The Literal Commandment
"When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. (Deuteronomy 8:10)
The literal commandment is that we should bless G-d after we have eaten.
Messiah Says
Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)
Pictures of Messiah
This commandment that requires that we acknowledge G-d and bless Him after we have eaten the produce of the land once again provides a picture of Messiah. In recognizing G-d as the source of our sustenance, we follow in the footsteps of Messiah who said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work." (John 4:34)
Consider these examples from Scripture:
Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds... (Matthew 14:19)
And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all. (Mark 6:41)
The NASB translation is very helpful because it identifies words in italics that are not present in the original Greek text. In the passages above the words "the food" are in italics because they are not present in the original Greek sentences. The translators have added those words... in error.
Messiah did not bless the food. Messiah blessed the Father Who provided the food. It was Messiah's habit to bless G-d both before and after eating a meal.
How Messiah Fulfilled
We know that Messiah was without sin (Hebrews 4:15) so we know that He fulfilled this commandment.
Traditional Observance
This commandment is traditionally observed in a literal (but expanded) fashion: reciting an extended blessing for the food, for the Land, for Jerusalem, and for G-d's goodness. Aish.com offers this translation of Grace After Meals.
Other Notes
We are able to fulfill this commandment today and should bless the Almighty after eating.
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