Food eaten at set times, on special occasions or following significant events. Sacrificial meals formed part of Israelite worship in the OT, as does the Lord's Supper for worship by believers in the NT.
Regular daily meals
Breakfast
“Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord.
Lunch
Luke 14:12–14 See also Genesis 43:16, Genesis 43:31–34; Ruth 2:14; Acts 10:9–10
Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid. But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Evening meal
Luke 17:7–8 See also Matthew 9:10–13 parallels Mark 2:15–17, Luke 5:29–32; Mark 14:3 parallels Luke 7:36, John 12:1–2; Luke 14:12–14
Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? Instead, won’t he tell him, ‘Prepare my meal and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you may eat and drink’?
Royal meals
Genesis 40:20 See also 1 Samuel 20:18–34; 2 Samuel 9:9–13; 1 Kings 4:22–28, 1 Kings 18:19; Esther 1:1–12, Esther 2:18, Esther 7:1–10; Matthew 14:6–11 parallel Mark 6:21–28
On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
Meals of the poor
Proverbs 15:17 See also 1 Kings 17:10–16
Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
Sacrificial meals
Genesis 31:53–54 See also Exodus 12:1–11, Exodus 29:31–34; Leviticus 6:14–29, Leviticus 7:1–6, Leviticus 8:31, Leviticus 10:12–15; Deuteronomy 16:1–8; 1 Samuel 1:3–8, 1 Samuel 9:11–24, 1 Samuel 20:28–29
May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.
Symbolic meals
Matthew 26:20–29 parallels Mark 14:17–25, Luke 22:14–22 See also 1 Corinthians 11:17–34
Wedding and funeral meals
Matthew 22:1–14 parallel Luke 14:16–24 See also Jeremiah 16:5; John 2:1–10; Revelation 19:6–9
Meals and hospitality
2 Kings 4:8 See also Genesis 18:1–8, Genesis 19:1–3; Judges 5:24–25, Judges 13:15–16; 1 Samuel 28:24–25
One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat.
Meals as occasions of fellowship
Revelation 3:20 See also Proverbs 15:17; Luke 5:29–32, Luke 7:36
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.