Did “Jesus” Make All Foods Clean?

By Maria Merola

© Copyright Double Portion Inheritance, May 2009

http://www.DoublePortionInheritance.com

Back in the days when I still believed in “Dispensationalism,” I once believed (like many others do) that eating unclean animals and pork was now acceptable under the New Covenant. I believed that all of those dietary laws in Leviticus 11 were no longer valid now for New Covenant believers. I actually believed that Keefa (Peter) had a “rooftop vision” in the 10^th Chapter of Acts where the Creator told him that he was now making all of those “unclean animals” clean and accept-able for eating. I mean after all, YaHuWaH said to Keefa (Peter) “rise, kill and eat…” and so my logical conclusion was that YaHuWaH was now telling Keefa (Peter) that he could eat unclean animals. But listen to what Keefa (Peter) says next which illustrates that our Mashiyach (Messiah) never made “all foods clean:”

Keefa replied by saying: “not so YaHuWaH, for I have never eaten anything unclean!”

Now if Mashiyach (Messiah) had truly made all foods clean (as most Christians have been falsely taught to believe), why is one of his closest disciples rejecting the idea of eating anything unclean? Why didn’t Keefa know that the Mashiyach had made all foods clean?

Before I get into the “meat” of this teaching (no pun intended), I want to first pre-qualify what I am about to share by saying that I realize that many Christians are saved (just like I was) in 1981 by grace through faith in Messiah even before they come into the fullness of the truth of Torah. When I continued to eat unclean animals out of ignorance, the Heavenly Father was patient with me while I was still in the learning process. If you truly have the Ruwach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) he will lead you and guide you into all truth as you seek him with all of your heart. But once you are shown the truth, you must “go and sin no more.”

Back in 2004, I began asking the Heavenly Father these questions about eating unclean animals. I had no problem giving up pagan holidays and beginning to use the true name of our Messiah as Yahuwshuwa instead of “Jesus.” But learning to eat biblically clean was something that I did have a hard time with at first. I did not want to give up all of those Italian delicacies that I grew up with like Pepperoni, Genoa Salami, Shrimp Scampi, Calamari (squid tentacles dipped in batter and deep fried), Lobster, Crab Cakes, homemade Italian Pork Sausage made fresh by my grand-mother, etc. And so I tried to cling to the idea that “Jesus made all foods clean.” It was convenient for me to believe that Peter’s rooftop vision was giving believers permission to eat unclean animals under the New Covenant.

Over the years, I had been approached by others who were no longer eating unclean animals and I had a plethora of scriptures that I would often use to defend my position. But the day came when the Ruwach ha’Qodesh (Holy Spirit) began to deal with my heart and he showed me the error in my understanding regarding these scriptures that I used to defend eating unclean. Once I realized that the commandments of our Creator are consistent in the TaNaKh (Old Testament) as well as in the Briyth Chadashah (New Testament) regarding the Mosaic Law, I immediately repen-ted for eating unclean animals. 

Since that time, I began to rightly divide these very same scriptures that I once used out of context. And so this study is intended to take a look at some of the classic scriptures often used by Christians to justify eating unclean animals. In this study I aim to show that our Creator YaHuWaH never changes. What was true from the beginning is also true in eternity. It is simply not true that we are allowed to eat unclean animals in the Briyth Chadashah (New Testament) and I will illustrate to you why.

Before we even get started, I want to first share how the Holy Spirit taught me the rules of interp-reting scripture. It was revealed to me that “scripture interprets scripture” and that we must go by what is called “the law of first mention” in the Bible when interpreting the Briyth Chadashah (New Testament). This is called “hermeneutics.”

How Should We Establish New Testament Doctrine?

At one time I was like most Christians in my belief that the New Testament Scriptures supersede the TaNaKh (Old Testament) in their authority. I thought that certain things were now “done away with” under the New Covenant because of the classic misunderstanding that I had of certain scriptures like Colossians 2:14-16 and Hebrews 8:13. I used to believe that Paul’s letter to Timothy citing that “all scripture” is profitable for instruction in righteousness was speaking primarily about the New Testament scriptures:

2^nd Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of Elohiym, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

But what I did not understand at one time is that when this letter to Timothy was written by Sha’ul (Paul), the New Testament had not gone into print yet. This letter was written around the year 60 A.D. about ten years before the Roman Siege. The New Testament scriptures went into print around 96 A.D. when Yahuwchanon (John) was on the Island called Patmos. And so the term “all scripture” was referring to the “Law, Prophets & Writings.” 

And so when Sha’ul (Paul) wrote that “all scripture” is inspired by the Creator, and that it is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, what scripture was he talking about? The Torah, Prophets & Writings! There were no apostolic letters yet that had been put into a book and called “The New Testament.” That did not happen until about the year 96 A.D. when the Apostle YaHuW’chanon (John) was exiled to the Island of Patmos and he began to transcribe these letters and Epistles of Paul into books that would later on become what is called “The Gospels & The Apostolic Writings.”

Our Mashiyach (Messiah) Yahuwshuwa made a reference in Luke 24:44 about these three sources of scripture citing that “all things written about him” in these three inspired scripture sources had to be fulfilled. And so this gives us a clue. When Messiah made reference to the fact that we must establish a matter by the “witness of two or three” (Matthew 18:16), he was giving us a key to understanding scripture! He was showing us that we must first consult the Torah (Law), and then the Prophets (Nebiym) and then the Writings, (Psalms or Ketubiym) on how to establish a matter! This is where we get the acronym for TaNaKh which is what we use to describe “The Old Testament” scriptures. Back when our Messiah was being tested in the wilderness, the “New Testament” scriptures were not in print yet! And yet he made a statement about what mankind should live by:

Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread  alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Elohiym.

Luke 4:4 And Yahuwshuwa answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of Elohiym.

If you claim to be a follower of the Mashiyach (Messiah), and he already told us that we should live by EVERY WORD of our Creator YaHuWaH Elohiym, then what part of this do you not understand? Every word means every word!

