Cakes are mentioned in the Bible as part of celebrations and offerings. Today, we’ll look at how scripture uses cakes to teach us about joy and worship.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Cain
What Does The Bible Say About Cakes
Exodus 12:8
“That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.”
In this verse, God gives specific instructions to the Israelites about the Passover meal. The bread made without yeast symbolizes their hasty departure from Egypt, as they did not have time to wait for the bread to rise. It serves as a reminder of God’s deliverance and the Israelites’ obedience to His commands.
This verse teaches us the importance of following God’s instructions and remembering His faithfulness in our lives. Just as the Israelites celebrated the Passover with symbolic bread, we can also celebrate God’s deliverance and provision in our own lives.
1 Samuel 30:12
“He had not eaten any food or drunk any water for three days and three nights.”
This verse describes the condition of an Egyptian servant whom David and his men found in the desert. The servant had been left behind by his Amalekite master and was extremely weak from hunger and thirst.
It serves as a reminder of the importance of nourishment for the body. Just as this servant suffered physically from the lack of food and water, neglecting our physical needs can have detrimental effects on our health. We are called to take care of our bodies, recognizing that they are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).
Proverbs 27:27
“And you shall have goats’ milk enough for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your maidens.”
This verse speaks of the abundance that comes from raising goats and the provision it brings for sustenance. It highlights the importance of agriculture and animal husbandry in providing food for our households.
Furthermore, it reminds us of the blessings that God bestows upon us, as He is the ultimate provider of all our needs. Just as the goats provide milk for nourishment, God is the source of our spiritual and physical sustenance. We can trust in His provision and care.
Ruth 2:14
“And at mealtime Boaz said to her, ‘Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.’ So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.”
This verse depicts a scene where Boaz shows kindness and generosity towards Ruth. He invites her to share in the mealtime and provides her with bread and roasted grain. Ruth not only eats until she is satisfied but also has leftovers.
It serves as an illustration of God’s provision and abundance. Just as Boaz blessed Ruth with an abundance of food, God desires to bless us abundantly and provide for our needs. We can trust in His provision and know that He will never leave us lacking.
Matthew 4:4
“But he answered, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
In this verse, Jesus responds to Satan’s temptation to turn stones into bread. By quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, Jesus emphasizes the importance of spiritual nourishment over physical sustenance alone.
It reminds us that our lives should be grounded in the Word of God. While bread represents physical sustenance, the Word of God provides us with spiritual sustenance and nourishment. Just as we need food for our bodies, we also need the Word of God to sustain and guide us.
Genesis 25:34
“Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.”
This verse recounts the moment when Esau, in a moment of hunger, trades his birthright to Jacob for a meal of bread and lentil stew. Esau’s impulsive decision demonstrates a lack of understanding and appreciation for the value of his birthright.
It serves as a cautionary tale against prioritizing immediate gratification over long-term blessings. It reminds us to consider the consequences of our actions and to value the things that truly matter, such as our relationship with God and the eternal inheritance we have in Him.
Psalm 104:14-15
“You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.”
This beautiful psalm acknowledges God’s provision for both humans and animals. It highlights how God supplies food, wine, oil, and bread which bring joy and strength to our hearts and bodies.
It serves as a reminder of God’s abundant provision and the diverse ways in which He blesses us. We should be grateful for His generosity and recognize that everything good comes from Him. It also reminds us to use these provisions wisely, appreciating them and using them to honor God.
John 6:35
“Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.’”
In this verse, Jesus declares Himself as the bread of life – the sustenance that truly satisfies the deepest longings of the soul. He offers Himself as the source of eternal satisfaction and fulfillment.
It teaches us that true nourishment and satisfaction can only be found in a relationship with Jesus. The physical bread sustains us momentarily, but Jesus provides spiritual sustenance that satisfies us eternally. He is the one whom our souls truly hunger for, and in Him, we find all that we need.
Proverbs 23:6-7
“Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you, but his heart is not with you.”
This verse warns against associating with people who are selfish or stingy in their actions. It points out that even if they offer you food, their motives and intentions may not be genuine.
It reminds us to be cautious of those who do not have our best interests at heart. We should seek genuine relationships with people who are generous and sincere in their words and actions. True fellowship involves not only sharing meals but also sharing genuine care and concern for one another.
Deuteronomy 8:3
“And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
This verse reminds the Israelites of the time when they wandered in the wilderness and were sustained by manna, a miraculous bread-like substance provided by God. It teaches them the importance of relying on God’s Word for nourishment and sustenance rather than physical bread alone.
It highlights the spiritual hunger that exists within us and the need for God’s Word to satisfy that hunger. Just as the Israelites were sustained by the manna, we also need the truth and wisdom found in the Scriptures to truly live and find fulfillment.
1 Corinthians 11:23-24
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”
These verses describe the establishment of the Lord’s Supper by Jesus Himself. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and declared that it represented His body, which would be sacrificed for the salvation of humanity.
