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 all clean fowls ye may eat. return
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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 any man common or unclean. return
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