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Q: What
Do You Mean By "Unclean Food"?
A: I believe that the law of the Old Testament to not eat unclean
foods is to still be observed today. I have come under a lot of opposition for
holding this belief so I thought it was time I did a page explaining why I
believe this.
Because I am dealing with entire chapters of scriptures I have them listed at
the end if this Bible Study You can click on any scripture to read it when it is
not listed.
The main Unclean law is spelled out in Leviticus
11 and Deuteronomy 14
Here are the arguments I will deal with:
1.Not eating certain foods was purely ceremonial
2.We have refrigerators today so it is not applicable for
today.
3.We don’t have to observe old testament laws
And a few New Testament versus that at first appearance seem to say it is okay
to eat anything
4. Mk 7:18-19
5. Acts 10:9-16
6. 1 Timothy 4:1-4
7. Romans 14,16
Ceremonial
Fist the premise that is was ceremonial. This is false. Some people teach
that the unclean laws were so we were clean enough to be near God and to enter
the holy of holies. This is not true. If you read it in context it has nothing
to do with ceremonies it had to do strictly with health.
God made us and he made all of the animals. He knew what was good for us. The
animals he told us not to eat are in this health conscience day considered by
most doctors to be harmful for your health. Pork and shellfish for example are
very high in fat and cholesterol. Most unclean animals are the garbage disposals
of the world. They will eat anything. Most of the clean animals are herbivores
(vegetarians). Because of this a lot of diseases are traced back to pork and
shellfish. So just from a natural 90’s point of view I wouldn’t eat it.
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Refrigerators
People claim that because we did not refrigerators back then is why God
made the law. This is assuming that God did not know that there would be
refrigeration in the future. Plus refrigerators and medicines have taken care of
only a few of the problems. They still do not make pigs or other unclean animals
clean. You can not take dirt and refrigerate it and it comes out clean.
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Old Testament
Many people say that we do not need to follow Old Testament laws and
therefore this law was done away with.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or
the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
How does he fulfill it. Well for example we do not need to do sacrifices anymore
because he was our sacrifice. We do not need to keep a Sabbath because he gave
us the gift of the Holy spirit which is our comforter so we have eternal rest.
And myriad’s of other ways where he was our fulfillment. But health laws was
not one of them. If the law had been done away with why do we still find Peter
when given a vision of Unclean food say that the Lord knew he never touched
unclean things. (we’ll discuss this scripture more later) This law being a
health law would never change. God did not re-make us or the animal so it would
have the same effect on our health then as now.
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Mark
Many believe that Jesus declared all foods clean in Mark Let's see what
it says
Mark 7:18-19 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do
ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it
cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the
belly, and goeth out into the draught, (purging all meats?)
To say this passage makes food clean is wrong. It is not talking about clean /
unclean foods but whether or not God made a commandment about washing our hands.
He did not make any such commandment. By the way I put the (purging all meats?)
in parenthesis because in the Greek it says “cleaning all the eatables.”
Remember first of all that the old testament the work meat was used the same as
food and this tradition was carried over by some of the translators. Also
eatables would not contain unclean foods
click here for
more on that subject.
The parallel passage makes it clear what God was talking about Matthew 15:20 20
These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defileth
not a man.
The topic was washing hands not food.
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Acts
Acts chapter 10.
First of all Jesus had already gone to the Father and yet Peter’s comment is
“Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.”
If all foods became clean by Jesus then why would Peter keep to the commandment
even after Jesus’ resurrection. Peter even questioned the vision. Peter
himself didn't even know what the vision meant. How then can we interpret the
vision?
If you read the entire context it was not talking of food but men. God was
telling Peter that is was okay to witness to gentiles. According to Jewish law
they could not talk to or even touch a gentile. God was saying that now because
of Jesus’ sacrifice the gentiles were now clean. That the gentiles were
grafted in/ adopted... and he could talk to them without it being against the
law because Jesus died for all men making men clean (Jesus did not die to
cleanse pigs)
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Timothy
Another scripture that is used to justify eating unclean is in 1 Timothy:
1 Timothy 4
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath
created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the
truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be
received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Now if what Paul is speaking of here is the doctrine of abstaining from eating
unclean animals then why does he refer to this doctrine as one of the 'doctrines
of demons' ? Is it not a doctrine of God?
