You shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. The old testament meat instructions are still found in leviticus 11 and. And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is clovenfooted but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Why did the old testament law command against the eating of pork. So remember, this was all old testament and part of the holy book of the jews, the koran. Dont shave the front of your heads to honor the dead. Some consider eating pork as an abomination to god. Deuteronomy 14 new international readers version nirv clean and unclean food. Anthropologist marvin harris wrote a nice book on the subject, good to eat. This detail further insulated the israelites from pagan practices. Occasionally sincere biblebelievers will ask us whether the bible does not say that pork is unclean, and. In short, ceremonial laws were given to symbolically purify and cleanse gods. God said to avoid eating the flesh of certain animals.
Is it written in the bible that pork should not be eaten. Saying no to eating pork and other practices of the pagans helped the israelites to break free from idolatrya sin they assuredly struggled with see exodus 32. As far as the spiritual reason for us not to eat pork, the bible is not a book on nutrition. He goes through the old testament and the new testament and shows what the bible has to say. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses. Leviticus chapter 11 lists the dietary restrictions god gave to the nation of israel. Michael friedlander, in his authoritative book the jewish religion, says. We all know that in the old testament god prevents to man on eating those blood and pork, we can read it in the book of genesis 9. What new testament passage gives christians permission to. The bible clearly forbids christians from eating pork, why do most christian not follow it. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the.
Students of the old testament are aware of the fact that certain types of meat were considered unclean under the mosaic economy. But when we fast forward to the new testament, we see god declare pork clean. Throughout the old testament, the act of eating swines flesh was viewed as an abomination. The christian is likely to be convinced by his religious scriptures. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you. There are other people who do not eat pigs meat either, because they believe the old testament dietary laws are still in effect today. What does the bible say about eating pork and blood. Remember he didnt give them to everybody he only gave them to the israelites. Under the old testament law, not only was eating pork forbidden, but even touching the meat of swine made one ritually unclean deuteronomy 14. In the old testament god told moses, the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud. It is a mistake for people to mix topics intended only for israel with topics that included the nonisraelites. The perspective offered in this book is an important guide for my study.
This well organized 168 page book helped me by clarifying the main ideas in the 39 books of the old testament. I would suggest rewording the question to say why did the mosaic law prohibit the ancient israelites from eating pork. The food laws of the old testament ernest l martin. You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not. The clear point blank answer to these questions are yes and no. They said that the bible teaches that eating pork is wrong. By believing in these commandments, it would suggest that the christian followers of jesus also believe in the old testament after all, it is part of the bible. It seems that jesus message is about not getting hung up on what you eat and that we should forgive versus capital punishment. Some of these requirements likely had to do with health considerations.
If you believe in the old testament how come you eat pork. What does the new testament say about eating pork answers. Throughout the old testament, the act of eating swine s flesh was viewed as an abomination to the israeliteswrong and sinful see isaiah 66. The jewish authorities clearly recognize that the old testament says nothing about the food laws being given for health purposes. If a person chooses not to eat pork for various nutritional reasons or preference, that is no big deal.
God certainly showed in the old testament that he didnt want his people to eat pork. Pork is eaten by many people, but it is prohibited among those of the islamic and the jewish faiths. For example, did jesus believe it was wrong to eat pork and other foods, and did he support the idea of capital punishment. As religions are sociopolitical control systems, they also try to address relevant health concerns. The book of leviticus also, however, says not to eat pork. We must take care that we do not consider these precepts exclusively as sanitary regulations, however important such regulations may be. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud. One area that the world has surely done away with gods law is that of clean and unclean meats. Does god require us to follow the old testament laws about. Why christians eat pork, if the bible prohibits the. But the moment that abstinence is invested with biblical authority as the path of obedience of maturity or salvation, a line is crossed that contradicts christ and the gospel. Those who believe this quote passages from the bible that seem to say that all food, even the unclean ones, have somehow been made fit for us to eat today.
What i hear most often is christians ignore lots of old testament textsabout not eating raw meat or pork or shellfish, not executing people for breaking the sabbath, not wearing garments woven with two kinds of material and so on. Eating pig eating pigs eating pork eating red meat eating seafood eating shellfish eating shrimp eating. But have you ever read verses in the old testament that make you wonder if some parts of the bible are outdated or irrelevant. What does the bible say about what foods we should eat. After all, he did express his anger on those who eat swines flesh, and the broth of unclean meat is in their pots see isaiah 65. It is in new testament times that the issue has become blurred. There is nothing that specifically mentions pork by name, but the closest reference we have is the vision of peter acts 10. Does god require us to follow the old testament laws about not. They also told me that jesus was a vegetarian and that the apostles all taught the early. Did the law change in the new testament about eating pork. Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught. While the jews were subject to various food laws, forbidding to eat several types of food e.
