OUR LORD GIVES US OUR DAILY BREAD

Give us this day our daily bread. - Mathew 6 verse 11.

Jesus continued teaching His disciples how to pray in Mathew 6 verse 11 where He showed them how to ask for provisions from the Father.

Markedly, they are guided to pray for the provisions of that day and not for the days ahead. As well, they are shown to pray for the whole of their daily bread and not for a supplementary ration  to augment the supplies they had gained on their own.

This verse parallels the verses in Luke Chapter 9 verse 2 - 4 when Jesus was teaching His disciples how to take the news of the Kingdom of God to all the surrounding country.

'and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town." 

Here, our Lord reinforces the idea that His follower's must trust in the provision of God and let each day take care of itself.

In an interesting side note, in Luke 10 verse 7, the Lord also instructs His disciples to eat what ever is put before them. 

“Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ - Luke 7 verse 8 - 9.

If a host provides a meal, the disciples are instructed to eat whatever is put before them. This is likely an extension of the proviso that God will provide our daily bread and whatever form that provision comes as, we should gratefully accept it.

May we learn the lesson taught by our Lord so that we give no thought to tomorrow but rather trust that the Lord knows what we have need of and He gladly provides for us.

Amen.