The Clean and Unclean Food Law
Today huge quantities of Pork are being consumed. Advertising on Radio, TV. and Billboards praise the flesh obtained from Swine. Possibly you are eating bacon for breakfast, a ham sandwich for lunch, or pork chops for dinner, never thinking twice about the source of the meat on your plate. One might include some of the other popular meats of the day, such as shrimp, shellfish, catfish, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, woodchucks, even horsemeat, and a whole host of other flesh foods that find their way into the stomachs of the human race. Few people consider the source of the things they eat and few still seem to care. Should one be concerned about his food? Should we select those things when we eat, with a view toward having robust health or should we merely follow the crowd and live as do our neighbors? We seek to delve into the eating habits of contemporary society relative to the meat that is eaten and then answer the question: “Have Swine Meat Changed?”
Noah is the first one recorded to have specific commands concerning the “Clean and Unclean” animals. Yet Adam and Eve as the first sinners were first to have an animal slain for them and first to offer Clean Animal Sacrifices. Noah was born 1457 years before “Sinai” and he was already aware of the Clean and Unclean Meats. To those who would tell us the Unclean Law was only for the Israelites we answer, the floodwater pre-dates the first Israelite, Jacob, by nearly 600 Years!
The law was in effect centuries before there was a Hebrew, much less an Israelite! It was known and observed by all the inhabitants of the earth after the flood, from which the world, both Israelite and Gentiles descended! We can forget about the “Israelite Only” theory. We can also eliminate the “Mosaic Law” reasoning, considering the fact that salt has been used as a preservative nearly from the beginning of time; we can also set aside the “Refrigerator Theory.” Then sin must rest on disobedience to a “Thou Shall Not Eat of It.” This is not to deny evidence of the hazards of health or well being from eating unclean, or as the concordance renders it, “Defiled Food.”
Shellfish, Catfish, Swine, Buzzards, Crows and other Rodents thrives on garbage, sewer sludge and other refuse discharge from cities. God has created these creatures to absorb refuse that is washed into the sea, and the Buzzards and Rodents on the garbage and refuse.
How few people really comprehend that when Almighty God legislated against the eating of certain foods He was not imposing a yoke of bondage, but He was giving mankind good, knowledgeable advice so that the human family would not have to suffer from some incurable disease contracted from eating contaminated food! The hog was created as a garbage disposal. One would not think of eating that which is in a mechanical garbage disposal, so why should we eat that which has been processed in one that is living? Is there a link between eating scripturally Unclean Animals and Cancer? More scientific studies should be done along this line to gather conclusive proof.
Genesis 1:27-30 I have given you every herb bearing seed, fruit of a tree for meat, (food)
Psalms 104:14 Grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man
Psalms 136:25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for His mercy endureth forever
Before sin entered the world, both man and beast were vegetarians. Even as vegetarians there was a “Thou Shall Not Eat” command. The fall of man brought in the second set of dietary laws.
With the slaying of the first animals for clothing and sacrifice, both man and beast became carnivorous, (meat eaters). With the change came a “Thou Shall Not Eat,” known as the law of Clean and Unclean Meats. He, (God), prepared everything for his subsistence, convenience, and pleasure, before He brought man into being; so that, comparing little with great things, the house was built, furnished, and amply stored by the time the destined tenant was ready to occupy. The reproduction of plants, their seed and fruit–production is automatic.
Genesis 4:4 Abel brought of the first male offspring of his flock, offered it to the Lord
Exodus 34:19 The first offspring among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, a male is mine
Numbers 18:17 The first offspring of a cow, sheep, or the goat, are Holy unto the Lord
Adam and Eve as the first sinners were first to have a Clean Animal slain for them by God and the first to offer Clean Animal sacrifices. Abel brought the first offspring of his flock. It was by this alone that he acknowledged himself a sinner, and professed faith in the promised Messiah. God testifying with his gifts, the thank offering and the sin offering, and by accepting them that faith in the promised seed was the only way in which he could accept the services and offering of mankind. God had made known that a sacrifice involving the shedding of blood would alone be acceptable to Him. Cain had definitely decided to disregard God’s will. We read that “Cain’s works were evil, and his brother's was righteous,” 1 John 3:12.
Genesis 7:2-3 Clean beast by seven pairs: male, female, Unclean, by two: male, female
Genesis 8:20 Noah builded an altar, sacrificed every clean beast and fowl on the altar
Leviticus 11:3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, cheweth the cud is clean
God told Noah, “of every clean, (pure), beast thou shall take to thee by seven (pairs), the male and female; and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female; of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and female; to keep seed alive upon the face of the earth.” So we find the distinction between Clean and Unclean animals existed long before the Mosaic Law. This distinction seems to have been originally designed to mark those animals that were proper for sacrifice and food, from those that were not. God speaks of unclean sacrifices, or such as should not be offered to the Lord. A new element is introduced into life, the flesh of the animals that may in the future be used as food. To this permission, however, a restriction is added. The sanctity of blood must be maintained, and in no circumstance, whatever must be eaten, along with some animals, fowls, and fish of the sea.
