Subject: Hank - Diet ??? |
Bible Note: Thanks Steve, but I have a question as to who has misconstrued the text. I believe you agree that Math. 15 and Mark 7 are referring to the same event. You did not deal with the Math. 15:20 where Jesus is quoted as saying "but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man". How much more clear and concise does Jesus have to be for us to not understand the context of Math.15 and Mark 7. Again, I will repeat the issue was about the "food" being unclean due to not washing. It is absolutely not talking about Jesus cleansing all foods. Did Jesus not say He came to do the will of His Father and also He (Jesus) kept His fathers commandments. For Jesus to be contradicting the OT scripture on clean and unclean foods would be in direct diobedience to His Father. It would be like Jesus saying adultery was ok now but that is not the case instead He came to magnify (Is. 42:21) the law. Your reference to Mark 7:17-20 "all food are declared clean" is taken out of context. Mark 7:19 says that because food (unclean due to unwashing) enters the stomach and not the heart - the stomach now purifies the food and it is eliminated. So Jesus is saying that food can be eaten even though it has been touched by unwashed hands. I believe Jesus is using this example to not only talk about our heart but also to show that gentiles would soon be given the gospel. These cleansing ceremonies had alot to do with the Jews considering themselves unclean if having contact with gentiles and Jesus was subtlely bringing this to light. So finally, Steve I respect this discussion and will only say that I had the say position as you until I looked deeper into the true meaning and context of these passages. Peter's vision is another scripture many people "miscontrue" to justify the cleanliness of "all" food now. PS. One last point is you said in your closing comments that Mark made no qualifying statement. I do not think we have to look for anything from Mark when the context is clear and we have a direct statement and conclusion made by Jesus. (Math. 15:20) Look forward to your comments, Merv |