I once used to believe as many Christians do today. We have all been taught something in the church called “Dispensationalism.” What is it? Dispensationalism teaches that in the “Old Coven-ant” people were saved by obedience to the Mosaic Law, but now under the “New Covenant” people are saved by “grace through faith” in the finished work of Messiah’s atonement on the cross. Beloved this is not true! Nobody was ever saved under the “Old Covenant” by obeying the Mosaic Law! People were always saved by “grace through faith” in our Creator! As a matter of fact, there was one point in the book of Shemoth (Exodus) 33:5-17 where YaHuWaH wanted to destroy the nation of Yisra’el over the golden calf incident. But scripture records “Mosheh found grace in my sight” and because of Mosheh (Moses) who interceded on behalf of the nation of Yisra’el, they were spared. Yisra’el deserved to die for their harlotry with the golden calf, but YaHuWaH saved them because of grace!

Our Messiah shed his blood to save “The Lost Sheep of the House of Yisra’el” (those who stopped obeying the Mosaic Law). You see, ten out of twelve of the tribes of Yisra’el were divorced by Yah in Yirmeyahuw (Jeremiah) 3:8, and they were sent away to the Gentile nations and now because of that, they were lost to their identity. Messiah came to call them back to obedience to the Mosaic Law (the marriage covenant). He did not call the lost sheep to come back to the marriage covenant only to tell them once they came back, that they no longer had to obey the covenant. This makes no sense! 

Why would he call us back to the covenant and then tell us we no longer have to obey it? His blood was given as permanent atonement for those who had broken the Mosaic Law. He paid the price for their lawlessness and gave them “a brand new heart” and promised that he would “write his laws in their hearts and in their minds” (Jeremiah 31:31-33, Hebrews 8:10 & 10:16). When he poured out his Ruach (Spirit) on the day of Shabuoth (Pentecost), he was giving his covenant people the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, thereby causing them to be able to keep the marriage covenant (the Mosaic Law)!

Beloved, today I no longer believe in “Dispensationalism.” My understanding of things has changed since 2002 as I began to seek YaHuWaH in prayer over the past few years. The Set-Apart Spirit has been teaching me some basic principles about “hermeneutics,” and how to interpret New Testament doctrine. 

Back in 2007 when I was in a time of intense prayer and fasting, the Spirit of YaHuWaH came to me and said “Maria, the double portion anointing is that of Mosheh & Eliyahuw” and as he said this I had a vision of Yahuwshuwa Messiah at the Mount of Transfiguration with Mosheh & Eliyahuw (Moses & Elijah). 

I suddenly realized that he had both types of “anointing” operating in his life (law & prophets). These are the two witnesses! I once believed that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit replaced the need for the Mosaic Law in our lives. But after this vision, I suddenly realized that they go “hand-in-hand.”

We are told many times in scripture that a covenant or a matter is established by the “witness of two or three.” (Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, Joshua 7:3, 2^nd Kings 9:32, Isaiah 17:6, Amos 4:8, Matthew 18:16, 18:20, John 2:6, 1^st Corinthians 14:27, 14:29, 2^nd Corinthians 13:1, 1^st Timothy 5:19, 1^st John 5:7-8, Hebrews 10:28). 

In the first 60 years after Yahuwshuwa died on the tree, what did the disciples use to preach the gospel with? The Torah, Prophets & Writings! Since the New Testament scriptures had not gone into print yet, what did the disciples teach the Gentiles with every Sabbath Day? The Torah! When Sha’ul (Paul) wrote letters to congregations, what was he quoting out of? The Torah! What did Yahuwshuwa quote from? Mosheh and the Prophets, the TaNaKh (Old Testament)!

Does our Heavenly Father change his mind about his commandments from the TaNaKh (Old Testament) just because our Messiah was sacrificed for us? NO! Most Christians misunderstand the reason why he was sacrificed in the first place. They think he was sacrificed to cleanse us of sins and then make us immune from punishment for any sins that we commit after that. Beloved, his sacrifice does not make us immune if we continue to sin willfully! Hebrews 10:26-29 makes it clear that if we continue to sin (transgress the law) there remains no more sacrifice for sins, and we are then making his sacrifice in vain, thereby positioning ourselves for judgement!

And what is the New Testament definition of sin?

1^st Yahuwchanon (John 3:4) Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Our Creator never changes, beloved. Once he writes down his words in a book for us to read, that word stands forever!

Tehillim (Psalm) 119:160 Your word is true from the beginning: and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

1^st Keefa (Peter) 1:25 But the word of YHWH endures forever. And this is the word which by the Besowrah (Gospel) is preached unto you.

You see every single word of our Creator from Bereshiyth (Genesis) to Revelation endures in eternity forever!

Malakiy (Malachi) 3:6 For I am YHWH, I change not; therefore you sons of Ya’aqob (Jacob) are not consumed.

Yahuwshuwa Messiah is the SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY & FOREVER (Hebrews 13:8) and HE DOES NOT CHANGE!

It was the Messiah himself who wrote the commandments in stone “written with the finger of Elohiym” for Mosheh. So why would he change his mind in the New Testament? He already told us that every “jot and tittle” (punctuation mark) of his Torah is still in effect until heaven and earth passes away (Matthew 5:17-19).

When Yahuwshuwa said “out of the mouth of two or three witnesses let everything be established” he was not merely talking about two or three individuals, but he was also showing us the pattern of Mosheh & Eliyahuw (law & prophets). These two witnesses are what we consult when establishing all doctrine in the New Testament! We do not form brand new doctrine in the New Testament. If something in the New Testament seems to contradict something that is written in the Old Testament that means that you are taking some-thing out of context. When this seems to be the case, you must search the scriptures for “two or three witnesses” before you can establish a matter or a doctrine.

Listen to what Yahuwshuwa said:

Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Mosheh, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me.

We establish ALL DOCTRINE on these two or three witnesses. If it does not agree with these two or three witnesses, it is false doctrine. All things written about Yahuwshuwa Messiah have not all been fulfilled yet. There is more to be fulfilled at his second coming, and so we still have the Mosaic Law in effect until all is fulfilled.

Obeying the Torah (Mosaic Law) is NOT the prerequisite to being saved, but the Holy Spirit will teach us to obey it if we truly are justified by grace through faith. If someone is “lawless” (without Torah) and yet they say that they are “born-again” they are deceiving themselves. For one cannot be born anew and continue in sin. 

1^st Yahuwchanon (John) 3:9 Whosoever is born of Elohiym does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of Elohiym.

If you are born from above, you will not continue in sin (lawlessness), but you will allow the Ruwach ha’Qodesh (Holy Spirit) to transform you and you will gradually be taught to obey all of his commandments.

