In Ezekiel 18:7, we read:
And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment;
(Ezekiel 18:7, emphasis added)
What does it mean to “give bread to the hungry”?
Could it really be only limited to the sole giving of real, literal bread?
Or, is there a deeper, spiritual application to this verse?
Eternal Bread
Jesus’ words in John 6 give us the direct answer to that question:
I am that bread of life…..I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
(John 6:48, 51)
In a spiritual sense, we are to give Jesus–the Eternal Bread Of Life–to the hungry.
But Jesus Himself also reveals to us another type of bread we are to give to the spiritually hungry around us.
Written Bread
In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said:
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
(Matthew 4:4)
This is the second type of “bread loaf”–if you will–that God desires us to give to others.
It is the Bread of His Word, the Bible.
Solid Bread
Let’s now look at an Old Testament verse to find out the third type of spiritual bread we’re called to give to the spiritually lost and starving in this world as Christians.
In Psalm 104:15, we read:
And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
(Psalm 104:15)
So, the third type of bread that’s important for us as Christians to share is bread that “strengthens” (or comforts as it is defined in the original Hebrew) the hearts of the hungry.
Conclusion & A Prayer
These are the three types of bread God is calling us as Christians to spiritually give and share:
- The Bread of Jesus
- The Bread of God’s Word
- The Bread of Strength & Comfort
But, if you think about it, these three “types” of bread are really one and the same! They’re really “interconnected,” and is–in fact–that “one bread” Paul talks about in 1 Corinthians 10:17.
Because Jesus IS the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14) and He IS our greatest Source of strength and comfort (Philippians 4:13, Matthew 9:22).
Friend, would you like to be fed this heavenly Bread, that you may be able to give it and share it with others who are spiritually hungry?
If so, then just pray:
Give us this day our daily bread.
(Matthew 6:11)
Amen! Maranatha!