Many who profess to obey Yahweh’s dietary laws are not very zealous in their approach to keeping them. We have been well informed by the health community on the “evils” of eating too much fat or sugar. So we carefully check each product to make sure it is not laden with either. Shouldn’t we be even more careful to check for ingredients that Yahweh says we should not eat? Is abstaining from pork chops, bacon, ham, shrimp, and lobster sufficient? Should we go no farther in attempting to abstain from unclean animal products hidden in supposedly edible food?

Peter’s vision in Acts 10 is often used by both opponents and proponents of the dietary laws. What is usually overlooked is Peter’s zealousness towards these laws. He said he had “never” eaten “anything” that was common or unclean (vs.14). We, too, should be so zealous.

1 Cor.3:16,17 reads, “Know you not that you are the temple of [Yahweh], and that the Spirit of [Yahweh] dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of [Yahweh], him shall [Yahweh] destroy; for the temple of [Yahweh] is holy, which temple you are.”

That being the case, we should diligently guard our temple from defilement. The key word here is “diligently”. King Artaxerxes decreed the following concerning provisions for the House of Yahweh in Jerusalem;

 ”Whatsoever is commanded by the Elohim of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the Elohim of heaven:” (Ezra 7:23a).

The “House of the Elohim of heaven” is the body of each believer in whom His Spirit dwells. It must be diligently guarded from defilement by that which Yahweh proclaims will defile it. In Lev.11, Yahweh tells us exactly which animals are unclean abominations that cause defilement when eaten. He concludes His list with vss.45-47;

“For I am the Yahweh that brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.”

 We should “make a difference” by being diligent in reading ingredient labels to search for that which would defile us and Yahweh’s temple.

Once A Pig Always A Pig

Some people have the mistaken belief that since some unclean ingredients are added in such minute quantities and are so highly processed they are somehow cleansed and therefore, permissible. However, in the same way that an Ethiopian cannot change the color of his skin or a leopard its spots (Jer.13:23) neither can man change an unclean animal to a clean one no matter how much processing it undergoes. This is why we should not eat Jello brand gelatin even though it bears a kosher “K” on the package. Although the company cannot guarantee it uses only gelatin derived from beef bones, liberal Rabbis allow pork gelatin because it has been processed at very high temperatures. The stricter Orthodox symbols such as a K ,U, or V encircled are usually very reliable and can be trusted in designating clean products, but not always. If given a choice of several similar products, always choose the one with a kosher symbol as opposed to no symbol at all. A kosher symbol not only identifies products made with clean ingredients, but it also assures us that the machinery and utensils used to make the product were properly sanitized and that only healthy animals were used.

Gelatin also finds its way into marshmallows and products containing marshmallows like cereals, candies, and snacks. Certain brands of apple juice that are not Kosher certified may have used unclean gelatin or bones to clarify the juice. The gelatin is added to the cloudy juice which causes the sediments to stick to it. The gelatin is later removed by adding animal bones which causes the gelatin to stick to them. The bones are then removed leaving clarified apple juice. If you by “natural” apple juice that appears cloudy and is not Kosher certified, it does not mean it did not undergo that process. It may mean the process was only partially completed to make it appear as though it is a natural product.

Enzymes

Enzymes are used to coagulate and curdle milk when making cheese. There are generally four types of enzymes; microbial (artificially or chemically produced), vegetable (from a plant source), rennet (from the stomach of suckling calves or sheep), and pepsin (from a pig’s stomach). Sargento cheeses, for example, are made using microbial (or synthetic) enzymes. Kraft , on the other hand, cannot guarantee their enzymes to be from a clean source. Kosher cheese is available, but is usually hard to find unless you live near a Jewish community. Many kosher products, including kosher cheese, can be purchased over the internet.

There are also several varieties of very inexpensive processed cheeses that are made from inferior quality cheese known as “grinder.” “Grinder” can be from spoiled or contaminated cheese. It is melted, reprocessed, and solidified with assorted binders to disguise any foul taste. “You get what you pay for” as the saying goes. It may cost more to eat clean and healthier, but the benefits far outweigh the cost.

