Was
The Law Against Eating Prohibited Flesh Changed?
By
Isaac Aluochier
All scriptural quotations are from the Hebrew Names Version of the World English Bible available at http://www.ebible.org/bible/hnv/.
Did Yah'shuah Make All Foods Clean?
Mark 7:1-23 reads,
7:1Then
the Perushim, and some of the Sofrim gathered together to him, having come from
Yerushalayim. 7:2Now when they
saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is, unwashed, hands,
they found fault. 7:3(For the
Perushim, and all the Yahudim, don't eat unless they wash their hands and
forearms, holding to the tradition of the Zakenim. 7:4They don't eat when they come from the market-place,
unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have
received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)
7:5The Perushim and the Sofrim asked
him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the
Zakenim, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?"
7:6He
answered them, "Well did Yesha`yahu prophesy of you
hypocrites, as it is written,
'This people honors
me with their lips,
But their heart is
far from me.
7:7But in vain do they worship me,
Teaching as
doctrines the commandments of men.'
7:8"For you set aside the commandment of the Mighty One,
and hold tightly to the tradition of men -- the washing of pitchers and cups,
and you do many other such things." 7:9He said to them, "Full
well do you reject the commandment of the Mighty One, that you may keep your
tradition. 7:10For Moshe said, 'Honor your father and your mother;' and, 'He
who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.' 7:11But you say, 'If a
man will tell his father or his mother, "Whatever you might have been
profited by me is Corban, that is to say, given to the Mighty One;"' 7:12and you no longer
allow him to do anything for his father or his mother, 7:13making void the
word of the Mighty One by your tradition, which you have handed down. You do
many things like this."
7:14He
called all the multitude to himself, and said to them, "Hear
me, all of you, and understand. 7:15There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him
can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that
defile the man. 7:16If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"
7:17When he had entered into the house from the multitude, his
disciples asked him about the parable. 7:18He said to them, "Are you so without understanding also?
Don't you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can't defile
him, 7:19because it doesn't go into his heart, but into his belly, and
into the latrine?' (Thus he made all
foods clean.) 7:20He
said, "That which proceeds out of the man, that
defiles the man. 7:21For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil
thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, 7:22covetings,
wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and
foolishness. 7:23All these evil things proceed from within, and defile the
man."
7:19 states, "(Thus he made all foods clean.)"
Many have relied on these words to assert that Yah'shuah changed the food laws that Yahweh gave the children of Yisrael, law permitting the eating of certain flesh and prohibiting the eating of other flesh.
Did Yah'shuah really change Yahweh's food laws? Are the children of Yisrael, on the strength of these words, permitted to eat anything?
Were All Unclean Creatures Cleansed In Kefa's Vision?
Acts 10:1-16 reads,
10:1Now
there was a certain man in
10:4He,
fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, "What is it,
Master?"
He said to him, "Your prayers and your
alms have gone up for a memorial before the Mighty One. 10:5Now send men to Yafo, and get one Shim`on,
who is surnamed Kefa. 10:6He lodges
with one Shim`on a tanner, whose house is by the seaside."
10:7When
the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household
servants, and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. 10:8Having explained everything to them, he
sent them to Yafo. 10:9Now on the
next day, as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Kefa went
up on the housetop to pray, at about noon. 10:10He
became hungry, and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell
into a trance. 10:11He saw
Heaven opened, and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet,
let down by four corners on the earth, 10:12in
which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals,
reptiles, and birds of the sky. 10:13A
voice came to him, "Rise, Kefa, kill and eat!"
10:14But
Kefa said, "Not so, Master; for I have never eaten anything that is common
or unclean."
10:15A
voice came to him again the second time, "What the
Mighty One has cleansed, you must not make unholy." 10:16This
was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into Heaven.
Many have relied on this vision that Kefa saw when in trance to assert that the Mighty One cleansed all flesh considered common or unclean at the time Kefa saw this vision. Seeing that Kefa was commanded, three times, to kill and eat those common or unclean four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles and birds of the sky. And also commanded not to make unholy whatever the Mighty One has cleansed.
For what the Mighty One has cleansed was indeed unclean or unholy at the time the Mighty One cleansed it. And seeing that Kefa was commanded to kill and eat unclean or unholy creatures, many have concluded that it was these unclean or unholy creatures that were cleansed by the Mighty One. Thereby enabling those previously prohibited from eating them now legally capable of eating them.
Did the Mighty One really cleanse common or unclean creatures, thereby enabling those prohibited from eating them now being legally capable of eating them?
Yahweh's Law On What May Be Eaten And What May Not Be
Eaten
Vayikra (Leviticus) 11:1-47 reads,
11:1Yahweh
spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying to them, 11:2"Speak
to the children of Yisra'el, saying, 'These are the living things which you
may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. 11:3Whatever parts the hoof, and is
cloven-footed, and chews the cud, among the animals, that may you eat. 11:4Nevertheless these shall you not eat of
them that chew the cud, or of those who part the hoof: the camel, because
he chews the cud but doesn't have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you. 11:5The rabbit, because he chews the cud but
doesn't have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you. 11:6The hare, because she chews the cud but
doesn't part the hoof, she is unclean to you. 11:7The
pig, because he doesn't part the hoof, and is cloven-footed, but doesn't
chew the cud, he is unclean to you. 11:8Of
their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they
are unclean to you.
11:9"'These
may you eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the
waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that may you eat. 11:10All that don't have fins and scales in the
seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of all the living
creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination to you, 11:11and they shall be an abomination to you;
you shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses you shall have in
abomination. 11:12Whatever has no
fins nor scales in the waters, that is an abomination to you.
11:13"'These
you shall have in abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they
are an abomination: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray, 11:14and the kite, and the falcon after its
kind, 11:15every raven after its
kind, 11:16and the ostrich, and the
night-hawk, and the seamew, and the hawk after its kind, 11:17and the little owl, and the cormorant, and
the great owl, 11:18and the horned
owl, and the pelican, and the vulture, 11:19and
the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat.
11:20"'All
winged creeping things that go on all fours are an abomination to you. 11:21Yet these may you eat of all winged
creeping things that go on all fours, which have legs above their feet,
wherewith to leap on the earth. 11:22Even
these of them you may eat: the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after
its kind, and the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind. 11:23But all winged creeping things, which have
four feet, are an abomination to you.
