Bible Discussion Thread

I want to understand about what foods you can eat and for a diet plan. Leviticus chapter 11: on the food law

Christians are not bound by the Jewish dietary laws listed in Leviticus Chapter 11. In Acts 10:9-16, Peter was given a vision, and animals of every kind were shown to him, and a voice from heaven saying rise, kill, and eat. Peter thought it was a trick because he believed he still had to abide by the Jewish law, and he couldn't eat anything "unclean." But the voice in Verse 15 says "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."

Now if you stop right there, it gives us a hint as to what this message is all about.

If God calls something clean, we don't call it unclean! He is not undoing the dietary laws. He's not even talking about animals here. But please know this, what God has cleansed, we do not call common. Believers are not bound by any of the Jewish Laws. We have been set free by Christ.

However, we have to be careful with that freedom. True freedom is when we are not only free to do things, but free not to do them, if it causes a brother/sister in Christ to stumble.

Jesse Christ was not talking about the food, rather the men who ate the unclean food as in this scriture.

Acts 10:28 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 man common or unclean.

avoiding unclean food is a health thing, not a salvation issue. You would not believe how many diseases pork can transmit to mankind. The diet laws are actually scientifically sound advice and the creator knew what he was doing.

Matthew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

Part 4) Last one, I promise!

If anyone chooses not to eat pork, I will never argue with them about it. And if I'm out someplace for dinner with a brother or sister in Christ, and they feel it's wrong to eat something, guess what? I'm not going to eat it either. I have that freedom in Christ. True freedom is when we are free not only to do things, but to not do things. That's true freedom!

Part 3) Peter is saying that it's an unlawful thing, according to the "Rabbi's Rules," for a man that is a Jew, to keep company, or to come into one of another nation; anybody that's not a Jew, but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. It's the same thing God showed him about the animals. Now Peter is putting two and two together, because he didn't understand the vision that was given to him.

The section I mentioned, Acts 10:9-16, is referring to animals. It's clear to me that Matthew 15:11 is saying it's not what a person eats that defiles that person. And yes, it's what comes out of the mouth, the evil words that come from a man's heart. That's what defiles the man, not what he eats.

Part 2) Well, here's what the Rabbi's Rules came to. For instance, it was against God's law for a Jew to eat a pig. And so the Rabbi's said "Since it is against God's law for you to eat Gentile food, especially a pig, then we will make up a rule that it is not lawful for you to interact with a Gentile, because if you don't interact with the Gentile, you will not eat Gentile food, especially pig.

So they made the rule up. You see, that was their reasoning. It wasn't because of what God said, but because of man in his rules and regulations, the "Rabbi's Rule's" as they're called.

They said a Gentile is unclean and off limits. God never said that, the Jews did. I find no place in scripture where God ever said that a Gentile is unclean. All of this between the Jews and the Gentiles is all because the Jews decided themselves that the Gentiles were unclean. God never said that!

Hi Bob, thanks for sharing that. I will need to break this up in order to respond.

I understand where you are coming from. I did not mention Acts 10:28, but I did take a closer look at it and this is my conclusion. Peter said, you know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come in unto one of another nation;

I see Peter is referring to Gentiles, and he says it is unlawful for a Jew to keep company with a Gentile because the Jews considered them to be "unclean." Gentiles were even referred to as dogs.

Here is something that is important for me in understanding this section of scripture. The word "unlawful" used in Verse 28 has nothing to do with the Torah, the Law given by God to the Jews. It has to do with going against Jewish customs.

It's what is called "The Rabbi's Rules." I love The Rabbi's Rules! They came up with their own laws in light of God's laws. You might say isn't that kind of adding?

Jesse Greetings, Yes Rabbi's rules Jesus called them the commandments of men aka tradition of the elders and condemned them for it. Good point. Christ blasted them for this. Like the Noahide laws today.

Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.