Though the bible isnt a book about diet, there is an entire chapter in the old testament that could be labeled the bibles version of eat this, not that. The new testament does not speak specifically on the eating of pork but having regard to the fact that it was forbidden in the old testament, there are at least four passages that indirectly address the concern. I am having trouble understanding how the old testament law coexists with the new testament. When they refused, he tortured and killed the sons one by one. The old testament, being a middleeastern produce, excluded pork from the menu because of the challenges of keeping it uninfected and healthy there. Your thoughtful answers provide a great help to me.
Why did the mosaic law prohibit the ancient israelites. Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. In the old testament in the laws of the covenant that god gave to israel, god specifically forbade the israelites to eat pork leviticus 11. The origins of the 10 commandments come from the book of deuteronomy, which is in the old testament. The new testament does not impose any restrictions on eating pork. Why do christians eat pork when the bible expressly. An understanding of old testament ideas are much needed and serve as our foundation for the new. Because of their disobedience under the law, the lord promises to prevent them from receiving their messiah for a time, while the gospel goes to the gentiles. The bible prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of leviticus and the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud.
Bible verses related to eating pork from the king james version kjv by relevance. Read on to learn more on what the bible says about eating pork. In the pages of the old testament, we see god declare pork and several other foods as unclean. The dietary laws included prohibitions against eating pork, shrimp, shellfish and many types of seafood, most insects, scavenger birds, and various other animals. Any person that ate these foods would be labeled unclean meaning that heshe would be unfit for worship. Dear gramps, why do mormons eat pork when they believe in the old testament which forbids it. In the books of leviticus, numbers, and deuteronomy, all of which are in the old testament, you can find a collection of rules and regulations that god gave to the israelites. There is nothing that is restricting us and let me explain why. What new testament passage gives christians permission to eat. Does the new testament say that you can eat pork answers.
Animals eating distance pork weights and measures, distances. In the old testament god gave dietary laws to israel. No doubt that many of the readers of this page have seen those annoying blogs that bible mockers put forth such as do you eat shellfish. In judaism, the prohibition has been a way of showing jewish identity and of challenging it. One of the most distinctive food practices in both judaism and islam is the avoidance of pork products. Missionary evangelist robert breaker shows from the word of god what the bible says about eating meat. Does god require us to follow the old testament laws about not eating pork and other kinds of meat today. Now there was a herd of many swine feeding at a distance from them. The way it is currently worded it makes it sound like the conclusion from reading the bible in its entirety is that it teaches that eating pork is forbidden. He proposes sound economic reasons for these prohibitions.
Dear jessica, the proscription against eating pork was part of the law of moses, and it was in force for all the house of israel until it was nullified by the savior during his mortal sojourn. The bible prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of leviticus. For example, he reiterates that god forbids israelites to eat pork, while jesus allows christians to eat pork. A common argument is that the clean and unclean laws were part of the old covenant, and that. Shortly before the revolt of judas maccabeus 2 maccabees 8, antiochus iv epiphanes arrested a mother and her seven sons, and tried to force them to eat pork. The narrator mentions that the mother was the most remarkable of all, and deserves to be remembered with special honour. And the pig, though it has a split hoof completely divided, does not chew the cud. What does the bible say about what foods we should eat kosher. What does the bible say about eating pork new testament only. We are told not to cut our sideburns in leviticus 19. Years after the crucifixion, peter said he had never eaten anything imp. The bible clearly forbids christians from eating pork.
The people of israel were commanded in their law to never eat pork, but the nation disobeyed the lord nonetheless. In leviticus 11, god gave the israelites a list of animals that were permissible to eat, but the text specifically labels swine pork as unclean and forbidden vs. Why do christians eat pork when the bible expressly forbids it. You shall not eat any of their flesh nor touch their. This page deals with the old testament food laws and old testament food prohibitions. Many people ask can christians eat pork and is it sinful to do so according to the bible. The dietary laws for israel recorded in leviticus, chapter 11, which include, for example, a prohibition against eating pork, were given for specific religious and, perhaps, health reasons. Why do mormons eat pork when they believe in the old. Why did the old testament law command against the eating. This question naturally arises from reading the old testament, because it was wrong for jews under the law of moses to eat pork. My brother, who is a nonbeliever, says we christians change the old testament commands to suit our needs. For example, the books of maccabees describe how the maccabean.
According to the regulations set forth in leviticus 11 and deuteronomy 14, the hebrews could eat. Furthermore, when we see that the new testament condemns the idea of homosexuality in romans 1. Let us not forget that jesus is come not abolish the old law but to fulfil them. Does the bible permit christians to eat unclean meat in. The new testament on the other hand was produced inby rome. All kjv books old testament only new testament only apocrypha only.