Now let’s take a look at some of the most common scriptures that people use to justify eating unclean animals.

1.) Peter’s Rooftop Vision in Acts 10

In order to understand what this vision was all about, we have to read the chapter in context.

Acts 10:

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared Elohiym with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to Elohiym always.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of Elohiym coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, YaHuWaH? And he said unto him, Your prayers and your alms are come up for a memorial before Elohiym.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Shimone (Simon), whose surname is Keefa (Peter):

6 He lodges with one Shimone (Simon) a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell you what you ought to do.

7 And when the angel which spoke unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Yoppa (Joppa).

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew near unto the city, Keefa (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 upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

*Explanation: now this part is very important, because if you understand what the sheet was, you will get a prophetic picture of what YaHuWaH was showing to Keefa. Yah has already set precedence in scripture for the “four corners” of the harvest field. He commanded that we are not to harvest the “four corners” but to save the crops there for the “poor and the stranger” (Leviticus 23:22). Yah sees the earth as his harvest field and so when he speaks of “four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12, Revelation 7:1), he is speaking about the harvest of the souls from the Gentile nations. The “four angels from the four winds of heaven” gather the elect from the “four corners of the earth” in the last days (Matthew 24:21, Revelation 7:1). And so these “four corners” of the sheet in Keefa’s vision has to do with the harvest of souls! A prayer shawl (called a tallit) is also called a “tent” or (skene in Greek or sukkah in Hebrew). In Acts 18:3 we read that Sha’ul (Paul) was a “tentmaker.” But what he actually made were “portable prayer tents” called prayer shawls. On the four corners of these prayer shawls we are commanded to place on them “fringes” to remind us that we are to obey the commandments (Deuteronomy 22:12, Numbers 15:38). These “fringes” are called “tziytzith” in Hebrew. In Zechariah 8:23 we read a very important prophecy:

ZakarYaHuW (Zechariah) 8:23 “Thus says YHWH of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a YaHuW’diy (Jew), saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that Elohiym is with you.”

Now in this prophecy, the Hebrew word for “skirt” is #3671 in the Strong’s Concordance:

“kanaph” and it means: wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner of the garment. In Malachi 4:2, another prophecy about the Messiah is told as one who comes with “healing in his wings”:

Malakiy (Malachi) 4:2 “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…”

The Hebrew word for “wings” here is once again # 3671 which is “kanaph” and this is the same word used in Zechariah 8:23 for skirt!

The big sheet that came down in Keefa’s vision was “knit at the four corners.” This has to do with the harvest field---the four corners of the earth! The fact that it was knit at four corners speaks of the Gentiles gathering by taking the “wing, corner of the garment,” or the “tziyzit” of a Yahuwdiy (Jew) just like in Zechariah’s prophecy! Now in Acts 10:11 we see the word for sheet (#3607), the word for knit (#1210), and the word for “corners” (#746).

Now let’s read Acts 10:11 with these Greek words defined and then we can decode the hidden message:

Sheet: # 3607 Othonē: linen (i.e. fine white linen for women’s clothing; linen clothes (sheet or sail)

Knit: #1210 deō: to bind tie, fasten; to bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains; metaph.; Satan is said to bind a woman bent together by means of a demon, as his messenger, taking possession of the woman and preventing her from standing upright; to bind, put under obligation, of the law, duty etc.; to be bound to one, a wife, a husband; to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit

Corners: # 746: arche: beginning, origin, the person or thing that commences, the first person or thing in a series, the leader; that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause; the extremity of a thing; of the corners of a sail; the first place, principality, rule, magistracy; of angels and demons.

And so we see by these three words in Greek: Sheet, Knit, Corners, a message is being formed:

Acts 10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet [othone] knit [deo] at the four corners [arche], and let down to the earth:

The sheet is the word “othone” and it can be defined as a bride’s wedding garment or a prayer shawl (tallit), she is being bound or knit (deo) to the marriage vows (the Mosaic Law) or the Torah, and she is being knit together or gathered by the four corners of a garment (arche)!

The prayer shawl is deliberately made in the shape of a rectangle to resemble the harvest field. YaHuWaH commands us not to harvest the “four corners” of our harvest field but we are commanded to save it for the “stranger and for the poor.” And then he also commands us to place “fringes” with a blue thread or ribbon going through it (to represent the Torah). Why does blue represent the Torah? 

In Exodus 24:7-12 Mosheh read the book of the covenant to the people of Yisra’el (the marriage vows) and they accepted the terms and conditions of the covenant which are the instructions (Torah). That is when YaHuWaH revealed himself on a sapphire pavement and then he beckoned Mosheh to come up to the Mountain to receive the written marriage covenant. 

The blue thread in the tziyzit are meant to be an outward sign of our covenant with YaHuWaH. It is like wearing your wedding ring! This is why in Zechariah 8:23 ten men from ten nations of the Gentiles grab the “kanaph” (corner of the garment) of a Yahuwdiy (Jew). This means that the “Ten Northern Tribes” of Yisra’el (the lost sheep of Ephrayim) will begin to join themselves again with the Yahuwdiy (Jews) in the last days. Keefa (Peter) was being shown this very prophetic dream where the Gentiles (represented as unclean animals) were being “gathered” in a large “sheet” (wedding garment, prayer shawl) and then they were being gathered at the four corners. Now listen to how similar this sounds to our Messiah’s words in this prophecy:  

Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

You see Keefa’s vision had nothing to do with eating pork or unclean animals! His vision was about gathering of the Gentiles into the same covenant at the “four corners” of the earth! What is even more interesting is that in Ezekiel 37:16, when YaHuWaH brings together the “stick of Judah & Ephrayim” in the last days, there are Gentiles who are joined to them who are called “companions.” The Hebrew word for “companions” is #2270 “chaber” which means “knit together!” Peter was being shown in his vision that the Gentiles (represented by the unclean animals) from the “four corners”of the earth were going to be “knit together”into one big house or family (tent, prayer shawl), when “ten men from the nations”(representing ten lost tribes) will grab the “kanaph”(corner of the garment, or the tziyzit) of a Yahuwdiy (Jew).

Now let us continue with Keefa’s rooftop vision:

Acts 10:

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, Keefa (Peter); kill, and eat.

14 But Keefa (Peter) said, Not so, YaHuWaH; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spoke unto him again the second time, What Elohiym has cleansed, that call not you common.