The Lord’s Supper serves as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrificial love and the importance of remembering His sacrifice. It is a time of reflection, gratitude, and unity among believers. As we partake in the bread symbolizing Jesus’ body, we remember His love and reaffirm our commitment to follow Him.
Luke 22:19
“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’”
Similar to 1 Corinthians 11:23-24, this verse describes Jesus’ actions during the Last Supper. He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples, instructing them to remember Him through this act.
It emphasizes the significance of remembering Jesus’ sacrifice and the importance of communion with fellow believers. The breaking of the bread symbolizes Jesus’ body being broken for our sins, and by partaking in communion, we express our gratitude and commitment to follow Him.
Leviticus 23:17
“You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the Lord.”
In this verse, God instructs the Israelites to bring two loaves of bread made with leaven as an offering, which symbolizes the firstfruits of their harvest and a gesture of gratitude to God.
It highlights the importance of giving back to God from our blessings and acknowledging Him as the provider of all good things. Just as the Israelites offered the bread as a representation of their gratitude, we are called to give our best to God and offer Him our firstfruits in all areas of our lives.
John 6:51
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Jesus declares Himself as the living bread that came down from heaven. He states that whoever partakes in Him will have eternal life, and His flesh will be given for the life of the world, referring to His sacrificial death on the cross.
This verse emphasizes the centrality of Jesus’ sacrifice and the necessity of faith in Him for eternal life. Just as physical bread sustains our earthly bodies, Jesus, as the living bread, sustains our souls and offers us the gift of eternal life. He is the ultimate source of spiritual nourishment and salvation.
John 6:48
“I am the bread of life.”
This verse is a simple yet powerful statement from Jesus, declaring that He is the bread of life. It is a concise summary of His mission and purpose on earth.
It serves as a reminder that Jesus is the source of true life and nourishment. Just as bread is a staple of physical sustenance, Jesus is the cornerstone of our spiritual well-being. In Him, we find abundant life, fulfillment, and eternal satisfaction.
Proverbs 30:8
“Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me.”
This verse reflects a prayer of the author, requesting neither poverty nor riches, but rather asking for the provision of necessary food.
It reminds us to seek contentment in God’s provision and to recognize that true satisfaction does not come from material wealth, but from relying on God and His provision. We should be grateful for the daily sustenance that God provides and trust in His wisdom to meet all our needs.
Luke 11:3
“Give us each day our daily bread.”
In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs His disciples to ask God to provide their daily bread. This phrase serves as a reminder to depend on God for our daily sustenance and to approach Him with our needs.
It teaches us to prioritize seeking God’s provision and trusting that He will meet our needs. Just as we rely on food for physical sustenance, we rely on God’s provision for our spiritual and emotional sustenance. It encourages us to come before God with both our physical and spiritual needs, knowing that He is the one who can truly satisfy us.
John 6:32-33
“Jesus then said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’”
In this passage, Jesus addresses the crowd after miraculously feeding them with loaves and fishes. He explains that it was God the Father who gave the true bread from heaven, and that bread is Jesus Himself, who came down to give life to the world.
This verse emphasizes Jesus’ divine nature and His role as the ultimate source of spiritual life and sustenance. It reminds us that apart from Jesus, we are spiritually dead, but through Him, we can find true life and nourishment for our souls.
Acts 2:42
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
These verses describe the early believers’ devotion to various aspects of their faith, including fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.
It emphasizes the importance of gathering together in fellowship and partaking in the sacrament of communion, symbolized by the breaking of bread. It serves as a model for the Christian community to prioritize these spiritual disciplines and to engage in meaningful relationships and acts of worship.
Matthew 26:26
“Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.'”
Here, Jesus institutes the practice of the Lord’s Supper during His last meal with His disciples. He takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to His disciples, instructing them to eat and proclaiming that it represents His body.
This verse reminds us of Jesus’ sacrificial death and His invitation for us to participate in the remembrance of His body broken for us. It is a meaningful act that fosters communion with God and unity among believers as we remember and proclaim His sacrifice.
Acts 2:46
“And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.”
These verses describe the early believers’ practice of gathering together daily, both in the temple and in their homes, to break bread and share meals with one another. They did so with glad and generous hearts, fostering a sense of unity and hospitality.
It exemplifies the importance of fellowship and hospitality within the Christian community. It reminds us of the joy and blessing that comes from sharing meals and deepening relationships with one another. Eating together is not only a physical act but also a spiritual and relational one.
Acts 20:7
“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.”
In this verse, Paul is described as gathering with other believers on the first day of the week to break bread and fellowship. It shows that this practice was not limited to the Last Supper but continued as a regular part of their communal worship.
It underscores the significance of regularly gathering together as believers, not only to partake in communion but also to engage in meaningful discussions and teaching of God’s Word. Breaking bread serves as a unifying act that strengthens the bonds of fellowship and reminds us of our shared faith.