Whey

A waste by-product of the cheese making process is whey. It finds its way into many products such as candy, ice cream, bread, snacks, etc. As cheese curdles, a thick liquid begins to separate from it. This liquid contains whatever enzymes were used to make the cheese. Therefore, if pepsin (from a pig’s stomach) was used, any product containing that whey would be unclean as well. It is important to read labels on the products you buy. If it contains whey, be sure the product is Kosher certified. This would assure you the whey was from a clean source.

Be On Guard

Contamination of our food supply comes in many different forms from many different sources; insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, drugs, food additives, chemical additives, etc.  A recent article in a local newspaper concerned the feeding of our nation’s cattle, hogs, poultry, etc., with 19 million pounds of antibiotics each year. The National Research Council did a study on this practice and found that the antibiotics created strains of disease-causing bacteria that are resistant to the antibiotics and infect humans. They recommended consumers cook meat thoroughly and take other precautions, such as washing cutting boards and knives after chopping chicken.

The safest, healthiest way to eat is from your own organic garden. Since that is not always possible or practical, we must be watchful in selecting products for our family to eat.

The following is an assortment of things to consider.

When making maple syrup, it is a practice of some companies to drip pork fat into the boiling syrup to keep the froth down. Buy only Kosher certified syrup.

Turkey sausage seems like a good alternative to pork sausage until you realize it may be stuffed into hog casings.

The ground beef, chicken, or turkey from your local grocer may have been ground through a grinder that was used for pig and not sanitized. A past edition of Dateline showed an undercover operation in which the ground beef from 100 stores in 10 different cities was tested. Six out of ten stores in Miami, for example, were selling ground beef with ground pork in it. The same was true of almost all the cities tested. The program also told the story of one man’s death from eating a supposedly “all beef” hamburger. The burger was contaminated with pork resulting in a trichina worm making its way to his brain and killing him.

Think twice before ordering a restaurant pizza, even if you know they use clean cheese. They slice it with the same rolling cutter they used on the previous customer’s supreme pizza with pepperoni and sausage.

Culinary Curiosities

Below is a list of a few food additives that you should be aware of.

 Alpha Amylase – It is used in flour to break down starches and is derived from hog intestines.

Carmine (cochineal) – This is a crimson coloring derived from an insect (coccus cacti, L). It is used to color red apple sauce, yogurt, chewing gum, fruit cocktail cherries, confections, baked goods, soft drinks, and meats.

Civet, absolute – This is used as a flavoring for beverages, ice cream, candy, baked goods, and chewing gum. It comes from an Ethiopian cat.

Cystein, L form – This is an amino acid that can come from horses, humans, or may be synthetic. It is used as a nutrient in bakery products. I noticed it for the first time in fresh bagels from a major grocery stores bakery.

Glycerides, Glycerol, Glycerine – All can come from unclean animal sources. Most toothpastes and mouthwashes contain glycerine.

Natural Flavorings – These can be derived from civet (cats), castorium (beaver), ambergis (whales), etc. They are indeed “natural,” but certainly not clean.

Shellac – This is an insect secretion used in glaze for confectionery products.

Eating Blood or Fat

The following Scriptures forbid the eating of animal flesh that contains blood; Gen.9:4; Lev.3:17; 7:26; 17:10-14; Deut.12:16; Acts 15:20,29. That being the case, we need to be sure that the meat we eat has had the blood properly drained. The only way to do that is to slit the live animals throat allowing the blood to be continually pumped out by the heart. The flesh is then salted to draw out any remaining blood. Broiling the flesh will draw even more blood out. If the animal is killed prior to bleeding, which is common in many slaughter houses, the heart will not aid in pumping all the blood out. Whatever blood remains in the flesh will contain whatever diseases, poisons, impurities, or toxins where in the animal’s blood at the time of death. “AIDS,” for example, is carried through the blood stream of humans. The same is true of diseases found in animals. When the Word says, “the life is in the blood,” the opposite may be true as well, “death is in the blood.”  Therefore, seek to buy Kosher meats which have been properly bled. Kosher frankfurters and salami are usually readily available as is chicken.

