Christian Living

Did Jesus Eat Pork or Any Other Kind of Meat?

by Brother Carlton 
04/04/17
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Many people wonder if Jesus was a vegan or if he ate meat. Many individuals and religious leaders often speculate and argue over such matters to justify their own lifestyle which may or may not include the liberty of eating certain meats.

Jesus probably didn't eat pork because the ceremonial and dietary laws were still enforce but that changed after He made atonement on the cross for the sins of the world and ushered in the New Covenant or Testament.

The Jews practice was to eat lamb during the Passover so we can almost be certain that Jesus did eat lamb.  Since Jesus was God that puts all Jews and Muslims and Seventh Day Adventists to shame who reject His teaching and advocate veganism or vegetarianism.

Paul says, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that no man is to judge another man as to what he eats. In other words Paul is saying keep that idea of not eating certain kinds of meat to yourself and don't judge your brother.  There's more important matters of concern.

Now under the New Testament Paul says each man or woman has the liberty, under the New Testament, to eat or not eat meat ( Col. 2:16-17) Only a Pharisaical spirit would contend in such matters today.

Muslims erroneously interpret Jesus's teaching when they quote Him saying "Think not that I've come to destroy the law; I've not come to destroy but to fulfill."

Yes, Jesus did fulfill the ceremonial law which included dietary laws and nailed it to His cross. Only the moral law stands for today. All pork abstainers err not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.

God gave certain commandments in the O. T. against eating certain foods like pork (i.e. Lev 11:7-8, Deut 14:8, Isa 65:4, Isa 66:17) This was part of the ceremonial laws of the Old Covenant.

In short, ceremonial laws were given to symbolically purify and cleanse God's people. They pointed forward to Jesus Christ through whom we are now purified and cleansed (The New Covenant).

While science has shown us that pork and the other "unclean" foods that God prohibited are indeed unhealthy, they are no longer forbidden foods. My great grandmother lived to be almost 94 years old and she loved a good pork chop now and then along with a slice or two of bacon. What is unhealthy is not the bacon but the preservatives like nitrates which have been linked to cancer.

There are several verses in the New Testament that show us this. Most importantly, Jesus Himself declared ALL foods clean: (Mk 7:18-19)... Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from the outside cannot defile him, (19) because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (THUS HE DECLARED ALL FOODS CLEAN.) (Caps emphasis mine) (Rom 14:2-3) For one believeth that he may eat ALL things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs (vegetables). (3) Let not him that eateth despiseth him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. (caps emphasis mine)

(1 Cor 10:25) Eat anything that is sold in the market without asking questions for conscience' sake;

(Acts 10:14-15) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) or unclean. (15) And the voice spake unto him again the second time, what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common (unholy).

(Col 2:16-17) Let no man therefore judge you in MEAT, or in drink, or in respect of a holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (17) which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ

Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member) and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See all his videos on https://www.YouTube.com/user/LAStreetPreacher CONTACT at [email protected]