16 This was done thrice [three times]: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17 Now while Keefa (Peter) doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

18 And called, and asked whether Shimone (Simon), which was surnamed Keefa (Peter), were lodged there.

19 While Keefa (Peter) thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek you.

*Note: This sheet came down three times and the voice of Yah was heard three times saying to Keefa “what Elohiym has cleansed, that call not you common.” Then as soon as he had finished having this dream, three men came to the door seeking Keefa (Peter). What does the number three mean in prophecy? In 1^st Yahuwchanon (John) 5:7-8 we are told that there are three witnesses that make a covenant sure:

1^st Yahuwchanon (John) 5:6-9

6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Yahuwshuwa ha’Mashiyach; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Ruwach (Spirit) that bears witness, because the Ruwach (Spirit) is truth.

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Ruwach ha’Qodesh (Holy Spirit): and these three are one.

8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of Elohiym is greater: for this is the witness of Elohiym which he has testified of his Son.

The witness of three was shown to Keefa (Peter) in this dream by the fact that three times the sheet came down and ascended and he heard the words “do not call unclean what I have made clean.” Then three men appeared at Keefa’s door knocking immediately following this dream! Do you remember how Keefa denied “three times” that he knew Yahuwshuwa in Matthew 26:34? And then in John 21:15 Keefa was being asked “three times” by the Messiah “do you love me?” And each time when Keefa answered and said “yes Master, you know that I love you” Yahuwshuwa replied all three times “feed my lambs.” You see, Keefa was being shown by YaHuWaH that he was now including the Gentiles into his covenant! And Keefa was being commissioned to go and feed his lost sheep!

Acts 10:

20 Arise therefore, and get you down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21 Then Keefa (Peter) went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom you seek: what is the cause wherefore you are come?

22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that fears Elohiym, and of good report among all the nation of the YaHuW’diy (Jews), was warned from Elohiym by a holy angel to send for you into his house, and to hear words of you.

23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Keefa (Peter) went away with them, and certain brethren from Yoppa (Joppa) accompanied him.

24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

25 And as Keefa (Peter) was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

26 But Keefa (Peter) took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

28 And he said unto them, You know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Yahuwdiy (Jew) to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but Elohiym has showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

*Explanation: Aha! Now we see that Keefa (Peter) explained the metaphor of this vision! He clearly tells us here that Elohiym has shown him not to call any MAN unclean! He did not say anything about animals!

    2.) Messiah’s Dialogue with the Pharisees in Mark 7 & Matthew 15 

Just a few years ago, before the Holy Spirit taught me what the scriptures had to say regarding unclean animals, I used to cite the very same scriptures that most Christians quote out of context regarding the eating of unclean animals. In Matthew 15 & Mark 7, we are going to see that Yahuwshuwa was not giving us permission to eat unclean animals. He did not “make all foods clean” as many have falsely taught and believed. The modern bible translators inserted this phrase into the text against the commandment of our Messiah in Revelation 22:

18 For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, Elohiym shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Elohiym shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Beloved this is a very serious judgment for adding to the scriptures words that were not there in the original text! But I am going to show you that the translators of the Revised Greek Text by Hort & Westcott have added these words into the text and thereby deceiving many to believe that they are allowed to eat unclean animals!

What you are about to learn in these passages in Matthew 15 & Mark 7 is that our Messiah, Yahuwshuwa was always drawing a HUGE contrast between the “doctrines & commandments of men” versus the Laws of YaHuWaH. Many Christians use these verses as an argument in favor of eating unclean animals. But when you read these verses in context, you will see that our Messiah Yahuwshuwa was not teaching us to violate the Mosaic Law. Instead he was teaching us how foolish the man-made commandments of the Pharisees were in sharp contrast.

Hort & Westcott were two men in the 1850’s who were the deeply involved in the Luciferian Doctrine of Madam Blavatsky and they were also into the occult and séances. They approached the Church of England and asked permission to alter the words of the Authorized 1611 King James Bible. They lied and said that they were only interested in updating the archaic language, but in reality, they had an Illuminati agenda to corrupt the original manuscripts of the Greek Textus Receptus (which is what the KJV uses). 

They formed a committee of thirty men called “The Ghostly Guild” and these men created another text called “The Revised Greek Text.” After thirty years of working on this abominable work of removing many words from the Textus Receptus (Received Text) to form the “Revised Greek Text,” all of these men lost their minds and ended up in mental institutions! These were the very same men responsible for adding the phrase “Jesus made all foods clean” in Mark 7:19 to the Revised Greek Text. See my other article entitled: “The King James Version versus Modern Translations.”

Now let’s examine these verses in the corrupted texts by Hort & Westcott:

Mark 7:19 (NASB & NIV) 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.)

But the Greek Textus Receptus which is what the Authorized King James Version uses does not add this phrase in parenthesis:

Mark 7:19 (KJV) Because it enters not into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the draught, purging all meats?

But here is an even bigger clue that our Messiah was not giving us permission to eat unclean animals in this passage. When you look up the word for “meats” in the Greek Strong’s Concor-dance, you will see that the original word is as follows:

#1033: broma bro’-mah from the base of 977; food (literally or figuratively), especially (ceremon-ially) articles allowed or forbidden by the Jewish law:--meat, victuals.

James Strong used the term “Jewish Law” for lack of a better term, but he was actually referring to the “Mosaic Law” given to us by our Creator “written with the finger of Elohiym” and then transcribed by Mosheh (Moses). The word “broma” is describing only clean animals! Therefore our Messiah was describing how the human digestive system purges all “clean meats” and it goes into the sewer or the toilet after it passes the bowels. He was not giving us permission to eat animals that he already called an ABOMINATION in Leviticus 11!

Unclean animals such as pork and shell fish are not even classified as “food” in scripture. And so when the word “food” is being discussed, keep in mind that it does not include pork or shellfish or unclean animals. The word “food” or “meat” in scripture is always referring to “broma” which is classified as “clean animals.”

In the Blue Letter Bible, the word for “broma” is defined as follows: #1033: That which is eaten, food.

In other words, only clean animals are classified as “food” that is edible. Unclean animals are NOT considered food at all!

The New King James Version says this in Mark 7:19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?

What did our Messiah mean in this passage? He was telling them that the digestive system and liver will eliminate germs in “clean meats” (broma), so that this Pharisaic hand-washing ritual of obsessively washing hands “seven times” was not necessary.

