For you are a qodesh (set apart) people to Yahweh your Elohim, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a treasured possession above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. "Do not eat that which is abominable (unclean). Deut 14:2-3
Seeing that we are grafted into Israel and these commands were given to them because they are a qodesh (set apart) people to Yahweh, does it not make sense that these commands are also for us gentiles (out of covenanters) who are now following Yeshua HaMashiach (Messiah)? Now, I know you are also wanting proof from the Brit Hadashah (New Covenant) showing that Yeshua HaMashiach and his Talmidim(disciples), as well as Sha'ul (Paul) did not change Elohim's Torah or do away with it. So here it is! In the next several paragraphs we will look at a few passages people use to say, "But see, here He changed it." We must always remember Scripture interprets Scripture and does not contradict itself. The number one rule of Bible study, "Context, context, context" also applies here.
Let me give an example. If I read this verse, "All that your hand finds to do, do it with your might." (from Eccl. 9:10) Then went and said, "This verse gives me permission to do whatever I want as long as I give it all I've got." This would be taking the verse out of context without proper interpretation of Scripture. When you look at the context you find out that it is acctually talking about Elohim approving the works of the righteous (keeping of Torah). And if you go to other passages in Scripture you see that Yahweh puts a big emphasis on doing things as to Yahweh and not men. Now you have the context and the interpretaion from Scripture.
Let's do one more example, just to help further our understanding. "And delight yourself in Yahweh, and let Him give you the desires of your heart." Ps. 37:4 What does it mean to delight in Yahweh? The interpretations to everything in Scripture are given to us in Scripture. Elohim doesn't tell us something in Scripture and leave us to find out for ourselves what it means, then, when we reach the other side, tells us, "I'm sorry, but you didn't interpret that Scripture correctly, I'm afraid I can't let you in." So then, knowing that we are told in Scripture what it means to delight in Yahweh, let's go find out what it really means.
In Isaiah 58:13-14 we see what it means to delight in Yahweh. "If you do turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my qodesh (set apart) day, and shall call the Sabbath 'a delight,' the qodesh day of Yahweh 'esteemed,' and shall esteem it, not doing your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall
DELIGHT yourself in Yahweh." To 'delight yourself in Yahweh' means keeping the Sabbaths, calling them a delight, and holding them in high esteem.
So, enough of that and let's move on to the topic at hand. Did Yeshua, any of His talmidim (disciples), or Sha'ul (Paul) do away with the commandments in Elohim's Torah regarding clean and unclean foods? Are people actually backed by Scripture in their claims that we may eat whatever our hearts desire? What are the Sriptures that they use?What is it that is being said? Let's dive into the scriptures and see for ourselves.
Many people say, "Jesus has given us permission to eat what we want because of what he says in Matthew 15:11." So what does this verse say? "Not that which goes into the mouth defiles the man, but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles the man." It does seem like people have a good point when they use this verse. But what does Yeshua mean by this statement? Let's take a look.
"Then there came to Yeshua scribes and pharisees from Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), saying, "Why do your talmidim (disciples) transgress the tradition of the elders?" (Notice they were transgressing the traditions of the elders and not the Torah of Elohim.) "For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."
But He (Yeshua) answering, said to them, "Why do you transgress the Command of Elohim because of your tradition?" (The scribes and pharisees hold their tradition above the Torah of Elohim.) "For Elohim has commanded, saying, 'Respect your father and your mother,' and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me has been dedicated," is certainly released from respecting his father or mother.' So you have nullified the Command of Elohim by your tradition."
Matt 15:1-6
Did you just see that? Yeshua is upholding and teaching His Father's Torah, not doing away with it. It's the scribes and pharisees that are doing away with it here by their tradition! Let's continue reading and see what else happens.
"Hypocrites! Yeshayahu (Isaiah) rightly Navu (prophesied) about you saying, 'This people draw near to Me with their mouth, and respect Me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.' " (They were teaching, as truth, commands of men and lifting them up higher than Elohim's commands.)
And calling the crowd near, He said to them, "Hear and understand: Not that which goes into the mouth defiles the man, but that which comes out of the mouth, This defiles the man." (Yeshua will explain to us what He meant when He made this statement.)
Then His talmidim (disciples) came and said unto Him, "Do you know that the Pharisees stumbled when they heard this word?"
But He answering, said, "Every plant which My Father of the shamayim (heaven) has not planted shall be uprooted. Leave them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into a ditch."
And Kepha (Peter) answering, said to Him, "Explain this parable to us."
And Yeshua said, " Are you also still without understanding?" (Pay close attention to what Yeshua is about to explain.) "Do you not understand that whatever enters into the mouth goes into the stomach, and is cast out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth comes FROM THE HEART and these defile the man. For out of the heart come forth wicked reasonings, murders, adulteries, whorings, thefts, slanders. These defile the man, But to EAT WITH UNWASHED HANDS DOES NOT DEFILE THE MAN."
Matt 15:7-20
Now, we can clearly see that Yeshua is saying that the Pharisees tradition, of washing hands before eating, is what is being refered to as not defiling the man. Clean and unclean foods never once enter the conversation as a topic. Therefore, we see that at this moment Yeshua and His disciples still uphold the Torah of Elohim and have not done away with clean and unclean foods, Or any of the rest of Torah.