We are also to abstain from eating fat (Lev.3:17; 7:24). As with blood, fat contains poisons and impurities. It also, as the medical community has proven, contributes to high cholesterol, heart disease, and a host of other ailments. All excess fat on kosher meat should be trimmed off before cooking. The skin should be removed from poultry since most of the toxins and fat are found there. Broiling helps to remove much of the fat as it does the blood. There are many products that list fat in the ingredients such as soups, pies, and other baked goods. Be sure to read the labels and select only kosher certified products.

Conclusion

Yahweh has given us some sobering words from the prophet Ezekiel;

“Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.” (Ezek.22:26).

Let us not profane Yahweh or His holy temple (our bodies) by not discerning between clean and unclean products to eat. There is great reward awaiting those who are zealous for the way of Yahweh and who are diligent in carrying out His will.

How can we be sure? Are animals and plants different today from what they were in Biblical times? Are they all “cleansed” now? Are there New Testament verses proving that all foods are now edible or are those verses being misunderstood?

Let’s begin at the beginning. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis 1:29 says, “And God [Hebrew-Elohim] said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat (food).” Man’s original diet consisted of fruits, nuts, vegetables, etc. Animal flesh was not given for food until after the flood.

Clean Animals Preserved for Food

Because of the coming flood, Yahweh directed Noah to build an ark to preserve the different kinds of animals according to species. Noah took seven pairs of clean beasts and two of each unclean beast, (Gen 7:2).

Yahweh had a purpose in preserving more clean beasts than unclean for use after the flood. Certain flesh became food as most vegetation was destroyed. Notice that Noah knew there was a distinction between clean and unclean animals long before the dietary law was codified at Mt. Sinai and long before a Jew ever existed. This proves that the clean food laws commanded in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 were not given only to the Jews. They were given to all men from Noah’s day forward.

After the universal flood, Yahweh said in Gen 9:3,4, “Every moving thing that lives shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.” He was speaking to Noah and his sons (vs. 1). We already saw that Noah knew the difference between clean and unclean animals. Therefore, when Yahweh said, “Every moving thing,” Noah knew that He meant every moving thing that was clean to eat. Yahweh spoke similar words to Adam when He said, “every herb” and “every tree,” shall be food for you (Gen 1:29). Adam obviously knew that Yahweh meant every herb or tree that was edible, for many plants are poisonous to man.

In Gen 8:21, Yahweh said, ” . . .neither will I again smite any more every thing living as I have done.” Are we to understand this literally? Did Yahweh smite those in the ark or aquatic life? No. Therefore, this verse needs to be qualified by understanding it to mean, “every thing living on the ground” as is revealed in Gen 7:22; ” And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

Many argue that everything that moves is fit for food. Do we accept roasted rat, caterpillar, or jelly-fish on our dinner plates? Are these fit for food? Few of us realize that life is governed by certain laws, just as the sun, moon, and stars are governed by the laws of nature. Yahweh punishes the man who breaks His laws. How? Through the law of cause and effect. Do you desire good health and long life? Remember the eternal promise of our Heavenly Father Yahweh recorded in Exodus 15:26, “If thou will diligently hearken to the voice of Yahweh thy Elohim, and will do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am Yahweh that healeth thee.” On the other hand, Yahweh warned that sickness and disease would surely befall the people if they disregarded His law of diet. Even today, medical science is proving that unclean animals like pigs, lobsters, and crabs are health risks.

Many people believe that after our Savior was impaled on the tree to die for the sins of the world, all animals, fish, and creeping things were cleansed for human food. They are misled by a misunderstanding of the writings of the Apostle Paul. Note the caution given us about Paul’s teachings in 2 Peter 3:16, ” As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction.” The current teaching that the law is done away through Paul’s writings is one fulfillment of this prophecy. Many people are blinded by no-law preachers.

Be aware of the teachings of false teachers and false prophets. Imitate what the Bereans did upon hearing the truth and receiving it with all readiness of mind, searching the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:10,11).