11:24"'By
these you shall become unclean: whoever touches the carcass of them shall be
unclean until the even; 11:25Whoever
bears anything of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean
until the even. 11:26Every
animal which parts the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor chews the cud, is
unclean to you: everyone who touches them shall be unclean. 11:27Whatever goes on its paws, among all
animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you: whoever touches their
carcass shall be unclean until the even. 11:28He
who bears the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the
even: they are unclean to you. 11:29These
are they which are unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the
earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the great lizard after its kind, 11:30and the gecko, and the land-crocodile, and
the lizard, and the sand-lizard, and the chameleon. 11:31These are they which are unclean to you
among all that creep: whoever does touch them, when they are dead, shall be
unclean until the even.
11:32"'On
whatever any of them, when they are dead, does fall, it shall be unclean;
whether it be any vessel of wood, or clothing, or skin, or sack, whatever
vessel it be, wherewith any work is done, it must be put into water, and it
shall be unclean until the even; then shall it be clean. 11:33Every earthen vessel, into which any of
them falls, whatever is in it shall be unclean, and it you shall break. 11:34All food therein which may be eaten, that
on which water comes, shall be unclean; and all drink that may be drunk in
every such vessel shall be unclean. 11:35Every
thing whereupon any part of their carcass falls shall be unclean; whether oven,
or range for pots, it shall be broken in pieces: they are unclean, and shall be
unclean to you. 11:36Nevertheless a
spring or a pit in which is a gathering of water shall be clean: but that which
touches their carcass shall be unclean. 11:37If
anything of their carcass fall on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is
clean. 11:38But if water be put on
the seed, and anything of their carcass fall thereon, it is unclean to you. 11:39If any animal, of which you may eat,
die; he who touches the carcass of it shall be unclean until the even. 11:40He who eats of the carcass of it shall
wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that bears the carcass
of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.
11:41"'Every
creeping thing that creeps on the earth is an abomination; it shall not be
eaten. 11:42Whatever goes on the
belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all
creeping things that creep on the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are
an abomination. 11:43You shall
not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, neither
shall you make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled
thereby. 11:44For I am Yahweh your
Mighty One: sanctify yourselves therefore, and be you holy; for I am holy:
neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that
moves on the earth. 11:45For I am
Yahweh who brought you up out of the land of Mitzrayim, to be your Mighty One:
you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
11:46"'This
is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that
moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth; 11:47to make a distinction between the unclean
and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living
thing that may not be eaten.'"
Vayikra 11 clearly defines both what may be eaten and what may not be eaten among living creatures.
Yahweh's Law On Clean And Unclean Creatures Applicable
To The Children To Yisrael
It should be noted from 11:1-2 that these stipulations concerning what may be eaten and what may not be eaten were given to the CHILDREN OF YISRAEL.
It should also be noted that the creatures prohibited to the Yisraelites were unclean TO THEM. These prohibited creatures were abominations to them, and they were to hold these prohibited creatures in abomination.
Touching The Carcass Of An Unclean Creature Makes An
Yisraelite Unclean
11:24 notes that any Yisraelite who touched the carcass of these unclean or abominable creatures became unclean, unclean until even. Implying that touching these unclean or abominable creatures while they were alive did not make an Yisraelite unclean. An Yisraelite became unclean only when he touched the carcass of these unclean or abominable creatures.
Touching Any Portion Of The Carcass Of An Unclean Creature
Makes An Yisraelite Unclean
11:25 clarifies 11:24. For it notes that any Yisraelite who bears any portion of the carcass of these unclean or abominable creatures became unclean. Such that if an Yisraelite touched any flesh or product made from such unclean or abominable creatures he or she became unclean! Implying that Yisraelites were not only to avoid eating the flesh of these unclean or abominable creatures, they were also to avoid touching any product made from these unclean or abominable creatures! Thus showing that the only products from creatures that Yahweh allowed the Yisraelites to touch or deal in were those of clean creatures!
The Uncleanness Resultant Upon Touching The Carcass Of
An Unclean Creature Is Temporary In Nature
It should also be noted that the uncleanness that came upon Yisraelites for touching the carcass or any part of the carcass of these unclean or abominable creatures was TEMPORARY in nature. For the uncleanness lasted only until such time as the Yisraelite who became so unclean washed his or her clothes and even came. Once one's clothes were clean and evening had come, one was no longer unclean on account of touching the carcass or any part of the carcass of an unclean or abominable creature.
Yisraelites Working On Unclean Creatures' Carcasses
Could Be Cleansed
It therefore seems that if any Yisraelite was involved in the work of touching such carcasses, or any part of them, the manner he or she would be cleansed on his or her uncleanness would be by washing his or her clothes prior to evening. Such that come evening, after the washing of one's clothes, one would indeed be cleansed.
Also, those Yisraelites whose work did not involve touching such carcasses, or their parts, but may have unwittingly touched them, would need to wash their clothes prior to evening. Such that if they had unwittingly become clean during the day, they would indeed be clean come evening after they had washed their clothes. Concerned Yisraelites careful to avoid violating this stipulation, to ensure that come evening they are clean, should wash their clothes prior to evening, especially if they need to be clean come evening. Such as they would need to be to partake of Yahweh's Pesach.
Why was the nature of this uncleanness temporary, lasting only until the washing of one's clothes and the subsequent evening?
Yisraelites Should Generally Steer Clear Of The
Carcasses Of Unclean Creatures
11:32 implies that Yisraelites should STEER CLEAR of the carcass of any unclean or abominable creature. For if any part of such a carcass touches most items, those items so touched become unclean, necessitating a cleansing process of those items.
Yisraelites Became Unclean Upon Touching The Carcass Of
Any Creature
It should be noted from 11:39-40 that temporary uncleanness did not come upon only those who touched unclean or abominable creatures! Even those who touched the carcasses of clean creatures that could be eaten became temporarily unclean! Even those who ate of the carcasses of creatures they were permitted to eat became temporarily unclean! And they remained so until they washed their clothes and evening came!
It is therefore seen that this temporarily uncleanness came upon all Yisraelites who touched any part of the carcass of any creature. And the manner one was cleansed of this temporary uncleanness was by the washing of one's clothes and the coming of evening.
Is There A Remedy For Those Who Disobey Yahweh's Word
To Avoid Eating Unclean Creatures?