Some have mistakenly thought that as long as they pray before they eat an
unclean animal, that God cleanses it for them. This is not true. First we must
identify what is food.
According to God's word, unclean
animals never were, aren't now and never will be "food." Food is
something that we eat. And from the beginning, God separated clean animals from
unclean animals. Even Noah was told to take the unclean animals by pairs but the
clean animals in groups of seven! Now let's take a closer look at this
scripture. We are told in verse 5 that all the creatures of God are sanctified
by His word. Sanctified means "Set apart". God set apart which animals
are clean and which animals are unclean in His word.
What this is really talking about is people who say that animals have souls and
so it is unholy to eat any meat. We have seen a trend towards this lately with
animal rights being escalated above human rights. This is the doctrine of
demons.
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Romans
Romans is sometimes used as well but if you read the entire context it is
not talking of clean and unclean but rather meat sacrificed to idols.
I pray that you read this with an open mind and spirit and were able to see the
truth herein. I believe that this is for your health and can help you to live
longer and happier.
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Scriptures
Leviticus
11
And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the
children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all
the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is
clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.
Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that
divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the
hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but
divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth
the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the swine,
though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he
is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye
not touch; they are unclean to you. These shall ye eat of all that are in the
waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the
rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas,
and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which
is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an
abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their
carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that
shall be an abomination unto you. And these are they which ye shall have in
abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination:
the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the vulture, and the kite
after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and
the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant,
and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the
stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. All fowls that
creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. Yet these may ye
eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs
above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; Even these of them ye may eat;
the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle
after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. But all other flying
creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. And for
these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be
unclean until the even. And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall
wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. The carcases of every beast
which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are
unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. And whatsoever
goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are
unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.
And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean
until the even: they are unclean unto you. These also shall be unclean unto you
among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse,
and the tortoise after his kind, And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the
lizard, and the snail, and the mole. These are unclean to you among all that
creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the
even. And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall
be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack,
whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water,
and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. And every
earthen vessel, where unto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be
unclean; and ye shall break it. Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which
such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every
such vessel shall be unclean. And every thing whereupon any part of their
carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they
shall be broken down: for they are unclean and shall be unclean unto you.
Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be
clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean. And if any part
of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be
clean. But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall
thereon, it shall be unclean unto you. And if any beast, of which ye may eat,
die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even. And
he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until
the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be
unclean until the even. And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth
shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. Whatsoever goeth upon the belly,
and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all
creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are
an abomination. Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing
that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye
should be defiled thereby. For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore
sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye
defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the
earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be
your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. This is the law of the
beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters,
and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between
the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast
that may not be eaten.
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Deut 14:6-20
And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws,
and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat. Nevertheless these ye
shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof;
as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not
the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you. And the swine, because it
divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not
eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase. These ye shall eat of all that
are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: And whatsoever
hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you. Of all clean
birds ye shall eat. But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and
the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture
after his kind, And every raven after his kind, And the owl, and the night hawk,
and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, The little owl, and the great owl,
and the swan, And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, And the
stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. And every
creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten. But of
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Acts 10:9-28
Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very
hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been
a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were
all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping
things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill,
and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is
common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God
hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel
was received up again into heaven. Now while Peter doubted in himself what this
vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from
Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, And
called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men
seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting
nothing: for I have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men which were sent
unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the
cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man,
and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews,
was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to
hear words of thee. Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow
Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. And
the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and
he had called together his kinsmen and near friends. And as Peter was coming in,
Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. But Peter took
him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man. And as he talked with him, he
went in, and found many that were come together. And he said unto them, Ye know
how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or
come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call
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