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Didn't Jesus declare all food to be clean?
This question is in reference to Mark 7:19 in the NIV, which says,
For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In
saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") (Mark 7:19 NIV)
Now, look at the same verse in the King James:
“Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the
draught, purging all meats” (Mark 7:19 KJV)
The New King James says it this way:
“because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying
all foods” (Mark 7:19 NKJV)
Notice that the phrase “In saying this, Jesus declared all foods ‘clean’” is
not present in the King James or New King James. This is because it is a translator’s
note that was added by the translators of the NIV (and a few other modern translations).
If you look at the Greek text, you will not find that phrase anywhere. It is not present
in any of the Greek manuscripts, it is an addition that was made by the translators.
This actually really bothers me, because so many people are being misled to think these
words are valid Scripture, when in fact they are nothing more than someone’s opinion.
But because it is inserted into the body of the text, instead of the footnotes, it gives
the impression that it was actually part of the Scriptures. This is quite a deception,
and unfortunately many people have been misled by these eight words - “In saying this,
Jesus declared all foods ‘clean’.”
However, even if that phrase was in the original text, it still would not mean that Yahshua
declared all animals to be food. It simply says that all foods are clean. If you go by
the Biblical definition of food, you will see that pig, shrimp, crab, and rabbit (among
many other things) are all listed as unclean animals. This means they are not even to be
considered as food.
Just because it is in our grocery store today does not mean it was meant to be food by Yahweh.
This is why the phrase “Jesus declared all foods ‘clean’” is so confusing to people
today, because they see pork in the grocery store and on the menu at the restaurant, and
so they think it’s food. However, these same people would probably not consider rat,
dog, vulture, bat, lizard or skunk to be food. The reason for this is because of conditioning
and habituation. We have been programmed to think certain things are food, when in reality
they are not. We have become so familiar with seeing these items on the menu that we are
now comfortable with the idea of eating them. Did you know that rat is considered a delicacy
in some countries?
There is very little difference between the diet, lifestyle, and anatomy of a pig and
a rat. They are both omnivores, they both live in filth, they will both eat anything
including their own young. They even eat feces. Their bodies are full of toxins, diseases,
and parasites.
There are actually great health risks in being a pig farmer, and they must take special precautions
when they are around the pigs, like wearing masks, gloves, and protective clothing. Many
pig farms require employees to shower after leaving the pig area because the spread of
disease is such a high risk when working with these unclean animals. These are the same
kinds of precautions that people would use when handling a rat.
Now, lets examine the context of Mark 7, and you will see how the claim that “all animals
are now clean” does not even fit the context of that chapter.
“Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem.
Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed
hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash
their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. When they come from
the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which
they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches.
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according
to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" (Mark 7:1-5)
So we see right here from the context, that Yahshua’s teaching is in direct response
to the Pharisees claim that the disciples must wash their hands before eating bread.
This is not a commandment from the Scriptures, it is a “tradition of the elders”.
Now listen to how Yahshua responds:
“He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is
written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And
in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "For laying aside
the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men - the washing of pitchers and cups,
and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment
of God, that you may keep your tradition.” (Mark 7:6-9)
He is telling the Pharisees that their hand washing ritual is not based in the Scriptures,
and in fact it is a rejection of the commandments.
The entire context of Mark 7 is about eating bread with unwashed hands. Bread is already
a clean food, and there is nothing we need to do to make it clean. There are no special
rituals or prayers that must be said to purify our bread, because it is clean by definition.
For someone to teach and require that special rituals be done before eating actually borders
on witchcraft, and Messiah called them out on it.
He goes on to further explain to the people what he is talking about:
“When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone,
and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but
the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man.” (Mark 7:14-15)
But his disciples were a little confused about what he was saying, so they asked him to explain
it for them.
“So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that
whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his
heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?" And He said, "What
comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed
evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit,
lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and
defile a man.” (Mark 7:18-23)
So, he is saying that food is not what makes you unclean, even if you eat it with unwashed
hands, because it just passes through your body. But, the things that come out of your
heart is what makes you defiled. To the Pharisees, cleanliness is the result of special rituals,
but according to the Messiah, cleanliness is about having a pure heart.
So, did Messiah declare all foods to be clean? No, the translators of certain modern Bibles
made that declaration.
Did Messiah declare all animals to be food? No, that is an assumption based on faulty
interpretation.
Is is wrong to wash our hands before we eat? No, it is perfectly fine to wash your hands
before you eat, but don’t think it’s a magic ritual that will somehow make your food
clean. All you are doing by washing your hands is getting the dirt and germs off.