Leviticus 11:1-47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean
Deuteronomy 14:3 Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing
Almighty God has given us examples of the four-footed animals that we may use for food. Also, God has warned us specifically not to eat animals that would be harmful to us. Let us examine the marine and fresh water creatures that may be eaten. Our Heavenly Father has not specifically named any of the multitudes of fish that can be eaten other than to say, “Of creatures that live in water you may eat all those that have fins and scales, but you may not eat any that have neither fins nor scales, you shall regard them as unclean.”
Deuteronomy 14:3-20 But of all clean fowls ye may eat
Leviticus 11:13 These are abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten
Concerning fowl that have the approval of God to be used as food, we find the following legislation in Deuteronomy and Leviticus 11:13-19. It is obvious by scanning the list that once again a pattern emerges. The forbidden birds are those which are predators and flesh eaters. They have a very poor digestive system that is not suitable for refining the food they eat to the point where it will be thoroughly unclean for man’s use.
Isaiah 66:15-17 Eating swine’s flesh, and the mouse, (unclean thing), it is an abomination
Isaiah 65:3-4 They did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not
This end time prophecy is proof that the unclean meat law is still binding! Do not mistake the fact that Almighty God has a day appointed when He will judge the world. People will be entertaining in the gardens by barbecuing Pork Steaks and other Abominable Things, and shall be consumed together, said Almighty God. “I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh Me to anger continually to My face.”
Acts 10:1-48 I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean
Leviticus 20:25 Put difference between clean beast and unclean, between unclean fowls
Acts 10 records Peter’s trance-vision in which a great sheet was let down from heaven bearing all manner of animals, birds and insects, both clean and unclean. A voice told Peter to “Kill and Eat.” Peter replied; “Not so Lord for I have never eaten anything that is Common or Unclean.”
No, it is not a lesson on Unclean Meats, yet it does use known laws, both Bible and Tradition, to teach anew; God is no respecter of persons! We find Peter’s own statement in Acts 10:28 showing that the Apostle knew the message transmitted by the vision was not to kill Unclean Animals for food. “You 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.” Peter did not go and begin to kill hogs for food, but he did baptize Cornelius and his family, Cornelius was a Gentile.
There is no New Testament reference dealing specifically with the subject of Clean and Unclean meats. It was referred to, but it was not an issue. There is no New Testament declaration concerning the propriety of eating those meats the Bible designates as being Unclean.
The difference between clean and unclean animals was established early in man’s history, along with herbs, fowls, fruits and fish. Paul anew the men of Israel know about the Food Law when he wrote to the Churches, so it was unnecessary for him to explain the dietary law about Clean and the Unclean.
Paul’s writing to Timothy about the Clean and Unclean meats in 1 Timothy 4:1-6 said, “some would depart from the faith-forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meat, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” Verse 4: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.” Verse 5: “For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” Paul warned that at the end of time that the devil will have two evil doctrines, one is the teaching it is “Wrong to Marry,” the other is the “Commanding to abstain from meat.”
Romans 14 deals with doubtful disputation. Verse 2 “Him that is weak in the faith received you, but not to doubtful disputations.” “As concerning therefore, the eating of those things that were offered in sacrifice unto idols.” This was what this passage was about, Christians eating meat that was offered to idols. By this liberty it would become a stumbling block to them that are weak; through this a weak brother could perish, for whom Christ died, 1 Corinthians 8:4,7,10-11.
In this setting, Paul observes that nothing is unclean of itself. Food allowed by God for human consumption is not necessarily made Unclean because it was involved with idol worship. The idol had no power to turn clean meat to unclean. There is no question here about whether or not Unclean Meats may be eaten. The dispute is over the propriety of imposing vegetarianism onto the Christian community.
The disciples ate food without observing ceremonial washing. Before eating, the Jews washed their hands in prescribe ways such as scrubbing with the fist and making sure they washed from the hands to above the elbow. Failure to do this would contaminate the food, making it common. Jesus defended His disciples by saying, “Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meat,” Mark 7:19.
Whether one may or may not eat pork or other Unclean Food was not an issue. If Unclean Meats were being eaten by Jesus’ disciples, they would surely have been denounced for that. The passages contain no expression of disapproval of the kind of food being eaten.
Did God create all meat to be received? No. Those who know the truth know that God provided some meat to be eaten and others to be rejected. They know the difference. “Sanctified” means “Set Apart.” Some meat has been Sanctioned for food by the word of God. Those “Sanctified” by the Word of God, are listed in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. If not Sanctified, (set apart), by God’s word, prayer cannot clean it.