It should also be noted that whereas the Yisraelites were permitted to eat of the carcasses of clean creatures, they were forbidden from eating of the carcasses of unclean or abominable creatures. Seeing that the remedy for one becoming unclean by reason of touching a part of the carcass of a creature was to wash one's clothes and await the coming of evening, was there a remedy for one who disobeyed Yahweh's word to avoid eating unclean or abominable creatures?
It should also be noted that Yahweh did not prohibit Yisraelites from touching the carcasses of unclean or abominable creatures. What he forbade them was eating of these carcasses. Such that any Yisraelite who disobeyed Yahweh's word to avoid eating of such carcasses would have to be dealt with as one who disobeyed Yahweh's word. And not as one who became temporarily unclean by reason of touching a part of a carcass, which was not forbidden.
Should Yisraelites Daily Wash Their Clothes Prior To
Evening?
It should also be noted that seeing that Yisraelites were permitted to eat of clean creatures, and that they became temporarily unclean by reason of eating of the carcasses of such creatures, it appears that they needed to regularly wash their clothes prior to evening every time they ate of such clean animals, if they desired to be clean come the evening. It therefore seems that Yisraelites who are zealous for this law, and also desire to be clean every evening, and daily eat of clean creatures, must wash their clothes daily prior to evening.
Disobedient Yisraelites Become Defiled
It should be noted from 11:43 that those Yisraelites who make themselves abominable, unclean and defiled by unclean or abominable creatures are those who EAT unclean or abominable creatures! For 11:39 and prior verses have shown that any Yisraelite who touches of the carcass of any creature, whether clean or unclean, becomes temporarily unclean. 11:40 has shown that any Yisraelite who EATS of any carcass of a clean creature becomes temporarily unclean. Seeing that Yahweh has permitted Yisraelites to eat of the carcasses of clean creatures, it is evident that it is not wrong or a sin to eat of such carcasses. Nevertheless, Yahweh forbids Yisraelites from eating of the carcasses of unclean or abominable creatures. It therefore appears that the abomination, uncleanness and defilement that comes upon an Yisraelites on account of 11:43 is occasioned by his or her disobedience to Yahweh!
It also appears that the abomination, uncleanness and defilement that comes upon an Yisraelite on account of his eating what Yahweh has forbidden him is of a different nature than that which comes upon him when he is compliant with Yahweh's word. For the temporary uncleanness that comes upon an Yisraelite, on account of touching a part of the carcass of a creature, does not violate Yahweh's word. But seeing that there is an abomination, uncleanness and defilement that comes upon an Yisraelite for his violation of Yahweh's word, it is indeed understood that this abomination, uncleanness and defilement is of a different quality or nature to the temporary uncleanness earlier spoken about.
How may one be cleansed of this more severe form of abomination, uncleanness and defilement, brought about by disobedience to Yahweh's word? By repenting of one's disobedience? By the undertaking of some additional mechanism?
Why Yahweh Commanded Yisraelites To Avoid Eating
Unclean Creatures
11:44-45 give Yahweh's reason for giving the Yisraelites the law of what may be eaten and what may not be eaten. Yahweh is holy. Yisraelites are to be holy as Yahweh is holy. By eating of abominable or unclean creatures Yisraelites become defiled or unholy. To avoid so becoming defiled or unholy Yisraelites must avoid eating abominable or unclean creatures. Yisraelites must be holy as Yahweh is holy.
Yisraelites Are Yahweh's Own Possession
Devarim (Deuteronomy) 14:1-21 reads,
14:1You
are the children of Yahweh your Mighty One: you shall not cut yourselves, nor
make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 14:2For
you are a holy people to Yahweh your Mighty One, and Yahweh has chosen you to
be a people for his own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of
the earth. 14:3You shall not eat any
abominable thing. 14:4These are
the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, 14:5the hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck,
and the wild goat, and the gazelle, and the antelope, and the chamois. 14:6Every animal that parts the hoof, and has
the hoof cloven in two, and chews the cud, among the animals, that may you eat.
14:7Nevertheless these you shall not
eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who have the hoof cloven: the camel,
and the hare, and the rabbit; because they chew the cud but don't part the
hoof, they are unclean to you. 14:8The
pig, because he doesn't part the hoof but doesn't chew the cud, he is unclean
to you: of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not
touch. 14:9These you may eat of all
that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales may you eat; 14:10and whatever doesn't have fins and scales
you shall not eat; it is unclean to you. 14:11Of
all clean birds you may eat. 14:12But
these are they of which you shall not eat: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and
the ospray, 14:13and the red kite,
and the falcon, and the kite after its kind, 14:14and
every raven after its kind, 14:15and
the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the sea-mew, and the hawk after its kind, 14:16the little owl, and the great owl, and the
horned owl, 14:17and the pelican,
and the vulture, and the cormorant, 14:18and
the stork, and the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat. 14:19All winged creeping things are unclean to
you: they shall not be eaten. 14:20Of
all clean birds you may eat. 14:21You
shall not eat of anything that dies of itself: you may give it to the sojourner
who is within your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to a
foreigner: for you are a holy people to Yahweh your Mighty One. You shall
not boil a kid in its mother's milk.
14:1 notes that the children of Yisrael are indeed Yahweh's children.
14:2 notes that Yisraelites are a holy people to Yahweh. It also notes that Yahweh has chosen them to be a people for his own possession, ABOVE ALL PEOPLES who are on the face of the earth. It is therefore seen that Yahweh has given Yisraelites a status or ranking higher than that of other peoples on the face of the earth.
Why Yahweh Has Imposed Stipulations Upon Yisraelites
That He Has Not Imposed Upon Other Peoples
Because of their holy state, and because of their higher ranking in relation of other peoples on the face of the earth, there are some stipulations and laws that Yahweh has imposed upon the Yisraelites that he has not imposed upon other peoples. These stipulations include 14:3, whereby Yisraelites are forbidden from eating abominable things.
Yisraelites Are Not To Eat Of Clean Creatures That Die
Of Themselves
14:21 notes that Yisraelites are not to eat anything that dies of itself. It should be understood that they are forbidden from eating clean creatures that die of themselves, for the only creatures that they are permitted to eat are clean creatures.
