What is the importance of saying grace before we eat?

TL;DR:

The meaning and purpose of "saying grace" before a meal is to acknowledge our dependence on God and to give thanks to Him for who He is and what He provides.

The word "grace" means undeserved merit or favor. Saying grace before a meal is important because it acknowledges our dependence on God and expresses gratitude for His provision, recognizing that all good gifts come from Him. This practice follows Jesus’ example of giving thanks and reminds us of His sacrifice, sustaining grace, and the blessing of life itself. Since grace indicates receiving something we don’t deserve but is beneficial to us, it is fitting to give thanks before a meal as an acknowledgement of our undeservedness of God’s amazing grace. Because God is the provider of all our needs, we must not be anxious about material things like food but instead imitate Christ by giving thanks before partaking in a meal. It is through God alone that we are even alive. As mere “jars of clay” the least we can do is thank God for the little, yet wonderful things in life such as food. Lastly, sharing grace is a good reminder of Jesus being our Bread of Life; it is through Him alone we receive the blessing of eternal life.

from the old testament

The Old Testament does not specifically mention saying grace before meals, but it strongly emphasizes giving thanks to God for His provision and blessings. It teaches that God is the ultimate provider of food and sustenance (e.g., Psalm 104:14-15; Deuteronomy 8:10), and His people are called to honor Him with gratitude for His faithful care and abundant blessings in their daily lives.

from the new testament

As Christians, we are commanded not to be anxious about such things as food and drink, but to pray and give thanks to God instead (Matthew 6:25–33).
By giving thanks before a meal, we are imitating Christ Himself, since He gave thanks to God before eating a meal with a large crowd (Matthew 14:19; 15:36;).
The most memorable time Jesus gave thanks before eating was at the Last Supper with His disciples: “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.’ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’” (Matthew 26:26–28).
Jesus also gave thanks before breaking bread while testifying about Himself to two men traveling the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:30).
Giving thanks before we eat can be a way of reminding ourselves of Jesus as our Bread of Life (John 3:35–36; 6:57–58).
Because of God, we live and breathe and have our being (Acts 17:28). An appropriate response to God’s amazing gift of life is to thank Him for seemingly small things like food.
By using the word grace, which means undeserved merit or favor, in reference to giving thanks before meals, we are acknowledging that because of our sin we are undeserving of God's blessings (Romans 3:23), but because God is gracious and loving, He provides for us anyway (Romans 5:8).
Our bodies are "jars of clay," fragile and dependent on our Creator for things like food (2 Corinthians 4:7). We should thank Him for His provision.

implications for today

God is the Creator and Sustainer of all living things, and from Him comes every good and perfect gift (Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:16–17; James 1:17). It is fitting to give thanks to Him for the small gifts in life like food as well as the big gifts such as salvation. As seen in Matthew 26:26–28, Jesus took His bread, gave thanks, and broke it. Not long afterwards, He gave His very own body to be broken and His blood to be poured out on Calvary's cross for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2; Colossians 1:20). Giving thanks is a way of reminding ourselves of Jesus' sacrifice, resurrection, and gift of eternal life to us. Oftentimes, we do not fully acknowledge our dependence on God and therefore we fail to give Him the thanks He deserves. Saying grace before eating a meal is an example of stopping to acknowledge God's providential grace and thank Him for His many blessings.

understand

Saying grace acknowledges our dependence on God and His undeserved provision.
Saying grace follows Jesus’ example and reminds us of His sacrifice and eternal life.
Saying grace encourages gratitude for daily blessings and God’s ongoing care.

reflect

How does saying grace before meals help you recognize your dependence on God in everyday life?
How does pausing to give thanks shape your attitude toward God’s provision and blessings?
How can remembering Jesus’ example of giving thanks before eating deepen your faith and gratitude?

engage

How can we grow in understanding God’s grace by consistently saying grace before meals?
How can we encourage one another to see saying grace as more than a routine, but as a meaningful expression of faith and dependence on God?
How does living in gratitude even for little things impact the rest of our lives?