The Biblical Origins of Thanksgiving

INSIDE: Explore the biblical origins of Thanksgiving, from harvest festivals in the Bible to the Pilgrims’ faith. Find tips for your Thanksgiving celebration.

Thanksgiving is often associated with turkey dinners, family gatherings, and gratitude lists, but its roots go deeper than the Pilgrim feast of 1621. The idea of thanksgiving is thread that runs throughout the Bible. In Scripture, we find examples of God’s people pausing to give thanks for His provision, protection, and blessings. Today, let’s explore how the Bible shapes our modern day holiday of Thanksgiving and how we can connect our celebrations to the timeless practice of giving thanks.

Gratitude in Scripture

The Bible points to an attitude of gratitude as an essential part of worship and daily life. In 1 Chronicles 16:34, we’re called to “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” This command represents the biblical idea of thanksgiving: recognizing God’s goodness and steadfast love.

Similarly, thanksgiving often appears as a response to God’s mighty acts and encourages us to make those deeds known to others. For instance, I Chronicles 16:8 encourages us to “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! This paints a picture of each of us coming before God, remembering His mighty works, and then expressing our gratitude toward Him.

Harvest Festivals in the Bible

One of the closest biblical parallels to Thanksgiving is the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). This annual harvest festival celebrated God’s provision during the Israelites’ wilderness journey and in the Promised Land. (Leviticus 23:39-43) Today, families gather, give thanks for the harvest and God’s provision while remembering His faithfulness over the last year.

This feast reminds us that our blessings come from God, and just as the Israelites thanked Him for their harvest, we too can pause to express gratitude for His provisions in our lives today.

A Legacy of Thanksgiving in American History

The Pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving were inspired by their faith and the Bible’s teachings. After enduring a harsh winter and then seeing a successful harvest in 1621, they modeled their feast after the biblical idea of giving thanks for God’s provision. They shared their table with Native Americans in an act of gratitude and community, reflecting the biblical call to love and hospitality.

How to Bring Biblical Thanksgiving to Your Table

This Thanksgiving, we can reclaim its biblical roots by:

1. Reading Scriptures about gratitude: Share verses like 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which encourages us to “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Try having each family member choose one verse on thanksgiving or gratitude to share.
2. Offering prayers of thanks: Before your meal, take time to thank God for His blessings, big and small. Then after the meal, offer another prayer of thanksgiving (Deuteronomy 8:10)
3. Reflecting on God’s faithfulness: Share stories of how God has provided for your family over the past year. Also, take time when family stories of God’s provision in the past so that the next generation.
4. Practicing generosity: Thanksgiving is also a time to share with others. Consider donating food or inviting someone in need to your table.

This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is more than a holiday—it’s a chance to align our hearts with a biblical attitude of gratitude. By looking to the Word of God, we can find inspiration to make our Thanksgiving celebrations meaningful, worshipful, and centered on Him.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Grapevine Team