Non-Yisraelites Are Not Forbidden From Eating Clean
Creatures That Die Of Themselves
It should also be noted that the sojourner living among the Yisraelites is NOT FORBIDDEN from eating clean creatures that die of themselves! For Yahweh allows Yisraelites to give these sojourners such unclean food, unclean on account of the creature dying of itself. And Yahweh allows the sojourners living among the Yisraelites to eat such creatures, showing that it is indeed NOT SIN for the sojourner to eat of such creatures - that die of themselves! It is also NOT SIN for foreigners to eat of such creatures, seeing that Yahweh allows them to buy such creatures for their consumption.
Clean Creatures That Die Of Themselves Become Unclean
It should also be noted that the REASON Yahweh forbids Yisraelites eating clean creatures that die of themselves is that such creatures become unclean on account of having died of themselves. And seeing that Yahweh's children are to be holy as he is holy, they must not defile themselves by eating what is defiled.
Yahweh's Food Laws Applicable Only To Those Who Are
Holy
It should also be noted that those who are not holy, such as sojourners living amongst Yisraelites, and foreigners, are not forbidden from eating unclean or abominable creatures! Yahweh's law pertaining to what may be eaten, and what may not be eaten, is applicable only to those who are holy, to those Yahweh has given pre-eminence among the peoples of the earth. It is not applicable to those who are not holy and have not been given pre-eminence among the peoples of the earth. Unholy people can therefore eat unclean or abominable things without sinning or violating Yahweh's word!
Yisraelites Can Rear Unclean Creatures For Sale To
Non-Yisraelites
It therefore appears that Yisraelites can indeed rear unclean or abominable creatures to sell them to unholy people - non-Yisraelites. Provided they wash their clothes prior to evening when they touch the carcass of these unclean or abominable creatures, and they do not eat of them, and otherwise cleanse that such carcasses have touched, they will not be violating Yahweh's law. It is therefore not wrong for an Yisraelite to be involved in the rearing of unclean or abominable creatures for sale to non-Yisraelites.
Mattityahu (Matthew) 15:1-20 reads,
15:1Then
Perushim and Sofrim come to Yah'shuah from Yerushalayim, saying, 15:2"Why do your disciples disobey the
tradition of the Zakenim? For they don't wash their hands when they eat bread."
15:3He
answered them, "Why do you also disobey the
commandment of the Mighty One because of your tradition? 15:4For the Mighty One
commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of
father or mother, let him be put to death.' 15:5But you say, 'Whoever will tell
his father or his mother, "Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten
from me is a gift devoted to the Mighty One," 15:6he will not honor
his father or mother.' You have made the commandment of the Mighty One void
because of your tradition. 15:7You hypocrites! Well did Yesha`yahu prophesy of you, saying,
15:8'These people draw near to me with their mouth,
And honor me with
their lips;
But their heart is far
from me.
15:9But in vain do they worship me,
Teaching as doctrine
rules made by men.'"
15:10He
called the multitude to himself, and said to them, "Hear, and
understand. 15:11That which enters
into the mouth doesn't defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the
mouth, this defiles the man."
15:12Then
the disciples came, and said to him, "Do you know that the Perushim were
offended, when they heard this saying?"
15:13But
he answered, "Every plant which my heavenly Father didn't plant, will be
rooted up. 15:14Let them alone. They
are blind guides of the blind. If the blind guide the blind, both will fall
into a pit."
15:15Kefa
answered him, "Explain the parable to us."
15:16So
he said, "Do you also still not understand? 15:17Don't you
understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the belly, and then
out of the body? 15:18But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out
of the heart, and they defile the man. 15:19For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. 15:20These are the
things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn't defile the
man."
It should be noted from 15:1-2 that the accusation the Perushim and Sofrim brought to Yah'shuah against Yah'shuah's disciples was not centred on Yahweh's law, but on the tradition of the Zakenim.
Spiritual Defilement Does Not Come From Eating Anything
Yah'shuah's words in 15:10, 17-20 should be noted. What SPIRITUALLY DEFILES a man is not what he eats, but what comes forth out of his heart! For what comes forth out of the heart is evil. But whatever one eats does not go into the heart, to subsequently come out of it.
Spiritual Defilement Is Different From Defilement
Occasioned By Eating Unclean Creatures
It should also be noted that the spiritual defilement that Yah'shuah spoke of in Matthew 15 is DIFFERENT from the abomination, uncleanness or defilement that comes upon Yisraelites who eat abominable or unclean creatures. For the uncleanness that comes upon Yisraelites for eating unclean creatures DOES NOT spiritually defile them. The defilement that comes upon them for so violating Yahweh's word is therefore a LESSER defilement than spiritual defilement. A defilement occasioned by violating a law concerned with their pre-eminent position among peoples on the face of the earth, rather than a defilement concerned with their spiritual salvation!
It would seem that an Yisraelite who persistently but ignorantly violated the law against eating unclean or abominable creatures would risk losing the pre-eminence that Yahweh has given him above all other peoples on the face of the earth. But seeing that this defilement is not spiritual defilement, it would appear that such an Yisraelite's spiritual salvation was not at risk. Nevertheless, for the Yisraelite who presumptuously rebels against Yahweh's word to him with respect to avoiding eating unclean or abominable creatures, his spiritual salvation is indeed at risk. For his rebellion against is Yahweh's word to him, which is spiritual defilement.
Yahchanan (John) 4:31-38 reads,
4:31In
the meanwhile, the disciples urged him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."
4:32But
he said to them, "I have food to eat that you
don't know about."
4:33The
disciples therefore said one to another, "Has anyone brought him something
to eat?"
4:34Yah'shuah
said to them, "My food is to do the will of him
who sent me, and to accomplish his work. 4:35Don't you say,
'There are yet four months until the harvest?' Behold, I tell you, lift up your
eyes, and look at the fields, that they are white already to harvest. 4:36He who reaps
receives wages, and gathers fruit to eternal life; that both he who sows and he
who reaps may rejoice together. 4:37For in this the saying is true, 'One sows, and another
reaps.' 4:38I sent you to reap that for which you haven't labored. Others
have labored, and you have entered into their labor."
It should be noted from 4:32 and 34 that Yah'shuah had a type of "food" that his disciples were not aware of. This "food" was to do the will of him who sent him, and to accomplish his work.
