One of the many Rabbinic traditions that Yeshua (Jesus) approved of, taught, and practiced was that of opening a meal with a blessing. Explore the Torah as you’d like, but as far as I can find, that is not a command of God. That’s not to say it wasn’t inspired by the Torah though! The practice seems to partner with the blessing that is commanded in Scripture which is that of closing our meals with a blessing.
P19 – To bless [God] after eating, as Deuteronomy 8:10 states: “[After] you eat and are satisfied, you shall bless God, your Lord.”[1]
This command is practically non-existent in the modern Christian church. Sometimes it may occur by happenstance where there is a prayer at the activity following the meal, but this command is not carried out on purpose. My impression is that it is a misunderstanding by Christians based on the few verses where Yeshua is practicing the Rabbinic pre-meal blessing and so we imitate that – as disciples should.
The first time I attended a Passover Seder and they prayed at the end of the meal, I thought it was strange. I had no understanding of why they did that. Then I read the Bible. Previously I was 100% a pulpit learner so that’s actually saying something. Growing up I was presented with memory verses, and small sections of Scripture to study, and the various pastors always quoted a couple of verses during their sermons, but in no instance was this commandment introduced, let alone discussed at length.
While we imitate Yeshua in our opening blessings when we sit down to eat, we fail at that imitation for the post-meal blessing. I’m not sure why. Finding this command demonstrated by the Apostolic Writings isn’t difficult at all. This is one of the commands I knew would be easy to demonstrate. There are a couple of instances that jump out at me without much research.
The first would be the Last Supper where Yeshua is hosting a Passover Seder for His disciples before He suffered on the cross. We are told this:
Mark 14:26 (TLV)
26 After singing the Hallel, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
After the Seder, at the end of the meal, there is a tradition to sing from the book of Prayers, specifically the Psalms that make up the Hallel. After the last cup of the Seder Psalms 115-118 are traditionally sung. While this may not be a traditional prayer in your mind, these are indeed prayers that are being recited to God at the end of a meal. From my view, this is unquestionably a prayer after one is satisfied and full.
Another example is that of Yeshua feeding the 5,000. At the beginning of this episode, we witness Yeshua praying before the meal. This is an example to His future disciples of the acceptability of this practice, but it was not a rewriting of the command to pray after the meal. The Apostolic Writings are often demonstrating the faith lived out, but not making direct quotes of the commands. This wasn’t needed. The Jewish world they were writing to would have understood what was being said without the need for verse quotations and explanations. This was the “constitution” of the society. They all knew and studied Torah as part of their society’s foundation.
However, the Apostles didn’t entirely ignore the command for praying after meals. In fact, one of the rare occurrences of all four Gospels referencing the exact same thing includes a very direct allusion to the command by referencing the catalyst for carrying out the command.
Luke 9:17 (TLV)
17 Then they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of the fragments.
Mark 6:42 (TLV)
42 They all ate and were satisfied,
Matthew 14:20 (TLV)
20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of broken pieces left over.
John 6:12 (TLV)
12 When the people were full, Yeshua said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftovers, so nothing is wasted.”
The only example above that doesn’t specifically use the word satisfied in English is actually the only example that specifically used the exact same word as the Septuagint in Deuteronomy 8:10. This idea of being satisfied and thanking God afterward is a common thread throughout Scripture and is a significant key Messianic signpost. For that reason, it was a critical highlight for the disciples to show us.
There are certainly historical church documents that attest to grace after meals as well, not least of which is the Didache. At some point, we lost this practice, but it nonetheless remains part of the instructions of God. To be imitators of Yeshua would encompass this instruction.
Joel 2:26 (TLV)
26 “You will surely eat and be satisfied, and praise the Name of Adonai your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. Never again will My people be shamed
Didache’s After Meal Prayer
Chapter 10
1. After being satisfied, give thanks in this way:
2. We give thanks to you, O Holy Father,
On behalf of your holy name, which you caused to dwell in our hearts
and on behalf of knowledge and faith and immortality,
which you have made known to us through Jesus, your servant.
To you be glory forever.
3. You, almighty Master, have created all things for your name’s sake.
You have given food and drink to all humanity to enjoy
so that they might give thanks.
But you have graced us with spiritual food and drink
And eternal life through your servant.
4. Above all, we give thanks to you because you are mighty.
To you be glory forever.
5. Remember, O Lord, your church
to deliver her from all evil
and to perfect her in your love
and gather her from the four winds, whom you have sanctified,
into your kingdom,
which you have prepared for her.
For yours is the power and the glory forever.
6. Let grace come and
7. let this earth pass away.
Hosanna to the God of David.
If some are holy, let them come.
If some are not, let them repent.
Maranatha. Amen.[2]
[1] Rambam, Mishneh Torah Positive Mitzvot 39
[2] Shawn J. Wilhite, The Didache: A Commentary, ed. Paul A. Hartog and Shawn J. Wilhite, vol. 1, Apostolic Fathers Commentary Series (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2019), xxxviii–xxxix.