Give Us Today Our Daily Bread
Man Does Not Live By Bread Alone
MATHEW 6:11
“Give us this day our daily bread.
”Matthew 6:11 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/mat.6.11.NKJ
Matthew 6:11 is the fourth petition of the Lord's Prayer from the Sermon on the Mount: "Give us this day our daily bread".
The verse primarily refers to basic survival needs, such as food, water, and material necessities, reflecting the daily-wage reality of ancient labourers who lived hand-to-mouth.
Instead of asking for long-term security, stockpiling, or permanent self-sufficiency, believers are taught to rely on God one day at a time, much like the Israelites gathering manna in the wilderness (Exodus 16).
The rare word translated as "daily" (epiousios) is unique in New Testament Greek and can mean "bread for the coming day" or "sufficient/necessary bread for subsistence".
The prayer uses plural pronouns ("give us", "our"), shifting the focus from individual greed to a shared, communal reliance on God and a moral duty to care for the needs of others.
While rooted in literal bodily sustenance, many traditions also view it as an acknowledgment that human hearts are ultimately satisfied by God and Christ, the "Bread of Life".
When tested after fasting forty and forty nights Jesus was tested by the devil (Mathew 4:2-3), “But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ””
Matthew 4:4 NKJV
The temptation is not just about hunger; it is a test of trust. Satan tries to goad Jesus into using His divine power independently of God the Father to satisfy a physical need on His own terms.
Bread keeps the human body alive temporarily, but it is not enough to sustain true, holistic human life.
Just as the ancient Israelites depended on manna from God in the desert, human beings rely completely on God’s will, guidance, and spoken word for spiritual vitality and ultimate survival.
Jesus answers the temptation not with an argument or a display of power, but by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 from the Old Testament, demonstrating that God's Word is the ultimate weapon against doubt and trial and is the bread of life.
Meeting physical needs is natural, but compromising obedience to God to satisfy them is a trap.
Believers are called to feed their souls with Scripture just as regularly as they feed their bodies with food. God’s Word is our daily bread.
Take it in continuously, chew it over and over like sheep chewing the cud, and grow daily in maturity, from strength to strength in Christ Jesus.
All glory be to God forever and ever! Amen.
Please share with our brothers and sisters all around the world.