Yahuwshuwa declared that “clean animals” (broma) was sanitized by the liver and digestive system but he did not declare “unclean animals” to be clean or edible! 

Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 15:

2 Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also TRANSGRESS THE COMMANDMENT OF ELOHIYM by your TRADITION?

*Note: Do you see that he is making a clear distinction between the COMMANDMENTS OF YAHUWAH versus THE TRADITIONS OF MEN?

In Matthew 15, Yahuwshuwa was NOT talking about unclean animals, but he was specifically addressing this hand-washing ritual that the Pharisees turned into a ceremonial man-made law.

If Yahuwshuwa was “making all meats clean” as many Christians suppose, he would be in direct contradiction to his own words, making him either a liar or a hypocrite or unstable:

Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 5:

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Did you get that?

UNTIL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASSES AWAY NOT ONE PUNCTUATION MARK SHALL PASS AWAY FROM THE LAW UNTIL ALL BE FULFILLED!

So the question is this, “has heaven and earth passed away yet”?

Has all been fulfilled yet?

No, it has not. Yahuwshuwa has not fulfilled all things in the Law & Prophets yet. He will continue to fulfill all thing in the Torah & Prophets at his second coming and during his Millennial Reign. Until then, all of the Mosaic Law, (not even one PUNCTUATION MARK) of the Law has passed away!

He goes on to tell us that “whosoever teaches men to break even one of the LEAST of these commandments (including dietary laws) shall be called LEAST in the Kingdom.”

Is Yahuwshuwa Messiah, now being called the “least in the kingdom?” Was he teaching us to break even the least commandment in the Torah? Was he teaching us to break dietary laws?

Okay, so let’s continue in Matthew 15 to see what YaHuWShuWA was talking about:

Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 15:

8 This people draws near unto me with their mouth, and honours me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, TEACHING FOR DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.

10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:

11 Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.

12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Know you that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up.

14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

15 Then answered Keefa (Peter) and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.

16 And YaHuWShuWA said, Are you also yet without understanding?

17 Do not you yet understand, that whatsoever enters in at the mouth goes into the belly, and is cast out into the draught (sewer, toilet)?

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 proceeds evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man: but to EAT WITH UNWASHED HANDS DEFILES NOT A MAN.

You will notice that he is NOT talking about eating pork or shellfish in this account. So what is he talking about? He is talking about “doctrines & commandments of men!” The Pharisees invented man-made laws about “hand-washing” that were beyond the scope of sanitary and health. They created a law that involved washing their hands “seven times” and this law is not in the Torah! Our Messiah was giving them some basic understanding about biology here. After, all he is the creator of all things isn’t he? He made man in his own image so he knows how the stomach and digestive system works. He was explaining in Matthew 15 that when the food is eaten it goes into the stomach and the digestive system contains acids that break down foods and kill germs. And so to wash one’s hands one time to remove the dirt and germs is sufficient. But to be “obsessive compulsive” about hand-washing the way that these Pharisees were doing is not necessary since our digestive system already kills the germs that we eat. That is why he said that to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man. He was not advocating eating with dirty hands, but he was merely showing that these Pharisees were making this hand-washing ritual a doctrine that was never sanctioned by our Creator.

Now, let me ask you, who is the one who called these unclean animals an ABOMINATION? Men? or YaHuWaH? Scripture tells us:

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:43 You shall not make yourselves ABOMINABLE with any creeping thing that creeps, neither shall you make yourselves UNCLEAN with them, that you should be DEFILED thereby.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:44 For I am YHWH your Elohiym: you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.

Now tell me who these commandments are coming from? Are they coming from men or from our Creator? And who was he giving these commandments to? Was he only commanding this to the Tribe of YaHuW’dah (Judah) or the Jews? Many Christians erroneously conclude that these commandments given to “all Yisra’el” are for only the one Tribe of YaHuW’dah, but they forget that there are eleven other tribes whom YaHuWaH gave these commandments to! And who are these other eleven tribes? In Ezekiel 47:22 we are told that when a “stranger” sojourns with an Yisra’elite tribe, he becomes as “one born among” that tribe.

Yechezqel (Ezekiel) 47:

22 And it shall come to pass, that you shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Yisra’el; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Yisra’el.

23 And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourns, there shall you give him his inheritance, says YHWH ELOHIYM.

We are also told in Exodus 12 that when a stranger “sojourns” with an Yisra’elite, that there shall be ONE LAW for the stranger who sojourns with you and for the Yisra’elite:

Shemoth (Exodus) 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourns among you.

Now, to those who say that they are “walking with Jesus” let me ask you a question? Who are you sojourning with? An Yisra’elite? Are you sojourning (walking) with the Lion of the Tribe of YaHuW’dah (Judah)? Then that makes you a Jew!

You have joined his tribe! Even the Apostle Sha’ul (Paul) confirmed this in Romans 2:26-29. Listen to what he says:

Romans 2:

26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keeps the righteousness of the Torah (law), shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the Torah (law), judge you, who by the letter and circumcision does transgress the law?

28 For he is not a YaHuW’diy (Jew), which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a YaHuW’diy (Jew), which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Elohiym.

And so we have to see that the commandments in the Torah were not given to the Jews only, but to all twelve tribes of Yisra’el! And if you call yourself a “born-again Christian” that makes you a “grafted in branch” to the House of Yisra’el!

The Apostle Sha’ul (Paul) says in Ephesians 2:11-12 concerning “born-again” believers that they were “former Gentiles” in the flesh but now they are “no longer strangers, from the covenants of promise” but they are part of the “Commonwealth of Yisra’el.”

This means that the Torah (instructions) of our Heavenly Father is for everyone who is in blood covenant with the Messiah, and that includes dietary laws!

Do you see how many Christians are confusing the commandments of YaHuWaH with the doctrines & commandments of men?

YaHuWShuWA was rebuking the Pharisees for what? Was he rebuking them for honoring the commandments of YaHuWaH? No!

He was rebuking them for REPLACING Yah’s commandments with their own!

And that is exactly what Christians are doing to this day!

They are REPLACING Yah’s commandments and using the words of YaHuWShuWA out of context to cancel out his own commandments.

Many Christians want to cancel out Yah’s commandments concerning the dietary laws (clean versus unclean animals) and they use the words of YaHuWShuWA WAY OUT OF CONTEXT to make him look LAWLESS!