Doing Yahweh's Will And Work Is Eating Food From Yahweh
It is therefore the case that when Yahweh's servants are doing his will and accomplishing his work they are indeed eating "food" from Yahweh. Yahweh's "food" to his servants is therefore not physical food, but is metaphorical or spiritual food.
Food That Remains To Eternal Life
Yahchanan (John) 6:16-71 reads,
6:16When
evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 6:17and
they entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Kafar-Nachum. It was
now dark, and Yah'shuah had not come to them. 6:18The
sea was rising by reason of a great wind that blew. 6:19When therefore they had rowed about
twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Yah'shuah walking on the sea, and
drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid. 6:20But
he said to them, "It is I. Don't be afraid."
6:21They were willing therefore to
receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were
going.
6:22On
the next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that
there was no other boat there, except the one which his disciples had entered,
and that Yah'shuah hadn't entered with his disciples into the boat, but his
disciples went away alone. 6:23However
boats from Tiberias came near to the place where they ate the bread after the
Master had given thanks. 6:24When
the multitude therefore saw that Yah'shuah wasn't there, neither his disciples,
they themselves got into the boats, and came to Kafar-Nachum, seeking
Yah'shuah. 6:25When they found him
on the other side of the sea, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you come
here?"
6:26Yah'shuah
answered them, "Most assuredly I tell you, you
seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were
filled. 6:27Don't work for the food which perishes, but for the food
which remains to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For the
Father, even the Mighty One, has sealed him."
6:28They
said therefore to him, "What must we do, that we may work the works of
the Mighty One?"
6:29Yah'shuah
answered them, "This is the work of the Mighty
One, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
6:30They
said therefore to him, "What then do you do for a sign, that we may see,
and believe you? What work do you do? 6:31Our
fathers ate the manna in the wilderness. As it is written, 'He gave them bread
out of the sky to eat.'"
6:32Yah'shuah
therefore said to them, "Most assuredly, I tell
you, it wasn't Moshe who gave you the bread out of Heaven, but my Father
gives you the true bread out of Heaven. 6:33For the bread of
the Mighty One is that which comes down out of Heaven, and gives life to the
world."
6:34They
said therefore to him, "Master, always give us this bread."
6:35Yah'shuah
said to them. "I am the bread of life. He who
comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
6:36But
I told you that you have seen me, and yet don't believe. 6:37All that which the
Father gives me will come to me. Him who comes to me I will in no way throw out.
6:38For
I have come down from Heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who
sent me. 6:39This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all who he
has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise them up at the last
day. 6:40This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who
sees the Son, and believes in him, should have eternal life; and I will raise
him up at the last day."
6:41The
Yahudim therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, "I am the bread which came down out of Heaven." 6:42They said,
"Isn't this Yah'shuah, the son of Yosef, whose father and mother we know?
How then does he say, 'I have come down out of Heaven?'"
6:43Therefore
Yah'shuah answered them, "Don't murmur among
yourselves. 6:44No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws
him, and I will raise him up in the last day. 6:45It is written in
the prophets, 'They will all be taught by the Mighty One.' Everyone who hears
from the Father, and has learned, comes to me. 6:46Not that any man has seen the Father, except he who is from
the Mighty One. He has seen the Father. 6:47Most assuredly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal
life. 6:48I am the bread of life. 6:49Your fathers ate
the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 6:50This is the bread which comes
down out of Heaven, that a man may eat of it, and not die. 6:51I am the living
bread which came down out of Heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live
forever. Yes, the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world."
6:52The
Yahudim therefore contended with one another, saying, "How can this man
give us his flesh to eat?"
6:53Yah'shuah
therefore said to them, "Most assuredly I tell
you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don't
have life in yourselves. 6:54He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life,
and I will raise him up at the last day. 6:55For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 6:56He who eats my
flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I in him. 6:57As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the
Father; so he who feeds on me, he will also live because of me. 6:58This is the
bread which came down out of Heaven -- not as our fathers ate the manna, and
died. He who eats this bread will live forever." 6:59These
things he said in the synagogue, as he taught in Kafar-Nachum.
6:60Therefore
many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying!
Who can hear it?"
6:61But
Yah'shuah knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at this, said to them,
"Does this cause you to stumble? 6:62What if you would
see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 6:63It is the spirit
who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are
spirit, and are life. 6:64But there are some
of you who don't believe." For Yah'shuah knew from the beginning
who they were who didn't believe, and who it was who would betray him. 6:65He said, "For
this cause have I said to you that no one can come to me, except it be given to
him by my Father." 6:66At
this, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 6:67Yah'shuah said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?"
6:68Shim`on
Kefa answered him, "Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of
eternal life. 6:69We have come to
believe and know that you are the Messiah, the Son of the living Mighty
One."
6:70Yah'shuah
answered them, "Didn't I choose you, the twelve,
and one of you is a devil?" 6:71Now
he spoke of Yahudah, the son of Shim`on Ish-K'riot, for it was he who would
betray him, being one of the twelve.
What is the food that remains to eternal life that the Son of Man will give to those who work for it, as Yah'shuah spoke of in 6:27?
6:29 shows that the work of the Mighty One is to BELIEVE in him whom he has sent - Yah'shuah.
Therefore those who believe in Yah'shuah will receive from the Son of Man food that remains to eternal life. And seeing that we should work for food that remains to eternal life, it is evident that we should believe in Yah'shuah.
Yah'shuah Is The True Bread Of Life
What is the true bread that Yah'shuah's Father gives, as spoken of in 6:32?
6:35 shows that Yah'shuah is the true bread of life. He who goes to Yah'shuah will not be hungry, and he who believes in Yah'shuah will never thirst. In other words, in Yah'shuah is eternal life!
How does one go to Yah'shuah, that one may not be hungry?
6:37 shows that those who go to Yah'shuah are those that the Father has given him. Implying that if one has not been given by the Father to Yah'shuah that one cannot go to Yah'shuah! Further implying that the Father is the initiator of the whole process of one going to Yah'shuah. And also showing that the Father does indeed own all human beings, for he has power and authority to give a human being to Yah'shuah.
Yah'shuah Will Not Throw Away Those Who Come To Him
6:37 notes Yah'shuah stating that he will in no way throw out those who come to him, those whom the Father gives to him. For 6:38 notes that Yah'shuah did not come down from heaven to do his own will, but the will of the Father who sent him. And it is the Father's will that Yah'shuah not throw out any whom he gives Yah'shuah. 6:39 also affirms that it is the Father's will that Yah'shuah lose nothing of all that the Father gives him, but should raise them up at the last day. And those who go to Yah'shuah and believe in him should have eternal life, as 6:40 shows.