Today huge quantities of Pork are being consumed. Advertising on Radio, TV. and Billboards praise the flesh obtained from Swine. Possibly you are eating bacon for breakfast, a ham sandwich for lunch, or pork chops for dinner, never thinking twice about the source of the meat on your plate. One might include some of the other popular meats of the day, such as shrimp, shellfish, catfish, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, woodchucks, even horsemeat, and a whole host of other flesh foods that find their way into the stomachs of the human race. Few people consider the source of the things they eat and few still seem to care. Should one be concerned about his food? Should we select those things when we eat, with a view toward having robust health or should we merely follow the crowd and live as do our neighbors? We seek to delve into the eating habits of contemporary society relative to the meat that is eaten and then answer the question: “Have Swine Meat Changed?”
Noah is the first one recorded to have specific commands concerning the “Clean and Unclean” animals. Yet Adam and Eve as the first sinners were first to have an animal slain for them and first to offer Clean Animal Sacrifices. Noah was born 1457 years before “Sinai” and he was already aware of the Clean and Unclean Meats. To those who would tell us the Unclean Law was only for the Israelites we answer, the floodwater pre-dates the first Israelite, Jacob, by nearly 600 Years!
The law was in effect centuries before there was a Hebrew, much less an Israelite! It was known and observed by all the inhabitants of the earth after the flood, from which the world, both Israelite and Gentiles descended! We can forget about the “Israelite Only” theory. We can also eliminate the “Mosaic Law” reasoning, considering the fact that salt has been used as a preservative nearly from the beginning of time; we can also set aside the “Refrigerator Theory.” Then sin must rest on disobedience to a “Thou Shall Not Eat of It.” This is not to deny evidence of the hazards of health or well being from eating unclean, or as the concordance renders it, “Defiled Food.”
Shellfish, Catfish, Swine, Buzzards, Crows and other Rodents thrives on garbage, sewer sludge and other refuse discharge from cities. God has created these creatures to absorb refuse that is washed into the sea, and the Buzzards and Rodents on the garbage and refuse.
How few people really comprehend that when Almighty God legislated against the eating of certain foods He was not imposing a yoke of bondage, but He was giving mankind good, knowledgeable advice so that the human family would not have to suffer from some incurable disease contracted from eating contaminated food! The hog was created as a garbage disposal. One would not think of eating that which is in a mechanical garbage disposal, so why should we eat that which has been processed in one that is living? Is there a link between eating scripturally Unclean Animals and Cancer? More scientific studies should be done along this line to gather conclusive proof.
Genesis 1:27-30 I have given you every herb bearing seed, fruit of a tree for meat, (food)
Psalms 104:14 Grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man
Psalms 136:25 Who giveth food to all flesh: for His mercy endureth forever
Before sin entered the world, both man and beast were vegetarians. Even as vegetarians there was a “Thou Shall Not Eat” command. The fall of man brought in the second set of dietary laws.
With the slaying of the first animals for clothing and sacrifice, both man and beast became carnivorous, (meat eaters). With the change came a “Thou Shall Not Eat,” known as the law of Clean and Unclean Meats. He, (God), prepared everything for his subsistence, convenience, and pleasure, before He brought man into being; so that, comparing little with great things, the house was built, furnished, and amply stored by the time the destined tenant was ready to occupy. The reproduction of plants, their seed and fruit–production is automatic.
Genesis 4:4 Abel brought of the first male offspring of his flock, offered it to the Lord
Exodus 34:19 The first offspring among thy cattle, whether ox or sheep, a male is mine
Numbers 18:17 The first offspring of a cow, sheep, or the goat, are Holy unto the Lord
Adam and Eve as the first sinners were first to have a Clean Animal slain for them by God and the first to offer Clean Animal sacrifices. Abel brought the first offspring of his flock. It was by this alone that he acknowledged himself a sinner, and professed faith in the promised Messiah. God testifying with his gifts, the thank offering and the sin offering, and by accepting them that faith in the promised seed was the only way in which he could accept the services and offering of mankind. God had made known that a sacrifice involving the shedding of blood would alone be acceptable to Him. Cain had definitely decided to disregard God’s will. We read that “Cain’s works were evil, and his brother's was righteous,” 1 John 3:12.
Genesis 7:2-3 Clean beast by seven pairs: male, female, Unclean, by two: male, female
Genesis 8:20 Noah builded an altar, sacrificed every clean beast and fowl on the altar
Leviticus 11:3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, cheweth the cud is clean
God told Noah, “of every clean, (pure), beast thou shall take to thee by seven (pairs), the male and female; and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female; of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and female; to keep seed alive upon the face of the earth.” So we find the distinction between Clean and Unclean animals existed long before the Mosaic Law. This distinction seems to have been originally designed to mark those animals that were proper for sacrifice and food, from those that were not. God speaks of unclean sacrifices, or such as should not be offered to the Lord. A new element is introduced into life, the flesh of the animals that may in the future be used as food. To this permission, however, a restriction is added. The sanctity of blood must be maintained, and in no circumstance, whatever must be eaten, along with some animals, fowls, and fish of the sea.
