To Eat Or Not To Eat

There is one thing man demands should not be tampered with at all cost. Even so much as thinking about changing this, causes a human being to spontaneously reach for any reason to defend it. What could be the powerful temptation which may never be fooled with? Not by government, country or even Yehovah Himself?

What other than… food!

This blog will be about whether or not Yehovah requires man have a certain diet or not. Did He only provide this for the Israelite’s in the Old Testament. Or does it still hold weight today? All I can do is examine the Scriptures and see what I can uncover. I’m sure many will doubt my findings and have many texts from Scripture to back it up just like any other topic of Scripture. This is just a Simple Servant writing what, to the best of his knowledge is… the truth about it all.

To eat or not to eat, that is the question. If verses like this by Yeshua are true…

Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”

I’m aware many Christians believe this verse does away with the Law, but “until” is future tense, as in it hasn’t happened yet. So, this cannot be proof of doing away with the Law of Yehovah. See “Law vs Grace” blog for further evidence on this topic.

Back to the point! If not one thing shall fall from the Torah (Law) until the current heaven and earth we live on, has passed away. An event recorded to happen in Revelation 21:1 & Isaiah 66:23. How can we reconcile the commandments given in Leviticus 11 about dietary Laws given by Yehovah being no longer valid?

Don’t get me wrong, by no means is this an open and shut case! They’re verse that make it appear to seem as if we can eat whatever we want now. Let’s examine some now…

Mark 7:18-19 “Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?

This verse by itself implies that we can now eat all things, because Yeshua says, it cannot defile us but it’s what we speak. At first glance it seems to make sense. Until tested with common sense. This is a case of the infamous verse plucking which completely takes something out of context to make a point it has nothing to do with. Let’s test it!

This verse says “whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him”

Is this true?

If Strychnine poison enters my body, will it defile me? If I swallow a gallon of bleach, will it benefit me any? If I ingest marbles will it be considered corrupting myself? Will they be purged from me? Perhaps.

Yes this verse is speaking of food, but what is the context of His statement? Yeshua is referencing how the Pharisees look upon others who don’t follow their traditions of men, but they themselves are defiled by their mouths. Their souls are defiled!

Look at the verses prior to Yeshua’s statement

Matthew 7:1-2 “Then the Pharisees, and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands, they found fault.

The Pharisees were judging the disciples for not following their oral traditions, which they claimed were to be obeyed as much as Yehovah’s Law. So Yeshua says…

Matthew 7:8 “For you set aside the commandment of Yehovah, and hold tightly to the tradition of men, the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things."

This is why Yeshua the comment in verses 18-19, not because it has to do with unclean foods being permissible by God as eatable. Also remember, the end of the sentence says “thus purifying all foods”

To an Israelite, "all food" simply meant what God declared to be food. Not all encompassing varieties of thing able to be eaten. The Greek word used here is

βρῶμα brōma, bro'-mah; Strong's G1033 from the base of G977; food (literally or figuratively), especially (ceremonially) articles allowed or forbidden by the Jewish law: meat, victuals.

This is why context and the original words are important. Most simply take the KJV translation as it’s always correct. Let’s also take note Yeshua lifted up the commandments of Yehovah which included the dietary Laws in Leviticus 11, not removing them or telling people to disobey them. So this verse cannot be used as proof for the allowance of unclean foods to be eaten by believers.

If this verse truly means that nothing that enters a man, meaning food can defile him. Then how come Scripture doesn’t agree with itself?

Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.”

We got a serious problem here! Is Yeshua lying, or is Daniel not a prophet of Yehovah and understanding of the Torah? See how this ends up looking once you test it.

Let’s examine some others.

Peter’s vision in Acts 10

Acts 10:9-16 “Now on the next day as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. A voice came to him, "Rise, Peter, kill and eat!" But Peter said, "Not so, Master; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." A voice came to him again the second time, "What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean." This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into heaven.”

Most people will use this verse to prove that unclean animals are permissible by Yehovah to be eaten in the New Testament. Again, could this be another verse taken out of context to defend man’s love for certain foods? Let’s test!

This may be the most popular verse for debaters about the foods Laws being abolished. But, one thing we should always do is keep reading the letter. Remember that these are written letters, not meant to have for selecting some portions and make up an idea about its meaning. This is how 44,000 Christian denominations get started. Let’s look a little deeper and apply some common sense.

First of all, a vision cannot be eaten for one. Second, Peter never attempted to eat anything from the vision. All he kept saying was;

“Not so, Master; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."

Now stop and think about it for a minute. Peter a disciple of Yeshua, who ate, walked and preached the gospel with Him, says many years after Yeshua has been killed and resurrected that he still has not eaten anything unclean as defined by Leviticus 11 in the Torah.

So if Yeshua before His death and resurrection told His believers, it was ok to eat unclean animals. Peter didn’t get the memo. Because Peter was so confused by the question God was asking. He didn’t understand. So was Yehovah talking about unclean food or trying to help Peter understand a greater principle?

Let’s keep reading to see…

Acts 10:24- 28 “On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. When it happened that Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up! I myself am also a man." As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. He said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn't call any "man" unholy or unclean.”