In Mark there is another telling of the above account. Let's just go over it briefly to help further our understanding of the above passage.
"And the pharisees and some of the scribes assembled to Him, having come from Yerushalayim. And seeing some of His talmidim eat bread with defiled, that is unwashed hands, they found fault. For the pharisees and all the Yehudim, do not eat unless they wash their hands thoroughly, holding fast the the tradition of the elders, and from the market place, they do not eat unless they wash. And their are many others which they have received and hold fast - the washing of cups and utensils and copper vessels and couches.
Then the pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do your talmidim not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with unwashed hands?"
And He answering said to them, "Well did Yeshayahu nava concerning you hypocrites, as it has been written, 'This people respect me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.' "Forsaking the Command of Elohim, you hold fast to the traditions of men." And He said to them, "Well do you put aside the Command of Elohim in order to guard you tradition. For Moshe (Moses) said, 'Respect your father and your mother,' and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Qorban (that is, a gift),"' You let him do naught at all for his father or his mother, nullifying the Word of Elohim through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such like you do."
And calling the crowd to Him, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: there is no matter that enters a man from the outside which is able to defile him, but it is what comes out of him that defiles the man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!" And when He went from the crowd into a house, His talmidim asked Him concerning the parable. And He said to them, "Are you also without understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from the outside is unable to defile Him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is cast out into the sewer, thus purging all the 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 reasonings, adulteries, whorings, murders, thefts, greedy desires, wickednesses, deceit, indecency, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All this wickedness comes from within and defile a man."
Mrk 7:1-23
There is another passage of Scripture that people use to back their claims. It is the passage of Kefa's (Peter's) vision with clean and unclean foods. We are told specifically what is meant by this vision in the same passage. So, how about we go take a look and see what Yahweh is trying to teach us in this passage.
"Now there was a certain man in Caesarea called Kornelius, a captain of what was called the Italion Regiment, dedicated, and revering Elohim with all his household, doing many kind deeds to the people, and praying to Elohim always. He clearly saw in a vision, about the ninth hour of the day, a messenger of Elohim coming to him, and saying to him, "Kornelius!"
And looking intently at Him, and becoming afraid, he said, "What is it, Master?"
And He said to him, "Your prayers and your kind deeds have come up for a rememberance before Elohim. And now send men to Yapho, and send for Shim'on (Simon) who is called Kepha. He is staying with Shim'on, a leather-tanner, whose house is by the sea."
And when the messenger who spoke to him went away, Konelius called two of his household servants, and a dedicated soldier from among those who waited on him continually. And having explained to them all, he sent them to Yapho.
And on the next day,as they were on their way and approaching the city, Kepha went up on the house top to pray, about the sixth hour. And he became hungry and wanted to eat. But while they were preparing, he fell into a trance, and he saw the shamayim (heaven) opened and a certain vessel like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth, in which were all kinds of four footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping creatures, and the birds of the shamayim.
And a voice came to him, "Rise up, Kepha, slay and eat."
But Kepha said, "Not at all, Master! Because I have never eaten whatever is common or unclean."
And a voice came to him again the second time, "What Elohim has cleansed you do not consider common."
And this happened three times and the vessel was taken back to the shamayim.
And while Kepha was doubting within himself about what the vision might mean, look, the men who had been sent from Kornelius, having asked for the house of Shim'on, stood at the gate, and calling out, they enquired whether Shim'on, also known as Kepha, was staying there.
And as Kepha was thinking about the vision, the Ruach (Spirit) said to him, "See, three men seek you. But rise up, go down and go with them, not doubting at all, for I have sent them."
So Kepha went down to the men who had been sent to him from Kornelius, and said, "Look, I am the one you seek. Why have you come?"
And they said, "Kornelius the captain, a righteous man and one who reveres Elohim and well spoken of by the entire nation of Yehuthim, was instructed by a qodesh messenger to send for you to his house, and to hear words from you." So inviting them in he housed them. And on the next day Kepha went away with them, and some brothers from Yapho went with him.
And the following day they entered into Caesarea. And Kornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and close friends. And it came to be, that when Kepha entered, Kornelius met him and fell down at his feet and bowed before him.
But Kepha raised him up, saying, "Stand up, I myself am also a man." And talking with him, he went in and found many who had come together. And he said to them, "You know that a Yahudi is not allowed to associate with, or go to one of another race." (This was another of the many rabbinical oral traditions and was not even a part of the Torah.) "But Elohim has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean." (This is refering to Kepha's vision. Notice what is being talked about: Gentiles, not animals.) "That is why I came without hesitation when I was sent for."
And opening his mouth, Kepha said, "Truly I see that Elohim shows no partiality."
Acts 10:1-29, 34
And Yahweh said to Noach, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. Of all the clean beasts take with you seven pairs, a male and his female; and of beasts that are unclean two, a male and his female; and of birds of the shamayim seven pairs, male and female, to keep offspring alive on the face of all the earth. For after seven more days I am sending rain on the earth, forty days and forty nights, and shall wipe from the face of the earth all that stand that I created."
Gen 7:1-4
(All Scripture taken from the Halleluyah Scriptures)
halleluyahcsriptures.com