Leviticus 11:1-47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean
Deuteronomy 14:3 Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing
Almighty God has given us examples of the four-footed animals that we may use for food. Also, God has warned us specifically not to eat animals that would be harmful to us. Let us examine the marine and fresh water creatures that may be eaten. Our Heavenly Father has not specifically named any of the multitudes of fish that can be eaten other than to say, “Of creatures that live in water you may eat all those that have fins and scales, but you may not eat any that have neither fins nor scales, you shall regard them as unclean.”
Deuteronomy 14:3-20 But of all clean fowls ye may eat
Leviticus 11:13 These are abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten
Concerning fowl that have the approval of God to be used as food, we find the following legislation in Deuteronomy and Leviticus 11:13-19. It is obvious by scanning the list that once again a pattern emerges. The forbidden birds are those which are predators and flesh eaters. They have a very poor digestive system that is not suitable for refining the food they eat to the point where it will be thoroughly unclean for man’s use.
Isaiah 66:15-17 Eating swine’s flesh, and the mouse, (unclean thing), it is an abomination
Isaiah 65:3-4 They did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not
This end time prophecy is proof that the unclean meat law is still binding! Do not mistake the fact that Almighty God has a day appointed when He will judge the world. People will be entertaining in the gardens by barbecuing Pork Steaks and other Abominable Things, and shall be consumed together, said Almighty God. “I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh Me to anger continually to My face.”
Acts 10:1-48 I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean
Leviticus 20:25 Put difference between clean beast and unclean, between unclean fowls
Acts 10 records Peter’s trance-vision in which a great sheet was let down from heaven bearing all manner of animals, birds and insects, both clean and unclean. A voice told Peter to “Kill and Eat.” Peter replied; “Not so Lord for I have never eaten anything that is Common or Unclean.”
No, it is not a lesson on Unclean Meats, yet it does use known laws, both Bible and Tradition, to teach anew; God is no respecter of persons! We find Peter’s own statement in Acts 10:28 showing that the Apostle knew the message transmitted by the vision was not to kill Unclean Animals for food. “You 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.” Peter did not go and begin to kill hogs for food, but he did baptize Cornelius and his family, Cornelius was a Gentile.
There is no New Testament reference dealing specifically with the subject of Clean and Unclean meats. It was referred to, but it was not an issue. There is no New Testament declaration concerning the propriety of eating those meats the Bible designates as being Unclean.
The difference between clean and unclean animals was established early in man’s history, along with herbs, fowls, fruits and fish. Paul anew the men of Israel know about the Food Law when he wrote to the Churches, so it was unnecessary for him to explain the dietary law about Clean and the Unclean.
Paul’s writing to Timothy about the Clean and Unclean meats in 1 Timothy 4:1-6 said, “some would depart from the faith-forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meat, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” Verse 4: “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.” Verse 5: “For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” Paul warned that at the end of time that the devil will have two evil doctrines, one is the teaching it is “Wrong to Marry,” the other is the “Commanding to abstain from meat.”
Romans 14 deals with doubtful disputation. Verse 2 “Him that is weak in the faith received you, but not to doubtful disputations.” “As concerning therefore, the eating of those things that were offered in sacrifice unto idols.” This was what this passage was about, Christians eating meat that was offered to idols. By this liberty it would become a stumbling block to them that are weak; through this a weak brother could perish, for whom Christ died, 1 Corinthians 8:4,7,10-11.
In this setting, Paul observes that nothing is unclean of itself. Food allowed by God for human consumption is not necessarily made Unclean because it was involved with idol worship. The idol had no power to turn clean meat to unclean. There is no question here about whether or not Unclean Meats may be eaten. The dispute is over the propriety of imposing vegetarianism onto the Christian community.
The disciples ate food without observing ceremonial washing. Before eating, the Jews washed their hands in prescribe ways such as scrubbing with the fist and making sure they washed from the hands to above the elbow. Failure to do this would contaminate the food, making it common. Jesus defended His disciples by saying, “Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meat,” Mark 7:19.
Whether one may or may not eat pork or other Unclean Food was not an issue. If Unclean Meats were being eaten by Jesus’ disciples, they would surely have been denounced for that. The passages contain no expression of disapproval of the kind of food being eaten.
Did God create all meat to be received? No. Those who know the truth know that God provided some meat to be eaten and others to be rejected. They know the difference. “Sanctified” means “Set Apart.” Some meat has been Sanctioned for food by the word of God. Those “Sanctified” by the Word of God, are listed in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. If not Sanctified, (set apart), by God’s word, prayer cannot clean it.