Notice the vision wasn’t even about the food, it was about people. It was symbolic representation that Peter would have been accustom to. During that time, the Jews considered gentiles unclean and could not mingle themselves with them. We know this by the verse earlier which says;

"You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation.”

Many will get confused everywhere it says “law” in the Bible and think it means the Law of Yehovah. But, where in the Torah does it say, anyone from another nation is unclean and cannot be a part of Israel, if they choose? Nowhere! This was a manmade law the Pharisees made in their oral tradition. (Talmud)

They Torah has gentiles coming from Egypt out with Israel into the desert, Ruth the Moabitess and Rehab the harlot; all becoming a part of the family of Israel. Grafted in some may say.

Notice these verses which also make this clear.

Leviticus 24:22 “You shall have one manner of Law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am Yehovah your God.”

Exodus 12:49 “The same Law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you."

Numbers 15:16 “The same Laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.”

Think He istrying to make a point?

Let’s look up another verse used to defend the unclean food debate.

1 Timothy 4:5 “For every creation of God is good, and nothing that is received with thanksgiving should be rejected, because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

Now this verse is quite special and I will admit from face value, it’s a doosey. Unless it is thoroughly tested under extreme pressure. Let’s get started.

This selected says…

“For every creation of God is good.” So it must mean “All” animals,right?

In order to understand this, let’s get a little context, shall we? We read right before this verse.

1 Timothy 4:1-3 “Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Now let’s ask a few questions, with the mindset this means all animals are now meant to be eaten. If this was the case. We also must admit that the Torah (Bible) is a doctrine of demons, influenced by hypocrisy of liars and prohibits marriage.

Is this true?

No, of course not. The Scripture says…

2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.”

Now, this may appear to be verse plucking, but it’s kind of hard to take this one out of context, agree? Pretty straight forward.

The Bible says; be fruitful and multiply, so it doesn’t teach being celibate either. Now on to verse 3, which is crucial to understanding verse 5 in 1 Timothy 4. Examine, it says…

“And require abstinence from certain foods that God has created to be received.”

Now before we get carried away and assume who the “They” are in this sentence. Let’s ask something. What certain foods did God create to be received as food? Where in the Bible can we find these items of food?

Leviticus 11 is the only place Yehovah designates which animals should be received as food. But, there’s more! Notice at the end of verse 3 it says this statement.

“With thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Now, what is the truth? Let’s not guess now.

Psalms 119:140-142 “Your word is very pure, therefore Your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget Your precepts. Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is truth.”

Now who would consider are those “who know” the truth? It is those who believe and obey Torah (The Law). The “They” in this verse are not believers in Torah. This is actually people who are rejecting the truth, rejecting Torah, His Law.

Oh, and the word “food” in this verse was also…

βρῶμα brōma, bro'-mah; from the base of G977; food (literally or figuratively), especially (ceremonially) articles allowed or forbidden by the Jewish law: meat, victuals.

In verse 5 of 1 Timothy 4 it also says...

“Because it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

As a Western American modern Christian, sanctified seems to mean to us as another way of saying Holy, and really it is. But, what does “Holy” truly mean. Not in English but, in the times these words were recorded? Gay, means something totally different than it did 50 years ago.

In this verse “sanctified” is…

Strongs G37 ἁγιάζω hagiázō, hag-ee-ad'-zo; from G40; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate: hallow, be holy, sanctify.

To be more detailed

• to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow

• to separate from profane things and dedicate to God

• consecrate things to God

• dedicate people to God

Many people are unaware that, to say this verse means “all food” is now Holy, is an oxymoron. It’s like saying there’s a satanic Christian believer. Holy means “separate or set apart” to say all things are now the same would render Holy meaningless. In order to be Holy, something has to be common or apart from Holy.

This verse actually proves there is a distinction between some foods. Some are separated from others, by Yehovah as different and able to be eaten. Some are not! There demands at least two categories opposite each other in order for this to make sense in the original context.

As for the prayer comment in this verse, believers should bless their food and thank Yehovah for giving it; before eating.

There is one verse which out of all the verses I can think of is a true worthy opponent as a debating point. This verse is in…

Genesis 9:2-3 "The fear of you and the terror of you will be on every beast of the earth and on every bird of the sky; with everything that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are given. "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.”

This is the mother of all proof man ate (past tense) unclean animals. Of course this doesn’t apply to after Mount Saini because clearly the Scriptures say we cannot eat unclean animals now. But, this verse was interesting. It appears Yehovah permitted Noah to eat unclean animals. Although this verse gives no hope for New Testament believers they are permitted to eat unclean animals. I would still like to show how perhaps this doesn’t mean Noah could either.

Common sense time, this was immediately after Noah got off the Ark. So why does this not make sense to have unclean animals as be food for Noah and his family? Remember how the unclean animals were brought on the ark? By pairs, a male and female. If Noah or any of his relatives ate just one of any kind of them. There would be no partner for the other animal to reproduce. So what would be the point of bringing them in the first place?

Obviously Noah knew the difference between the two kinds (Unclean & Clean)

There is a great teaching which gives many details about this seemingly contradiction. Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1K836Le13E

May Yehovah bless you all!