Bible Question: I know God ordained the killing of animals for food, but our way of doing it today is inhumane. Is it a sin not to eat meat? Are we commanded to eat meat? Did Jesus eat unclean foods and/or meat? |
Bible Answer: Origionally we (all humans and animals including the dinosaurs)were to be vegetarians: Genesis 1:29-30 Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food''; and it was so Then we were told it is okay to eat meat as well: Genesis 9:3 "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant. Then in Leviticus Jews were told not to eat 'unclean' meat (see Leviticus 11). Christ fulfilled that ceremonial law and declared everything clean (okay to eat): Mark 7 17 When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. 18 And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from 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.) See also Acts 11 Romans 14:14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. Yes, Jesus ate meat. He ate fish: Luke 24:42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; He also celebrated the Passover, which required the eating of a lamb: Matthew 26:17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?" |