The flesh of pigs

[Matthew23]

Leviticus 11:7 And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud; it is unclean for you. 8 You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you.

Acts 10:9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13 Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." 14 "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

Okay, let's get started.

Is it okay for me to order a McRib sandwich or not? How about a pepperoni pizza?

[hyssop]

Before we get into Peter's vision, I would like to examine his level of faith and understanding. Was he weak in the faith?

Matthew 16 KJV

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[15] He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? [16] And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Chr-st, the Son of the living G-d. [17] And J-sus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. [18] And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

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Peter was no slouch when it came to faith. Further, Peter's vision was not the first time that he had been taught spiritual lessons using the principles of the food laws. Yashua had discussed the food laws long before.

Mark 7 KJV

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[14] And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: [15] There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. [16] If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

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And, just what did many of those who heard Yashua's statement think that He said? It's okay to eat pig. Some "Chr-stians" use this scripture to argue this case today. The Jews that were there walked away with the same impression:

Matthew 15 KJV

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[10] And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: [11] Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. [12] Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

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The Jews were offended because they thought that Yashua was slamming the food laws. Remember what Yashua said about those who broke the least of Yahweh's commandments and taught others to break them--He would not have broken the law or taught others to do so; that would make Him a sinner.

Please take a very close look at verse 15:

Matthew 15:15 KJV

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Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.

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What is a parable? If the listener simply takes the words at face value, they walk away with the wrong message. That's what many have done with these scriptures: they've not looked closely enough at what Yashua was really saying and have come to believe the wrong message (seeing, they do not see).

Matthew 13 KJV

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[10] And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? [11] He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. [12] For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. [13] Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

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Peter was there when Yashua told the masses that nothing one eats can defile. Peter was there when the masses (and the Jews) erroneously understood Yashua's statement to mean that He was minimizing the food laws. BUT, Peter asked Him to explain what the parable really meant.

Matthew 15 KJV

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[16] And J-sus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? [17] Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? [18] But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. [19] For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: [20] These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

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First of all, the issue raised by the Jews was why the disciples did not follow tradition and wash their hands before they ate. You see, they insisted upon one washing their hands because, who knows, there might be something unclean on your hands that will defile you and make Yahweh reject you. Yashua said that, fundamentally, it is not the unclean food that defiles a person. I can't sneak a piece of pork into your lunch, trick you into eating it and, by doing so, get you on Yahweh's "black list." Yashua explained that (deliberate) sin is what gets one on Yahweh's "black list."

Peter heard the message. The Catholics teach that Peter heard so well that he was dubbed the first pope; that would indicate that they consider Peter pretty learned in the ways of Yashua. Yet, as we shall see, Peter did not leave this lesson with the impression that he could now eat unclean food. Contrarily, he never ate anything common or unclean.

One last note:

Unclean Food = the food forbidden to be eaten, according to Leviticus 11.

Common Food = clean food that has been tainted by being prepared with unclean food. For example, beans are clean food and fit for consumption; however, the beans in "pork & beans" are considered common and no longer edible.

More to follow . . .

[bantha]

I hope I'm not jumping in too soon, I see there is more to follow, but I was wondering if you observe all of the dietary laws, or just the ones pertaining to what foods to eat. If you don't observe them all, how do you decide which ones to follow?

In doing a quick study on the dietary laws tonight, I discovered Hamburger helper is not Kosher... meat + milk.

Very interesting stuff!


bantha

[hyssop]

bantha,

I hope you don't mind, but I started another thread to address this issue. That will allow us to carry on both discussions (the Jewish dietary laws & Peter's vision) separately.

Please click here to transfer.

[hyssop]

Some time after Yashua's resurrection and ascension, Peter had a vision:

Acts 10 KJV

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[9] On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: [10] And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, [11] And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: [12] Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. [13] And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. [14] But Peter said, Not so, L-rd; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

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Please note that, up to this point, Peter had not eaten common or unclean food. So, it looks like Peter did not get the message that Yashua had supposedly declared all meats clean in Mark 7:19 (According to RSV and NAS versions). In fact, when told point-blank to "kill, and eat," this "future pope" and man of faith refused.

Acts 10 KJV

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[15] And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What G-d hath cleansed, that call not thou common. [16] This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

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Peter did not refuse once or twice but, rather, three times! He never waivered. He would not break Yahweh's food laws that he was raised to observe. He knew that Yahweh was telling him something, but it was certainly not that it was now okay to eat pig.

Acts 10 KJV

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[17] Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold . . . [19] While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. [20] Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

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So, while Peter is wondering what Yahweh was trying to tell him, the Spirit told him to go with these Gentiles. Peter went with these men to Cornelius' (another Gentile) house. Cornelius, his family, and friends were waiting for Peter. Pay close attention to what took place:

Acts 10:28 KJV

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[17] 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 G-d hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

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Does this verse explain how Peter's lack of faith prevented him from eating unclean food, as commanded in the vision? No. It explains the real meaning of the vision: "Peter. It may be Jewish law/tradition to refuse to associate with a Gentile, but I (Yahweh) am telling you not to call anyone who I have cleansed common or unclean."

Every person has to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. But, when it comes to deciding whether or not scripture teaches that it is okay to ignore Leviticus 11, don't let anyone deceive you into believing that either of Peter's experiences were meant to make void Yahweh's food laws. I am confident that Peter never willfully ate any food that was common or unclean. Scripture clearly teaches that he observed this particular portion of Yahweh's Torah.

[Cagatey01]

At Ezekiel 37 a great valley is before us. Truly this valley is the earth. I wandered into this valley and it was a dark and cold place. A great valley of death. As i traveled down it trails great fear was upon me and the whole valley. I was lost and confused. In the trail I found a great royal garment, perhaps of some ancient great king of a better day in this valley. I was cold and I put the garment upon me. Suddenly There was light for me. Suddenly, the ground is lightened under my immediate feet and though the valley all about me is dark and evil something holy and full of light is upon me.

[rstrats]

re: "Unclean Food = the food forbidden to be eaten..."

I'm not aware of any scripture that ever refers to unclean animals as "food".