There is a lesson that Yah'shuah's disciples can learn from Yah'shuah. When the Father gives us people into our care, we should not throw them out. We should subjugate our own will, and do the Father's will. And we should fulfil, in entirety, the Father's will in giving these people into our care. For example, if the Father gives a widow and her children into the care of a man, that man should indeed marry that widow and be father to those fatherless children. The man should not throw out the widow and her children, but should faithfully undertake the responsibility that the Father has placed upon his shoulders. After all, pure religion is to visit widows and fatherless in their affliction (Yaakov (James) 1:27).
6:44-45 shows how those who go to Yah'shuah do so. They are first taught by the Father. They hear from the Father, and learn from the Father. These who both hear and learn from the Father are they who go to Yah'shuah. Implying that those who hear from the Father, but do not learn from him, do not go to Yah'shuah. And those who do not even hear from the Father do not go to Yah'shuah.
The Living Bread That Came Down From Heaven
6:51 states, clearly, that Yah'shuah is the living bread that came down from heaven, and that the bread that he gives for the life of the world is HIS FLESH!
Eat Yah'shuah's Flesh And Drink His Blood
In 6:53-58 Yah'shuah further clarified that it was essential for one to eat his flesh and drink his blood before that one could have eternal life and be raised up at the last day.
6:60 notes that these sayings of Yah'shuah were HARD SAYINGS! In literal speech, these things that Yah'shuah spoke of were difficult to accept!
For it is very clear that Yahweh forbade Yisraelites from eating any creature that was unclean. And seeing that human beings are not to be eaten by other human beings, according to Yahweh's law, did not Yah'shuah's words appear to be contrary to Yahweh's law, the very Yahweh that Yah'shuah claimed had sent him from heaven to the earth?
And how could Yah'shuah raise to life those who has eaten him? Would not he be dead, after being eaten, and therefore not able to raise to life these very people who had eaten him?
And how many people could actually eat him? Seeing that his flesh was not sufficient for many human beings, being less in size than even a bull? Was Yah'shuah therefore saying that those to have eternal life were a very small number of people?
And how could he live in the ones who had eaten his flesh and drank his blood? And how could these who had so eaten and so drank live in him? Was it not physically impossible to implement these things that Yah'shuah was talking about over here? For if he was dead, his flesh having been eaten, and his blood having been drank, he could he then say that he would still be alive in those who had so eaten and so drank him? And how could these people live inside a dead person? And how could all those who so ate of him and so drank of him live in him? Were not all these things physically impossible to implement?
Yah'shuah Could Not Have Been Speaking Literally
It should be clear that Yah'shuah COULD NOT have been speaking literally. For it was impossible to literally implement these things that Yah'shuah spoke of. Therefore the only manner that Yah'shuah's words could make sense was if he was speaking metaphorically!
In other words, taken literally, Yah'shuah's words appeared to have been contradicted by Yahweh's words and law. For Yahweh forbids Yisraelites from eating other human beings, and also forbids human beings from eating or drinking blood. Also, it was physically impossible to implement some of these words of Yah'shuah, such as a dead human being living inside several other human beings who had eaten his flesh and drank his blood.
It should therefore be clear that when Yahweh speaks to us a difficult matter, a matter that APPEARS to be contrary to his law or other previous word, that latter word is NOT SUPPOSED to be taken literally. It should be understood metaphorically. With Yahweh being sought to explain the meaning of these physically difficult words.
Yahweh's Difficult Sayings Should Not Be Rashly
Dismissed
Therefore when Yahweh speaks to us words difficult to accept, we should not automatically dismiss those words as not having come from Yahweh. We should also not rashly assume that Yahweh is instructing us to do something clearly contrary to his previously revealed word. We should patiently seek Yahweh to ascertain from him the meaning of these physically difficult words. And after having ascertained their meaning, a metaphorical meaning rather than a literal one, we should them apply Yahweh's intended meaning to the situation at hand.
Yah'shuah Explained His Hard Sayings
In 6:63 Yah'shuah EXPLAINED what he meant by his physically difficult and impossible words. It is the SPIRIT that gives life, not flesh. And his words, Yah'shuah's words, are spirit and life.
In other words, it is Yah'shuah's words that one is to partake of if one is to have eternal life, and be raised up at the last day.
The Father Does Not Force People To Remain With
Yah'shuah
6:65-68 notes that even though the Father has given people to Yah'shuah, he does not force them to remain with Yah'shuah. Even though it is his will that Yah'shuah throw them not away, and that Yah'shuah should lose none of them, the Father still does not force these people to remain with Yah'shuah. They can leave Yah'shuah if they choose to. Such as when they refuse to accept or believe the words that Yah'shuah speaks to them, words that the Father has given Yah'shuah to speak.
Learn From The Father And Yah'shuah
Learning from the Father and Yah'shuah, those whom the Father gives other people into their care should behave like Yah'shuah. The Father does not force these people to stay with those the Father has given them to. The one given stewardship should faithfully apply the Father's will with respect to those the Father has given them to care for. But should these who are cared for reject the Father's works that his stewards do, and leave the stewards, they are not to be forced to stay. They can leave, even though it is not the Father's will that they reject his will.
Yah'shuah Has The Words Of Eternal Life
6:68-69 clearly affirm that Yah'shuah has the words of eternal life, and that he is the Son of the living Mighty One!
Acts 10:1-48 reads,
10:1Now
there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was
called the Italian Regiment, 10:2a
devout man, and one who feared the Mighty One with all his house, who gave alms
generously to the people, and always prayed to the Mighty One. 10:3At about the ninth hour of the day, he
clearly saw in a vision an angel of Yahweh coming to him, and saying to him,
"Cornelius!"
10:4He,
fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, "What is it,
Master?"
He said to him, "Your prayers and your
alms have gone up for a memorial before the Mighty One. 10:5Now send men to Yafo, and get one Shim`on,
who is surnamed Kefa. 10:6He lodges
with one Shim`on a tanner, whose house is by the seaside."
