A Review of Peter Leithart’s Blessed are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord’s Supper


As more and more evangelical churches return to a frequent practice of the Lord’s Supper, it is important that we continue to reflect on the various ways that this sacrament sustains and nourishes the church. Gratefully, Peter Leithart has provided Blessed are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord’s Supper for congregations who are seeking resources to aid them in this process. This book not only gives the reader a greater appreciation for the grace of the table, but it also serves as a kind of survey on what the Bible has to say about food.

Comprised of twenty eight short devotional reflections, Blessed are the Hungry looks at the significance of the Supper as revealed in a wide selection of scriptures. Leithart writes from the conviction that “the Lord’s Supper is the world in miniature; it has cosmic significance.” Feasting is a constant theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis onward, God uses food to reveal himself, bless his people, and judge those who oppose him. Adam and Eve are tested by way of the fruit of Eden’s trees; the exodus community is invited to eat of the peace offering with Yahweh in the tabernacle; Jesus displays the nature of the coming kingdom as he eats and drinks with sinners; the consummation of the kingdom comes with a wedding feast. As he moves from Genesis to Revelation, Leithart shows how all these observations about God and food culminate with Christ and the Supper. In this way, Leithart makes all of Scripture a resource for more fully comprehending how Christ imparts his presence to the community that gathers around his table.

by Andrew Stout

Andrew Stout (MATS, Covenant Theological Seminary, 2010) is a member of New Covenant Church, he is married to Stefanie and they have a daughter, Adelaide age 1.

You can order your copy of Blessed are the Hungry in the Book Store this Sunday.