John Gill Commentary 1 Timothy 4:5

"for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer." — 1 Timothy 4:5 (ASV)

For it is sanctified
Or set apart for use, and may be lawfully used at all times:

by the word of God ;
which declares that there is nothing in itself common, or unclean, or unfit for use, and that nothing that goes into a man defiles him; so that by virtue of this word of God, every creature may be made use of, that is fit for food: or else this designs the word of God, which gives a blessing to what is eaten; for it is not by bread or meat only, but through the word of God commanding a blessing on what is eaten, that man lives, (Matthew 4:4) and therefore this blessing upon our food should be asked for: wherefore it follows,

and prayer ;
this being used before eating for a blessing on the food, and after it, in a way of thanksgiving for it, sanctifies every creature of God, or gives men a free use of any, or all of them. So the Israelites, when they had eaten, and were full, were to bless the Lord, (Deuteronomy 8:10) . And thus our Lord Jesus Christ, at meals, used to take the food, and bless it or ask a blessing on it, (Matthew 14:19) . And so did the Essenes among the Jews ^F8 , and the Christians in Tertullian's ^F9 time; and the practice is highly necessary and commendable, nor ought it to be disused.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F8: Porphyr. de Abstinentia, l. 4. sect. 12.
• F9: Apolog. c. 39.