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YAHWEH'S FOOD LAWS - WHY LISTEN?
by Pastor Jeromy John Visser
(Introduction:)
Good morning. This weekend I had intended to bring two different sermons but instead decided to release them a little later in the month. Keep an open eye for Solomon's Strange Wives, an investigation into the term 'strange' and why mighty King Solomon angered Yahweh with his many foreign women and also Nebuchadnezzar's Madness, a deeper study into the 'abomination of desolation' as spoken about in the books of Daniel and Revelation. This morning's service is titled Yahweh's Food Laws - Why Listen? and will be an overview of the many foods Yahweh has given us to eat that are 'clean.'
I intend to shatter a few false myths about the 'eat anything' doctrine that is so rampant among today's judeo-christianity social circles by using the very scriptures that these snakes twist to teach that it's okay to eat swine or other abominations. I hope to provide you with a simple set of guidelines to make your grocery shopping a little bit easier and I'll even touch upon several modern-day diseases that are a direct result of dismissing these mandatory food Laws given to us by Yahweh through His servant Moses.
Personally speaking, I have kept these food Laws for well over a decade and as such I hope to present this study more from my own Christian walk but at the same time arm you with the necessary scriptures to disprove any false teachers that would promote this immoral doctrine. Perhaps more than any other aspect of Christianity these food Laws will be the one's you're attacked most for honoring, most times the sentiment is from unlearned or hard-hearted 'believers' themselves that ask "What? Are you jewish?"
Before beginning, I feel it only fair to say that this section of Yahweh's Law is NOT necessary for salvation because we're saved by grace, not works (Ephesians 2:9) but at the same time these are commandments (not suggestions) from Yahweh Almighty and they should be honored by any sincere Christian who desires to know the morality of the God of Israel.
Those that seek to follow lawlessness will usually quote Peter's vision in the book of Acts more than any other section of scripture. Turn with me to Acts, chapter 10 and we'll start reading with verse 9; "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, call not thou common (Acts 10:9-15)."
Interesting of note is that the Apostle Peter himself "doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean (Acts 10:17)" but so many modern teachers claim to have 'all understanding' about this particular vision. They will usually state that it's here where Yahweh 'lifted' the ban on His numerous food Laws and that because of this account it's okay to eat pork again. The sad thing about this mentality is that these same false teachers are bastardizing the 'Dispersion to the Gentiles' given to Peter and his ministry. Let's see what this vision really means using the Bible as it's own narrative.
Simply skip on down to the 28th verse and we'll find the needed answer when Peter himself says "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Judean to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." There is a huge difference between man and animal and as you can see this is the exact opposite teaching of what most 'one-verses-preachers' seek to promote. I suggest that you take the time to read the entire account in your own private study because if you intend to do as Yahweh says, this will be the verse that our common enemy uses against you, guaranteed.
Another popular verse with the 'antinomians' is found in the 15th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew and it's a passage spoken by Christ himself. In verse 11 Jesus teaches us "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." What's so sad about the unequipped rebel who uses this verse is that it can easily be discredited by reading the entire account. Let's do that now, shall we?
Start at the beginning and we can see that it's a teaching about 'washing hands' spoken to the scribes and Pharisees. It states; "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition (Matthew 15:1-3)?"
Following that, Jesus continues; "Hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man (Matthew 15:7-11)."
Here we see that Christ is referencing the prophet Isaiah who said "Wherefore Yahweh said, Forasmuch as this people draw near with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men (Isaiah 29:13)." Like usual, the Messiah returns to the scripture to drive home His point -- these Pharisees didn't keep the Mosaic Law, rather their own traditions.
Finally, Jesus begins to tells us what we need to know; "Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable (Matthew 15:12-15)."
If you were here on Wednesday night for my sermon Before Abraham Was, I AM, you may remember that I covered John 8 in detail where Jesus taught this very same aspect. Notice that we're told "every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up" proving once again that there are literal 'seeds' on earth that are not planted by Yahweh. He would later expand this in the parable of the tares and wheat and by striking down the bogus fig tree (Matthew 21:18-22).
Finally, the answer from Jesus himself; "Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man (Matthew 15:16-20)."