No wonder why many Jews want nothing to do with this TWISTED LAWLESS JESUS IN THE CHURCH! I don’t blame them!

“Jesus” did not “make all meats clean” as many Christians believe. It does not say this in scripture at all. 

3.) Acts 15: These Four No More? 

Another false premise that many Christians use when arguing that “we are allowed to eat unclean animals under the New Covenant” is found in Acts 15, where we are told that the Gentiles only have “Four Laws” to follow in order to be allowed to fellowship with the Jews in their Synagogues.

Because most Christians do not understand what was required for the Jews to allow Gentiles into their Synagogues, they assume that the Jerusalem Council headed by the Apostle Ya’aqob (James) made a determination that these newly converted Gentiles only had to follow “these four and no more” when it comes to the Mosiac Law (Torah).

But this reasoning is flawed for several reasons. We have the other “two or three witnesses” in scripture that tell us that when a Gentile is “grafted back in” to the Covenant that he is to keep ONE LAW with the Yisra’elites (Exodus 12:49). In Acts 15:22 we find out that the Jerusalem Council recognized that these Gentiles were just getting started on their journey of sanctification and learning to live a life that is “set-apart.” And so in the mean-time, the requirements that were being made for Gentiles had nothing to do with salvation or sanctification. These laws were merely for the express purpose of allowing these Gentiles into their fellowship.

The Apostles gave the non-Jewish believers certain requirements in order to have immediate fellowship with the Yahuwdiyth (Jewish) followers of Messiah. These are what are called “starter laws.” In other words, these four things that the Jewish Apostles required of the Gentiles were not the “end all” to their sanctification process, as some in the church try to teach today. These requirements were an introduction to the sanctification process because the Apostles reasoned among themselves saying: 

Acts 15:21 For Mosheh of old time has in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Even though the Gentiles could get started fellowshipping with them based on these basic four commandments, they knew that because these Gentiles were going to the synagogue and learning the Mosaic Law (Torah) every Sabbath day, they would gradually learn to become Torah observant and the Holy Spirit would sanctify them and set them apart from their former pagan practices.

Now, let us look at Acts 15 in context to see what the Apostles expected of the Gentile believers in Yahuwshuwa:

Acts 15:

17 That the residue of men might seek after YHWH, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, says YHWH, who do all these things.

18 Known unto Elohiym are all his works from the beginning of the world.

19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from the Gentiles are turned to Elohiym:

20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 

Okay, let’s stop here for a moment and see what the Apostles are requiring:

I.) Abstain from pollutions of idols:

In other words, pagan holidays (i.e. Christmas, Easter, and Halloween) offered up to idols and statues, meat sacrificed to idols etc. Worldly or secular music is also offered up to false idols (which are really demons). Pork was eaten by the heathens as a spiritual representation of Nimrod and Tammuz. In Ezekiel 8:14 we read about the women “weeping for Tammuz” which is an Abomination to YaHuWaH. Who was Tammuz? He was supposedly the reincarnation of Nimrod according to Babylonian myth, and he was born on December 25^th . When Tammuz was 40 years old, he was gored to death by a wild “boar” (a pig). And so Nimrod’s mother and wife Semiramis (who gave birth to Tammuz) began a custom in Babylon called “weeping” for 40 days and 40 nights for Tammuz leading up to Easter Sunday. 

The people were commanded to exchange one day of pleasure in this life in exchange for one year of Tammuz’s life in the underworld. Later on in history the Roman Catholic Church adopted this custom and called it “Lent.” Semiramis had another name in various cultures as she became known as Ishtar (Easter) in Assyria. Every year on Easter Sunday she is said to be resurrected in the East with her son Tammuz who was killed by a wild pig, and so the pagans eat the Easter Ham in honor of Ishtar and her son Tammuz. They also dyed eggs in the blood of infants that they sacrificed to Tammuz and Ishtar (Easter)! These are the customs that the Apostles were commanding the Gentiles to abstain from! Easter Sunday! Ham!

II.) Abstain from fornication:

Sex apart from marriage; adultery, homosexuality. Any sexual uncleanness that violates that original “one-man, one-woman” relationship instituted at creation by YaHuWaH when he said “the two shall become one flesh.”

III.) Abstain from things strangled: 

Animals that were strangled did not have their blood drained properly, and this violates the Torah because we are commanded not to eat or drink blood. If the animal had been strangled, all of the blood rushed to the muscles in the animal and that animal’s meat was engorged with blood.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 17:14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Yisra’el,You shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eats it shall be cut off.

Eating animals that were strangled meant that all the unclean diseases that were present in that animal’s blood were still present in the meat because the blood had not drained.

IV.) Abstain from Blood:

This even means rare steak etc. The life of the blood of an animal has the ability to carry with it diseases. It has been proven medically that ingesting animal blood can change our own human DNA and make it similar to the DNA of the animal!

But the Jerusalem Council did not STOP here! They went on to say in the next verse:

Acts 15:21 For Mosheh of old time has in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. 

What were the Apostles saying here? If I may paraphrase here:

“Don’t worry, the Gentiles will go into the synagogue every Sabbath day and they will learn the Mosaic Law (Torah) and they will gradually become Torah observant.”

The Jerusalem Council made a determination and they “sentenced” the other Apostles by saying (Maria’s paraphrase): 

“Let’s not overwhelm them with too much at once… let’s make it simple and give them only four things to abstain from for now, and as they learn the Torah every Sabbath day, they will gradually become fully Torah observant…”

After these four requirements were laid down in order to allow the Gentiles to come into their fellowship, it pleased the other YaHuW’diym (Jewish) Apostles and they were more than willing to allow them into their fellowship:

Acts 15:

22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole congregation, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Sha’ul (Paul) and Barnabas; namely, YaHuW’dah (Judas) surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

Now, here is where a lot of Christians today get mixed up. They read the next verse and they think that because the Apostles were not requiring immediate obedience to the Mosaic Law in order to be allowed in the Synagogues that these Gentiles were never going to be required to obey the Mosaic Law at all!

Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, You must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:

Under the Abrahamic & Mosaic Covenants, circumcision was never the means to justification and even now under the Renewed Covenant it is still not a pre-requisite to salvation! Most Christians have been taught to believe that under the “Old Covenant” circumcision was required as a means to salvation or justification. But that is simply not true. Circumcision was an “outward sign” that Abraham did to show YaHuWaH that he was willing to have his fleshy carnal nature cut away from his heart. Outward circumcision was always meant to point to inward circumcision of the heart even under the 
“Old Covenant.” In Galatians 3, there was a sect of the Jews who were Gnostic Essenes and they were called “Works of the Law.” They were requiring outward circumcision in the flesh as a “pre-requisite” to salvation and Sha’ul (Paul) intervened and told these men that they were “putting the cart before the horse.” The controversy in Galatians 3 was not against circumcision because the Apostle Sha’ul (Paul) circum-cised Timothy in Acts 16:3. He also debunked any false rumors that he was preaching against circumcision in Acts 21:21-24, and so we know that Paul was not preaching against circumcision itself. His controversy was with those who would make circumcision the pre-requisite to salvation when it never was even in the Old Testament!

Obedience to the Mosaic Law was never a pre-requisite to salvation, nor was it intended to justify us even under the Old Covenant. The Mosaic Law was only meant to “sanctify” us and set us apart from the heathen nations AFTER we were in covenant with our Creator. In other words, it was always FAITH that justified, NEVER THE LAW.

Romans 4:3 For what says the scripture? Abraham believed Elohiym, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed Elohiym, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

4.) Paul’s Letter to Timothy Citing that “Every Creature is Good and Nothing Should be Refused.”

I used to use this scripture out of context to justify eating pork and unclean animals, but little did I realize back then, that the word being used here for “meat” in these passages is once again “broma” which means “foods allowed under Mosaic Law:”

1^st Timothy 4:

1 Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats (broma), which Elohiym has created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

4 For every creature of Elohiym is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

5 For it is sanctified by the word of Elohiym and prayer.

What was this “doctrine of devils” all about? It had nothing to do with forbidding people to eat pork as I had erroneously taught and believed in the past! It had to do with the Essenes who were Gnostics. What is Gnosticism? Gnosticism basically holds the view that all things made up of “matter” is evil and should be avoided. The Gnostics were extremists and they did not believe that our Messiah Yahuwshuwa “came in the flesh.” They believed in reincarnation and they also taught that eating clean animals is evil, even though the scriptures command us to eat the Passover Lamb and the priests were commanded to eat the meat of the sacrifices that they offered in the temple. These Essenes were the ones who were preaching “doctrines of devils.”

To read more about Gnosticism, see my other article entitled “What Was Blotted Out in Colossians 2?”

When Sha’ul (Paul) said that the food that we eat is sanctified by “the word of Elohiym” what does he mean? How do we know what creatures are to be refused and what creatures are not to be refused? By the word of Elohiym! The word “sanctify” means “to separate, to set apart,” and so it is the word of our Creator that sanctifies (sets apart) what is clean and what is unclean! I used to believe that we could pray over our parasite infested pork and it would be suddenly “sanctified” but that is not what is being preached by Paul in this verse!

5.) The Word of YaHuWaH Sanctifies (Separates) What We Eat

Our Creator has already separated what is clean and what is an Abomination:

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:6 And the hare (rabbit), because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he chews not the cud; he is unclean to you.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:8 Of their flesh shall you not eat, and their carcase shall you not touch; they are unclean to you.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an ABOMINATION unto you:

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:11 They shall be even an ABOMINATION unto you; you shall not eat of their flesh, but you shall have their carcases in ABOMINATION.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:12 Whatsoever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an ABOMINATION unto you.

*Note: the above verses tell us that we are not to eat shell fish, squid, octopus, catfish etc.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:13 And these are they which you shall have in ABOMINATION among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an ABOMINATION: the eagle, and the ossifrage (bearded vulture), and the ospray (bird of prey, buzzard, black eagle).

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:14 And the vulture, and the kite (hawk, falcon) after his kind;

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:15 Every raven after his kind;

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow (seagull), and the hawk after his kind,

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:17 And the little owl, and the cormorant (pelican), and the great owl,

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing (hoopoe), and the bat.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:20 All fowls that creep (winged insects), going upon all four, shall be an ABOMINATION unto you.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an ABOMINATION unto you.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:41 And every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth shall be an ABOMINATION; it shall not be eaten.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:42 Whatsoever goes upon the belly, and whatsoever goes upon all four, or whatsoever has more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are an ABOMINATION.

Wayyikra (Leviticus) 11:44 For I am YHWH your Elohiym: you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.

What does the word Abomination mean in Hebrew? It is seen in the Strong’s Concordance as follows:

#8263 sheqets sheh’-kets from 8262; filth, i.e. (figuratively and specifically) an idolatrous object:--abominable(-tion); detestable thing. 

Beloved, it is an act of idolatry to eat unclean animals!

6.) Messiah Cast Devils into a Herd of Swine

Did it ever occur to you why our Messiah cast devils into a herd of swine? As I already illustrated, the animals that are considered unclean are an ABOMINATION and the Hebrew word for “abomination” literally means “an idolatrous object.” Not only are these unclean animals highly toxic and poisonous to the human body, but they are connected to pagan idolatry!

Yeshayahuw (Isaiah) 66:17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, says YHWH.

Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 7:6 Give not that which is qadowsh (holy) unto the dogs, neither cast you your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

*Note: Swine is always connected with paganism and idolatry. Messiah always used the word “swine” in connection with something abhorrent. In scripture, the word “dog” is always used to signify Gentiles and the word “swine” (sow or pig) is always used to signify something filthy and idolatrous.

2^nd Keefa (Peter) 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow (pig) that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

In this account in Matthew’s gospel, Messiah cast demons out of these two men, who were living in the graveyards. People who have contact with the dead and practice necromancy are people who also practice idolatry and eat swine’s flesh (Isaiah 66:17). The demons in these men requested to be cast into a herd of swine because they are comfortable in that type of habitat. But the Holy Spirit does not want to dwell in a temple that has swine’s flesh in it:

Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 8:28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with you, YaHuWShuWA, you Son of Elohiym? Are you come here to torment us before the time?

Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 8:31 So the devils besought him, saying, If you cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

Mattithyahuw (Matthew) 8:32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

Messiah would never have cast demons into a herd of sheep, because sheep represent his covenant people. But swine were created for one purpose and that is to clean up the environment. Pigs eat feces, waste, rats, poisonous and toxic garbage etc. They only have one stomach and within four hours after they eat these poisonous and toxic substances, these toxic substances are absorbed into their flesh. But sheep and cattle graze on nothing but grass and they have four stomachs. It takes a full 72 hours for sheep and cattle to digest what they eat and so their digestive system is far more advanced in order to purify the food that they eat.

In the book of Maccabees, we read that in 164 B.C., Antio-chus Ephiphanies (a Greek-Syrian dictator) oppressed the people of Yahuwdah (Judah) by setting up an abominable image of Zeus in the Temple of YaHuWaH and he sacrificed a pig on the altar of sacrifice, and he defiled the temple by sprinkling pig’s blood on the mercy seat. Antiochus Epiph-anies claimed that he was a reincarnation of Zeus the pagan sun-god on December 25^th and he gave himself the title “Epiphanies” which adds up to 666 in the Greek alpha-numeric system, and it means “god manifest.” He also forced the Yahuwdiym (the Jewish people) to eat pork under the threat of death. But many of the Yahuwdiy (Jews) were willing to be killed rather than to bow to the image of Zeus or eat pork against the commandment of YaHuWaH. 

The Apostle Sha’ul (Paul) explained to the Corinthians the difference between the things that the pagans sacrifice and the things that the set-apart people of YaHuWaH sacrifice. He explains that we cannot mix the two together:

1^st Corinthians 10:

20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to Elohiym: and I would not that you should have fellowship with devils.

21 You cannot drink the cup of YHWH, and the cup of devils: you cannot be partakers of YHWH’s table, and of the table of devils.

22 Do we provoke YHWH to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

7.) Did Paul Really Teach that All Things are Lawful?

The Apostle Sha’ul was quoting a “Gnostic Mantra” which was commonly used by Libertine Gnostics. He was actually quoting it in his letter to the Corinthians in sharp contrast to what the Torah has to say. 

“All things are lawful unto me, but, not all things are best” -----The Gnostic Mantra of Corinth

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (1^st Corinthians 6:12).

This verse is used quite often in the modern, often Lawless Church to justify the teachings of Lawlessness in the body of Messiah (which is by contrast called to be Righteous and a Holy Priesthood). The quote is often taken from newer translations that lack something very important in the sentence (quotation marks), as well as an accurate translation, and the historical context to know whom Paul was quoting: the Libertine Gnostics of Corinth.

Simon Magus, and the other Gnostics, used this as their Mantra, and Paul dedicated an entire Chapter of his letters fighting against this Mantra alone.

  

Did Paul actually say that ALL THINGS are Lawful for believers? If he did, then we as Believers, have a real problem on our hands. We have to dismiss all of the Letters of Paul as the writings of a False Prophet, or a man suffering from Split-Personality Disorder, or a straight and simple liar who gives two different instructions in the same letter, to the same group of people.

Paul didn’t believe that “all things are lawful” but he was saying that even if they were lawful, that doesn’t make it a good idea. Much like Marijuana being legalized, even if it was made legal, that doesn’t mean that it is good to smoke it. This is a point that has to be shared with those who seek what is permissible, instead of what is best…..This is showing that their heart is not circumcised, because instead of searching out the Spirit of the Law, they are merely seeking what the Letter will let them escape with doing, and often twist the letter to make allowances for what they want to do (legal loopholes and technicalities).

If Paul truly said that ALL THINGS are permissible for believers to do, then that would mean that not only can believers eat whatever they wish and celebrate whatever they wish, they can also sleep with whoever they wish, kill whoever they wish, and worship whatever they wish.

This would completely contradict the rest of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians:

2^nd Corinthians 6:14 Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness [anomia, lawlessness]? And what communion has light with darkness?

*Note: Paul just said here that the righteous should have no fellowship with the lawless ones, so obviously he did not mean that “all things are lawful!”

2^nd Corinthians 6:

15 And what concord has Messiah with Baal (Belial)? Or what part has he that believes with an infidel?

16 And what agreement has the temple of Elohiym with idols? For you are the temple of the living Elohiym; as Elohiym has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Elohiym, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says YHWH, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says YHWH Almighty.

When I ate unclean animals out of ignorance, the grace of YaHuWaH covered me in the meantime until the Holy Spirit broke through my darkened understanding and he taught me how to rightly divide the word of truth. Once I realized that I was deceived, I immediately repented for eating unclean and today, I am fully aware of the scientific and medical evidence of the damage that is done to our DNA and to our immune system when we eat unclean animals. Not only am I aware of the adverse physiological effects of what eating unclean does to our bodies, but I am also aware of the pagan idolatry that is associated with eating unclean.

The Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back

What was the “straw that broke the camel’s back” that finally made me see that I was in error when I used all of these verses out of context to justify eating unclean?

What really did it for me was when I was ministering to a Messianic Jewish young man who struggled with homosex-uality. He knew that it was a sin, and he wanted deliverance from it. But he had an issue with knowing that I still ate pork and shrimp. He and I had a discussion about it one day back in 2004, and he posed this question to me:

“Why is it that in Leviticus 18:22, YaHuWaH calls homosexuality an abomination, and yet in Leviticus 11, he calls unclean animals an abomination also? And why is it that Christians think unclean animals are no longer an abomination in the New Testament, yet they still believe that homosexuality is an abomination?”

He went on to ask me this:

“How do you determine which laws out of the Old Testament still apply for today, and which ones no longer apply?”

Well that is what did it for me! I realized at this point that I was being a hypocrite! I was “picking and choosing” the commandments that were convenient for me to obey and the ones that I did not want to obey, I explained it away with only New Testament scriptures. I then had to ask myself this question: “If Messiah gave up his life for me and he suffered a painful death to redeem me, why can’t I give up eating unclean for the sake of this one young man who is struggling to be free from homosexuality? If my eating pork and shrimp causes him to stumble and he justifies his homosexuality because I refuse to give up eating unclean, then what kind of message am I sending to him?” I immediately repented and never went back to eating unclean again. Now that you have been shown the truth from scripture, there is no more excuse to defile your body with unclean animals. Our body is called “the temple of the Holy Spirit” and we are given a serious charge, that if we do anything to destroy this temple, YaHuWaH himself will destroy us:

1^st Corinthians 3:17 If any man defile the temple of Elohiym, him shall Elohiym destroy; for the temple of Elohiym is holy, which temple you are.