Handwashing Hocus-Pocus

Many are quick to quote Mt.15:11, “Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” They contend this verse allows us to eat all things. If we read this verse in context, including verse 2 and verses 12-20, the light of truth shines through.

The point Yahshua (Jesus) is making is that the indwelling attitude of the individual will determine his actions. He clarifies this in verses 17 and 18, “Do you not yet understand, that whatsoever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the draught (sewer)? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.” He then goes on to show that evil thoughts generate evil deeds, which is the root of the problem.

Mark 7:19 reads, “Because it enters not into his heart, but into his belly, and goes out into the draught, purging all meats.” The last three words do not mean all unclean food is now cleansed. Yahshua simply meant that waste food was carried off by the digestive tract.

The scribes and Pharisees had seen the disciples eat bread without first washing their hands. This was contrary to their traditional beliefs. At that time, however, the disciples only ate clean food. Therefore, the context is eating clean food with unwashed hands. It has nothing to do with eating unclean animal flesh.

As a result of their question in verse 2, Yahshua rebukes their tradition and their hypocrisy and sums up his statements in Mt. 15:20, “These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defiles not a man.” This chapter has nothing to do with cleansing unclean meat. The issue was centered on tradition and outward ritual cleansing, which made them appear holy. But Yahshua wants us to have complete change of heart and mind, not of the outward appearance.

Gentiles Cleansed

Another argument against the dietary law is found in Acts 10:9-19. Peter had a vision of a sheet being lowered down to earth with all types of four-footed beasts, creeping things, and fowls of the air on it. A voice tells him to “kill and eat,” but Peter refuses stating that he has never eaten anything common or unclean. The voice then says, “What [Yahweh] has cleansed, that call not thou common.”

From these verses many people assume Peter’s vision allowed him to eat flesh that was previously declared unclean by Yahweh. Notice there is no mention of aquatic life. Does that mean lobster is still forbidden since it doesn’t have fins and scales (Lev 11:9-11) and since the vision did not include aquatic life?

The vision of Peter occurred about ten years after the death and resurrection of Messiah and yet, he still hadn’t eaten unclean food. Why not, if the dietary law came to an end at Yahshua’s death? The truth is that the law had not ended and Peter’s vision did not permit him to now eat unclean. The declaration of the Apostle Peter himself in Acts 10:28 proves this: “And he said unto them, ‘You know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but [Yahweh] has shown me (in that same vision) that I should not call any man common or unclean.” The vision did not cleanse all meat. It taught Peter that Gentiles were accepted into the body of Messiah and should not be looked down upon. We have no right to add our own interpretation of the meaning of this vision beyond what the Almighty said it meant.

Take note that Peter had not eaten two types of things, “common” or “unclean”. An unclean animal is one that was created to be unclean and declared unclean by the Almighty in Lev.11 and Deut 14. Something common, however, refers to an animal that was created clean and edible, but for some reason (ie; meat sacrificed to idols) became unedible in a persons mind. Keep that in mind when considering Rom 14:14 later in this study.

Conscience and Idol Meat

Another scripture that has confused many is 1Cor. 10:25-27: “Whatsoever is sold in the market that eat, asking no question for conscience sake. For the earth is Yahweh’s and the fullness thereof: If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you care to go, eat whatever is put before you, without raising questions of conscience.”

There were many kinds of unclean meats sold in Gentile meat markets. But in the case of the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul was referring to the eating of meat sacrificed to idols, not the eating of unclean meat. These verses must be read in context which includes verses 14 through 33. This entire passage refers to idolatry. The point was that since part of the animal was offered to idols, the idol and its worshipers were sharing a common meal. This, according to Jewish thought, creates a bond of fellowship between them.

Some have stumbled on another of Paul’s verses, Romans 14:14, where he writes, “. . . there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him that esteems anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” The word “unclean” should have been translated “common”, as it is from the Greek word koinos. The margin of most good study Bibles will confirm this.