10:7When
the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household
servants, and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. 10:8Having explained everything to them, he
sent them to Yafo. 10:9Now on the
next day, as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Kefa went
up on the housetop to pray, at about noon. 10:10He
became hungry, and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into
a trance. 10:11He saw Heaven opened,
and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet, let down by four
corners on the earth, 10:12in which
were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and
birds of the sky. 10:13A voice came
to him, "Rise, Kefa, kill and eat!"
10:14But
Kefa said, "Not so, Master; for I have never eaten anything that is common
or unclean."
10:15A
voice came to him again the second time, "What the
Mighty One has cleansed, you must not make unholy." 10:16This was done three times, and immediately
the vessel was received up into Heaven.
10:17Now
while Kefa was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen
might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for
Shim`on's house, stood before the gate, 10:18and
called and asked whether Shim`on, who was surnamed Kefa, was lodging there. 10:19While Kefa thought about the vision,
the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men seek you. 10:20But arise, get down, and go with them,
doubting nothing; for I have sent them." 10:21Kefa
went down to the men, and said, "Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have
you come?"
10:22They
said, "Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears the Mighty
One, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Yahudim, was directed by a
holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say. 10:23So he called them in and lodged them. On
the next day Kefa arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from
Yafo accompanied him. 10:24On the
next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having
called together his relatives and his near friends.
10:25When
it happened that Kefa entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet,
and worshipped him. 10:26But Kefa
raised him up, saying, "Stand up! I myself am also a man." 10:27As he talked with him, he went in, and
found many come together. 10:28He
said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a
man who is a Yahudi to join himself or come to one of another nation, but the
Mighty One has shown me that I shouldn't call any man unholy or unclean. 10:29Therefore also I came without complaint
when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?"
10:30Cornelius
said, "Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth
hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright
clothing, 10:31and said, 'Cornelius,
your prayer is heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of the Mighty
One. 10:32Send therefore to Yafo,
and call to you Shim`on, who is surnamed Kefa. He lodges in the house of
Shim`on a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.' 10:33Therefore I sent to you at once, and it
was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of
the Mighty One to hear all things that have been commanded you by the Mighty
One."
10:34Kefa
opened his mouth and said, "Truly I perceive that the Mighty One
doesn't show favoritism, 10:35but in
every nation he who fears him, and works righteousness, is acceptable to him.
10:36The word which he sent to the
children of Yisra'el, preaching good news of shalom by Yah'shuah the Messiah
(he is Master of all): 10:37that
spoken word you yourselves know, which was proclaimed throughout all Yahudah,
beginning from the Galil, after the baptism which Yahchanan preached; 10:38even Yah'shuah of Natzeret, how the Mighty
One anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing
good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for the Mighty One was
with him. 10:39We are witnesses of
all things which he did both in the country of the Yahudim, and in
Yerushalayim; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. 10:40The Mighty One raised him up the third
day, and gave him to be revealed, 10:41not
to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by the Mighty One,
to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 10:42He charged us to preach to the people, and
to testify that this is he who is appointed by the Mighty One as the Judge of
the living and the dead. 10:43All
the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in
him will receive remission of sins."
10:44While
Kefa was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who
heard the word. 10:45They of the
circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Kefa, because the
gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Goyim. 10:46For they heard them speak with other
languages, and magnify the Mighty One.
Then Kefa answered, 10:47"Can any man forbid the water, that
these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be
baptized?" 10:48He commanded
them to be baptized in the name of Yah'shuah the Messiah. Then they asked
him to stay some days.
Yahweh's Difficult Speeches Are Not To Be Understood
Literally
Having seen from Yahchanan (John) 6 that whenever Yahweh speaks a difficult speech, a speech seemingly contrary to his clearly revealed word, it is NOT INTENDED that the difficult speech be understood literally. For if taken literally it is contrary to Yahweh's existing clear word. And there cannot be any contradiction with Yahweh. Therefore when Yahweh speaks a difficult speech, a speech seemingly contrary to his clearly revealed word, that difficult speech is to be understood metaphorically!
Yahweh Explains His Difficult Speeches
As seen in Yahchanan (John) 6, Yahweh, through Yah'shuah, explained what he meant by his difficult speech, a speech seemingly contrary to his clearly revealed word. Likewise, in Acts 10, seeing that Yahweh, through the vision that Kefa saw, spoke a difficult speech, seemingly contrary to his clearly revealed word, Kefa had to understand that difficult speech metaphorically, and not literally. For Yahweh does not contradict himself.
Kefa Was Surely Right To Disobey The Literal
Instruction In The Vision
Therefore when the voice in the vision told Kefa in 10:13 to "Rise, Kefa, kill and eat", Kefa was SURELY RIGHT to refuse to heed the literal instruction of the voice. For that instruction of the voice was clearly contrary to Yahweh's revealed word pertaining to Yisraelites forbidden from eating unclean creatures. Kefa was therefore meant to understand the meaning of the words spoken by the voice metaphorically, rather than literally.
The Meaning Of The Difficult Words Kefa Received
The meaning of the words spoken by the voice the first time lay in the words spoken the second time. For the voice said, in 10:15, "What the Mighty One has cleansed, you must not make unholy."
Did The Mighty One Cleanse Unclean Creatures?
Now some assume that the Mighty One cleansed unclean creatures, thereby making them clean to Yisraelites. But is this what the Mighty One cleansed?
It should be noted that the voice in 10:15 DID NOT say that the Mighty One had cleansed unclean creatures. In fact, the voice did not specify what the Mighty One had cleansed. Seeing that the voice did not specify what the Mighty One had cleansed, it would indeed be presumptuous to assume that he cleansed creatures that he made unclean to Yisraelites. For he did not say so. One must therefore ascertain from the Mighty One what indeed he cleansed, rather than presumptuously assuming that he cleansed creatures unclean to Yisraelites.
Nothing To Pass Away From The Law Until Heaven And
Earth Pass Away
Mattityahu (Matthew) 5:17-20 reads,
5:17Don't think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn't come to destroy, but to fulfill. 5:18For most assuredly,
I tell you, until Heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or
one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things
are accomplished. 5:19Whoever, therefore,
shall break one of these least commandments, and teach others to do so, shall
be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them
shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
It should be clear that Yah'shuah did not destroy the law or the prophets.
It should also be clear that until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law.
It should also be clear that all things to be accomplished will not be accomplished prior to the time of heaven and earth passing away.
