For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
х Hoti (G3754) ... gar (G1063)] 'Because' (a reason resting on the objective fact which Scripture alleges) - "For" (a reason resting on something subjective in the writer's mind).
Every creature of God is good (Genesis 1:31; Romans 14:14; Romans 14:20) - a refutation, by anticipation, of the Gnostic opposition to creation: the seeds were now lurking in the Church. Judaism (Acts 10:11-16; 1 Corinthians 10:25-26) was the starting-point of the error as to meats; Oriental Guests added new elements. The Gnostic heresy is now extinct: its remains in the celibacy of Rome's priesthood, and its fasts from animal meats, enjoined under the penalty of mortal sin, remain.
If it be received with thanksgiving. Meats, pure in themselves, become impure by being received with an unthankful mind (Romans 14:6).
Verse 5. Sanctified - hallowed: set apart as holy for the use of believing men. By saying grace, separated from "the creature," which is under the bondage of corruption, (Romans 8:19, etc.) As in the Lord's supper the thanksgiving prayer sanctifies the elements, separating them from their naturally alien relation to the spiritual world, and transferring them to their true relation to the new life, so in every use of the creature, thanksgiving prayer has the same effect (1 Corinthians 10:25-26; 1 Corinthians 10:30-31). Or, hallowed from legal, or ascetical supposed, uncleanness.
By the word of God and prayer, х dia (G1223) enteuxeoos (G1783)] - 'through consecratory prayer' in its behalf, mainly consisting of "the Word of God." The 'Apostolic Constitutions' 7: 49, give this ancient grace, almost wholly consisting of Scripture, 'Blessed art thou, O Lord, who feedest me from my youth, who givest food to all flesh: Fill our hearts with joy and gladness, that we, having all sufficiency, may abound unto every good work in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom glory, honour, and might be to thee forever. Amen.'