Before moving on I'd just like to ask -- does it sound like Jesus Christ was teaching that it's okay to eat mouse and bat or was teaching a lesson on hypocrisy? Notice how He referred back to Yahweh's Word when teaching against 'the commandments of men?' Ironically, today's government preachers preach the food Laws are abolished but we shall soon see that's not so.
I'm sure that many of you have heard me refer to these particular verses before but they're certainly worth expanding upon at this point in the lesson. Sadly, a majority of 'Christian scholars' are bewildered concerning the difference between an ordinance, statute or a law and instead teach that the Old Covenant Law is obsolete and no longer binding. Ironically, these same types of anti-christians can be found lobbying to remove the 10 commandments displays from American courthouses but by Jesus' definition, they are no more Christians than Satan himself.
One of my favorite passages is found in Matthew 5:17-18 and it plainly reads; "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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."
There is so much wisdom to be found in this verse. Notice that Jesus says "Think not?" That means that it's a violation of His commandment to even assume that Yahweh's Law is 'nailed to the cross' or done away with. Jesus also says He didn't come to destroy these Laws but to 'fulfil' them. The word used here for fulfil is taken from the Greek plēroô (pronounced play-ro'-o) which means "verify, perfect or supply (Strongs #G4137)." Jesus also says that until "heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." As long as this old earth keeps spinning around the Sun, these Laws are to be followed and obeyed just as Jesus kept Yahweh's Law perfectly. It's truly amazing that so-called 'teachers' would say otherwise considering Jesus Himself even added additional commandments to Yahweh's unspoiled Law proving He was God (Deuteronomy 4:2).
Looking at the clock I notice that my time is halfway over already so I won't have time to expand on the numerous scriptures where Jesus kept, taught and honored Yahweh's Laws. One that proves my point is found in Matthew 7:21; "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Have no worries -- in time I will preach a series on this very subject.
(The Mammals:)
I'd like to focus now on Yahweh's food Laws as they are found in our scriptures. The first giving of the Law is recorded in the 11th chapter of Leviticus and the 'second giving' is found in Deuteronomy 14. It's my suggestion that you memorize these chapter numbers for easy reference until you're familiar with Yahweh's suggested eating habits.
"Yahweh spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat (Leviticus 11:1-3)."
"Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing. Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat (Deuteronomy 14:3 & 6)."
The condition for mammals is that they must "part the hoof" or be cloven-footed and "chew the cud" or be a free-grazing animal. The Bible teaches that they must do both and even lists the exceptions;
"These shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you (Leviticus 11:4-8)."
"These ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you. And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase (Deuteronomy 14:7-8)."
The coney and hare are both types of rabbits and as such are rodents -- an abominable food to Yahweh equal to that of the pig. In Isaiah 66:17 it states; "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, saith Yahweh." The camel has hooves like that of a horse but chews the cud so he's unclean while the pig is the exact opposite with a split-hoof but doesn't chew the cud. Both of these animals are unclean.
"These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois (Deuteronomy 14:4-5)."
Here's a few extras; "These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even (Leviticus 11:29-31)."
You might run into the occasional fool who wants to teach that 'swine' meant something entirely different so I need to expand on this abomination known as the hog. The word 'swine' used in both instances is taken from the Hebrew word chăzîyr (pronounced khaz-eer') and it literally means "hog, boar or swine (Strongs #H2386)." In the New Testament 'swine' comes from the Greek choiros (pronounced khoy-'ros) which also means "hog or swine (Strong's #G5519)." No doubt about it, today's modern pig is the same swine of yesteryear.
(The Fish:)
Let's continue reading at Leviticus 11:9; "These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 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: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you."
"These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you (Deuteronomy 14:9-10)."
The seafood category is relatively easy, creatures from the sea must have fins and scales. Catfish and shark are unclean because they have no scales but have fins, shrimp are an abomination as is the lobster because they both have neither and survive off the feces of other fish. As you can already see among each class of animals Yahweh has separated out the 'clean' from the 'unclean' and the short of it this -- the unclean are considered scavengers. Think of a fresh-water fish tank, one may become hungry just looking at a fresh salmon but few people would want to have the 'algae-eater' or 'sucker-fish' for supper.
