread means to acknowledge God and His constant provision of food, but also of Himself. He is Jehovah Jireh ("our Provider") who loves to show His children His care for them. It is easy to take for granted that we still need to ask the Lord for our daily bread. It also means sharing it with others we know and love and with people we don't know. Our church years ago had a ministry in which a brand new Sunday Service attendee would get a visit on Monday at their home and a fresh loaf of homemade bread. Why not cookies or brownies? Because bread symbolizes "welcome," carrying on the age-old tradition of offering life-sustaining bread to the stranger.
How Can Christians Practice Breaking Bread Today?
First is with our families. How many of us sit together around a table and share a meal every night of the week? When I was a child, it was mandatory regardless of whatever other activity we had going on. If we can raise children around a dinner table and talk about what the Lord was doing in their day, we can "train them up in the way they should go" (Proverbs 22:6).
What about outside your family? Why not break bread with people that Jesus would have broken bread with? The poor, the sick, the needy, the "sinners" in your community that no one else would associate with. Why not invite a needy family to your home for Thanksgiving or Christmas or your church's celebration? Be sure to tell them that Jesus is why you have the right spirit to be generous.
Most of all, we must practice breaking bread with gratitude to the One who gave it all by offering His broken body to pay for the world's sins. Let's follow His command to remember Him every time we eat the bread and drink the wine as part of a church service. When we do, we honor how he gave up his body to be broken on the cross for our sins. We honor how his blood was poured out for the world's salvation. Let's take a moment when we break bread in whatever context to thank Him for His provision: the food he provides now, the bread to be shared at the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/KucherAV
Mary Oelerich-Meyer is a Chicago-area freelance writer and copy editor who prayed for years for a way to write about and for the Lord. She spent 20 years writing for area healthcare organizations, interviewing doctors and clinical professionals and writing more than 1,500 articles in addition to marketing collateral materials. Important work, but not what she felt called to do. She is grateful for any opportunity to share the Lord in her writing and editing, believing that life is too short to write about anything else. Previously she served as Marketing Communications Director for a large healthcare system. She holds a B.A. in International Business and Marketing from Cornell College (the original Cornell!) When not researching or writing, she loves to spend time with her writer daughter, granddaughter, rescue doggie and husband (not always in that order).
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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