Recall what Peter said in Acts 10:14, “. . . I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” The word common in this verse is “koinos” and the word unclean is the Greek word “akathartos”. Animals declared unclean by Yahweh in Lev. 11 are akathartos. However, when a clean animal becomes unedible for some reason, for example, by being sacrificed to an idol, it is called common or koinos. Paul’s statement in Rom 14:14 referred to clean meat which a weak brother would consider common and therefore not eat, preferring instead to only eat herbs, (vs. 2). A pig is unclean of itself, it was created unclean. A goat that was sacrificed to an idol is not common of itself. It became common in the mind of a person through outside means. The weaker brother esteemed in his own mind that meat should not be eaten because it may have become common for some reason. It is common meat that Paul was referring to, not unclean meat.

Approved Food Is Good

A favorite Bible text used by proponents of the “we can eat anything we want” philosophy is Paul’s letter to Timothy. “For every creature of [Yahweh] is good, and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of [Yahweh]and prayer,” 1 Tim 4:4,5.

They believe that saying a blessing over pigs feet or monkey brains will then make them edible. Using that kind of reasoning and taking these verses literally would mean that we could eat human beings since they are “creatures” as well. The key words are underlined. “Sanctified by the word of [Yahweh]” means it is “set apart” somewhere in the Bible (the Word of Yahweh). Edible creatures have already been set apart in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. No other creatures are sanctified by the word of Yahweh. In general, these two chapters teach us that we are not to eat animals that are carnivores (eat flesh) like cats, lions, eagles, neither are we to eat garbage-eaters such as swine, dogs, shellfish, vultures, and crows. No matter how much a person prays over cockroaches, centipedes, jellyfish, or slugs, they will remain unclean and unedible.

A Warning From Our Loving Creator

In speaking of the conclusion of the age of man and the coming fiery judgment, Yahweh inspired the Prophet Isaiah to write that He, “will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire,” Is 66:15. Verse 16 says He will plead with all flesh (to repent and live according to His righteous laws). Since they will not listen He will slay many. Why? One reason is found in verse 17, “They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the garden behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, declares Yahweh.” It is interesting to note that of all the sins that Yahweh could have used to characterize the recipients of His fiery judgment, He chose eating swine’s flesh and mice. Yahweh says something similar in Is 65:1-7, using the eating of swine’s flesh and the broth of abominable things as characteristics of those who provoke Him to anger.

Even Paul was very explicit in his admonition to the Corinthian brethren, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be separate, says Yahweh, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you” (2 Cor 6:17).

Yahweh said to us through Peter, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Pe 1:16). That is a direct quote from Lev 11:44 as a summation of His dietary law. Yahweh then concludes with the following statement; “This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beasts that may be eaten and the beasts that may not be eaten.” (vss. 46,47).

Therefore, be holy for Yahweh is holy. We are to be living sacrifices. How can we be acceptable holy sacrifices if we are filled with swine’s flesh (bacon, ham, sausage, pork chops, etc.) or other unclean animals that Yahweh forbid to be offered to Him as sacrifices? The Apostle Paul wrote, ” Know ye not that ye are the temple of Elohim, and that the Spirit of Elohim dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of Elohim, him shall Elohim destroy; for the temple of Elohim is holy, which temple ye are.” How does one defile himself or his temple? Lev 11:44-46, ” Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. For I am Yahweh your Elohim: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am Yahweh that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

If an Israelite ate anything unclean or abominable, he became defiled and abominable in Yahweh’s sight. New Covenant believers are not to defile themselves through any means whether it be by eating unclean or by being joined to a harlot. We are to be holy as He is holy. Nor are we to make ourselves abominable by any means. Rev 21:7,8 says, ” He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his Elohim, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” There is no condemnation for those in Messiah Yahshua if they sin ignorantly, but Yahshua’s sacrifice is worthless to anyone who sins willfully unless they repent (Heb 10:26-30).

If you desire to live in complete harmony with Yahweh’s will, you will not neglect the clean food law. We are to be a clean people; to live clean, think clean, and eat clean so that our body is a fit temple for the indwelling Holy Spirit. These laws were established for our own good, and we can realize the blessings that come with observing them.