The old adage of "you are what you eat" really does apply in life because the human body absorbs every toxin that an unclean animal harbors throughout its life. For example, the pig has no sweat glands and usually eats 'slop' and garbage. Every bit of that disgusting bile the animal eats is retained within its fat tissue and a human who eats that animal ingests the same filth, both spiritually and physically. Go to a pig roast in the deep south for example and notice the patrons eating become 'dulled down' as if a mild case of retardation is setting in. This is also why the secular media pushes 'swine' on practically every fast-food television commercial from bacon burgers to Mc®ib sandwiches, all while abstaining from the meat themselves. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
(The Birds:)
Let's pick it back up in Leviticus 11:13; "And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth."
"Of all clean birds ye shall eat. But these are they of which ye shall not eat: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind, And every raven after his kind, And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, The little owl, and the great owl, and the swan, And the pelican, and the gier eagle, and the cormorant, And the stork, and the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you: they shall not be eaten. But of all clean fowls ye may eat (Deuteronomy 14:11-20)."
The condition for birds is that they must "have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth" and not fall into any of the listed 'unclean' categories. Naturally, only the eggs of clean fowl can be eaten. For the most part, there's very few violations of this rule within the Christian societies because nobody really eats owl, hawk, eagles or bats and most of these animals are protected in the United States. 'Science' will also say that the bat is a rodent and not a bird like it's any better a creature. The only violation I have ever seen with fowl is that Ostrich is sometimes packaged like burger meat but it's still forbidden.
(The Insects:)
"These of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even (Leviticus 11:22-24)."
The thought of eating insects is almost disgusting to most Christians and many trains of thought believe the grasshopper to have been 'Prophet's food.' However, one can see the personality of Yahweh in this passage because a Christian believer will have to search long and hard to find a 'four-footed' insect. Insects have six legs, so have fun looking.
"Every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 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 God: 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 (Leviticus 11:41-44)."
Yahweh does give us a few provisions on how to prepare meat. Back in Deuteronomy 14:21 it states; "Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto Yahweh thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk."
First off, don't boil a baby calf in his own mother's milk -- common sense. Also notice that our meat must be slaughtered and prepared for the purpose of eating only. Any animal that dies of old age, disease and unknown reasons is unclean and must be discarded with the utmost care. "If any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even. And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even (Leviticus 11:39-40)."
Remember that even touching an unclean animal's carcass is forbidden. Use extreme caution around raw swine because it hides under numerous names -- ham, bacon, boar, hog, pepperoni, salami, rinds and meat sticks are just a few. Also be wise to snacks that are prepared using lard, in the deep south many 'Little Debbie' brand snack-cakes are cooked in pig's fat and many generic types of soap are processed with lard. For example, the standard-issue bar of soap given to inmates in prison are made with swine so self-conscious inmates must purchase better brands from them.
(The Diseases:)
Practically every type of common disease in man can be traced to the intake of swine including a few you might not be aware of like diabetes, colon cancer and high blood pressure. In the Review and Herald Magazine published June 20, 1899 it says "The eating of pork has produced scrofula, leprosy, and cancerous tumors." Of course some circles in the pharmakeia like to claim this is discredited but a decent self-study will result in some surprising results.
As usual, I am out of time so I will bring you a future study on the various diseases that are caused by consuming these unclean animals within the next few months so please research the swine-related diseases for yourself if you have the time.
(Intention:)
My intention with this sermon is to give you an overview of Yahweh's commanded food Laws and hopefully shed some light on what is good to eat. Leviticus 11:47 sums it up much better than I can when it says "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." These rules are given to us by our God so we can lead healthy and focused lives. Your Father wants you to be the best that you can be when serving in His army and because of His love we should honor these Laws out of instinct.
It's my hope that I can raise a 'new awareness' in those seeking the truth in this regard and that we always notice how the enemy pushes these unclean foods on the masses. Keep yourself fit, follow these perfect and unchanging Laws and the result will be a clearer head and much fewer doctor bills.
As always, I pray that Jesus Christ will use this study to reach the Saints and bring about His perfect Will on earth. Christian followers, we serve an awesome and powerful God so let's do all we can to do as He asks, it's the whole duty of man.
[ Date:
Sunday, March 13th,
2005 ]
Last Page Update:
February 08, 2006
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