Therefore, until the time for the passing away of heaven and earth, a time after the judgement as seen in Revelation 20-21, all provisions of the law remain intact! Including Yahweh's prohibition on Yisraelites against their eating unclean or abominable creatures!
Yahweh's Prohibition Against Yisraelites Eating Unclean
Creatures Stood At The Time Of Kefa's Vision
It is therefore the case that at the time Kefa received the vision that he did in Acts 10, a time well prior to the passing away of heaven and earth, Yahweh's prohibition on Yisraelites against eating unclean or abominable creatures still stood! Kefa was therefore forbidden by Yahweh's clear word from literally obeying the voice in the vision that commanded him to kill and eat the unclean and abominable creatures!
Also, seeing that no provision of the law is to be relaxed prior to the passing away of heaven and earth, it is indeed evident that the words of the voice, "What the Mighty One has cleansed, you must not call unholy," did not apply to unclean or abominable creatures! In other words, Yahweh did not cleanse unclean or abominable creatures by this vision shown to Kefa. These creatures therefore continue to remain unclean or abominable to Yisraelites!
Now if Yahweh did not cleanse unclean or abominable creatures to Yisraelites, what did he cleanse that occasioned the revelation of this vision to Kefa?
Humans Cleansed By Yahweh Are Not Unholy Or Unclean
Kefa himself gives the answer in Acts 10:28, where he says that the Mighty One had shown him that he should not call any man unholy or unclean. In other words, even though the Yahudim had up to them viewed non-Yisraelites as unholy or unclean, Yahweh had indeed cleansed them for purposes of SALVATION! For Kefa continued in 10:34-35 that he perceived that the Mighty One does not show favouritism. But that in every nation the Mighty One accepts those who fear him and work righteousness! In other words, for purposes of righteousness or salvation, there was no distinction between the Yisraelite and the non-Yisraelite. They were both deemed the same before the Mighty One.
And Kefa's understanding was confirmed by the Holy Spirit falling upon non-Yisraelites as seen in 10:44, thus showing that there was no distinction between Yisraelites and non-Yisraelites for purposes of salvation or righteousness.
The Kingdom Of Yahweh Is Not Meat And Drink, But Righteousness
But earlier on, in Vayikra (Leviticus) 11 and Devarim (Deuteronomy) 14, it was indeed noted that Yahweh made Yisraelites the pre-eminent people among all the peoples on the face of the earth, and made them holy. And by having so made them holy he forbade them from eating unclean or abominable creatures. For they were to be holy as he Yahweh was holy.
Nevertheless, it was also seen that it was not sin for foreigners to eat of these unclean or abominable creatures, as seen from Devarim (Deuteronomy) 14. For Yahweh allowed Yisraelites to give or sell the carcasses of unclean or abominable creatures to non-Yisraelites, allowing non-Yisraelites to eat of these unclean or abominable creatures!
It therefore appears that the kingdom of Yahweh is NOT meat and drink, but righteousness!
The Holiness Of The People Of Yisrael Is Lesser Than
The Holiness Of Believers In Yah'shuah
It also appears that the holy state of Yisraelites, for purposes of not eating unclean or abominable creatures, is a LESSER HOLINESS than the holy state of believers in Yah'shuah the Messiah. For whereas the entire children of Yisrael are deemed holy, by abiding by the law to avoid eating unclean or abominable creatures, they may still be devoid of the Holy Spirit. Yet non-Yisraelites eating unclean or abominable creatures may indeed possess the Holy Spirit in them. And seeing that the Holy Spirit dwells only in those who work righteousness, including righteous people eating unclean or abominable creatures, it is indeed taken that the holiness of avoiding eating unclean or abominable creatures is indeed a lesser holiness than that of having the Holy Spirit dwelling in one. Doing righteousness is superior to avoiding eating unclean or abominable creatures!
Nevertheless, to Yisraelites who have been commanded to avoid eating unclean or abominable creatures, for purposes of lesser holiness and national pre-eminence, they must indeed abide by this law of Yahweh. For rejecting this law is rebellion against Yahweh, which is indeed unrighteousness. And such unrighteousness does not dwell with the Holy Spirit. Therefore Yisraelites who desire to have the Holy Spirit abiding in them must indeed be faithful to law of the lesser holiness of avoiding eating unclean or abominable creatures!
Mark 7:19 states, in part, "(Thus he made all foods clean.)"
The parallel account to Mark 7, Mattityahu (Matthew) 15, does not contain a like phrase.
It is evident, from the context of both Mark 7 and Matthew 15, that Yah'shuah DID NOT utter these words, "Thus he made all foods clean". In fact, the very wording of these words shows that they were the OPINION of whoever wrote them.
Yah'shuah Did Not Make All Foods Clean
Seeing that Yah'shuah stated clearly in Matthew 5:17-19 that nothing would pass from the law prior to the passing away of heaven and earth, and seeing that heaven and earth had not passed away at the time Yah'shuah walked this earth, and have yet to pass away even at the present point in time, it is indeed evident that the creatures that Yahweh made unclean or abominable to Yisraelites have remained so. Yahweh has yet to make them clean to Yisraelites. And Yahweh WILL NOT make them clean to Yisraelites prior to the passing away of heaven and earth, the time for the accomplishment of all things. Unclean or abominable creatures therefore remain so to Yisraelites.
The Holy Spirit Did Not Inspire Part Of Mark 7:19
It is therefore evident that this opinion, "Thus he made all foods clean", is merely human opinion, devoid of the Holy Spirit's inspiration! Seeing that it is contrary to Yah'shuah's clear words, it IS NOT part of Scripture. No one should rely on it as being scriptural authority for the cleansing of creatures that are unclean or abominable to Yisraelites. For it is not scripture, but mere human opinion, and faulty one at that!
The clear scriptural word is that creatures that Yahweh informed the Yisraelites were unclean or abominable to them have remained so and continue to remain so. Yisraelites should therefore not eat any creature that is unclean or abominable.
Return to Servants of Yahweh Site Contents page.
© 1999, Isaac Aluochier, All rights reserved. Published by Servants of Yahweh, P O Box 44848, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya. E-mail: servantsofyahweh@serveyahweh.org. Permission is hereby GRANTED to reproduce this and other publications in the Servants of Yahweh web site, http://www.serveyahweh.org, unless otherwise stated.