Didn't Jesus declare all food to be clean? This question is in reference to Mark 7:19
in the NIV, which says, For it doesn't go into his heart but into
his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods
"clean.") (Mark 7:19 NIV) Now, look at the same verse in the King James: “Because it entereth not into his heart,
but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats” (Mark 7:19 KJV) The New King James says it this way: “because it does not enter his heart but
his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods” (Mark 7:19 NKJV) Notice that the phrase “In saying this,
Jesus declared all foods ‘clean’” is not present in the King James or New King
James. This is because it is a translator’s note
that was added by the translators of the NIV (and a few other modern translations). If you look at the Greek text, you will not
find that phrase anywhere. It is not present in any of the Greek manuscripts,
it is an addition that was made by the translators. This actually really bothers me, because so
many people are being misled to think these words are valid Scripture, when in fact they
are nothing more than someone’s opinion. But because it is inserted into the body of
the text, instead of the footnotes, it gives the impression that it was actually part of
the Scriptures. This is quite a deception, and unfortunately
many people have been misled by these eight words - “In saying this, Jesus declared
all foods ‘clean’.” However, even if that phrase was in the original
text, it still would not mean that Yahshua declared all animals to be food. It simply says that all foods are clean. If you go by the Biblical definition of food,
you will see that pig, shrimp, crab, and rabbit (among many other things) are all listed as
unclean animals. This means they are not even to be considered
as food. Just because it is in our grocery store today
does not mean it was meant to be food by Yahweh. This is why the phrase “Jesus declared all
foods ‘clean’” is so confusing to people today, because they see pork in the grocery
store and on the menu at the restaurant, and so they think it’s food. However, these same people would probably
not consider rat, dog, vulture, bat, lizard or skunk to be food. The reason for this is because of conditioning
and habituation. We have been programmed to think certain things
are food, when in reality they are not. We have become so familiar with seeing these
items on the menu that we are now comfortable with the idea of eating them. Did you know that rat is considered a delicacy
in some countries? There is very little difference between the
diet, lifestyle, and anatomy of a pig and a rat. They are both omnivores, they both live in
filth, they will both eat anything including their own young. They even eat feces. Their bodies are full of toxins, diseases,
and parasites. There are actually great health risks in being
a pig farmer, and they must take special precautions when they are around the pigs, like wearing
masks, gloves, and protective clothing. Many pig farms require employees to shower
after leaving the pig area because the spread of disease is such a high risk when working
with these unclean animals. These are the same kinds of precautions that
people would use when handling a rat. Now, lets examine the context of Mark 7, and
you will see how the claim that “all animals are now clean” does not even fit the context
of that chapter. “Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes
came together to Him, having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of His disciples eat
bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not
eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they
do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they
have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him,
"Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread
with unwashed hands?" (Mark 7:1-5) So we see right here from the context, that
Yahshua’s teaching is in direct response to the Pharisees claim that the disciples
must wash their hands before eating bread. This is not a commandment from the Scriptures,
it is a “tradition of the elders”. Now listen to how Yahshua responds: “He answered and said to them, "Well did
Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their
lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines
the commandments of men.' "For laying aside the commandment of God,
you hold the tradition of men - the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such
things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject
the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” (Mark 7:6-9) He is telling the Pharisees that their hand
washing ritual is not based in the Scriptures, and in fact it is a rejection of the commandments. The entire context of Mark 7 is about eating
bread with unwashed hands. Bread is already a clean food, and there is
nothing we need to do to make it clean. There are no special rituals or prayers that
must be said to purify our bread, because it is clean by definition. For someone to teach and require that special
rituals be done before eating actually borders on witchcraft, and Messiah called them out
on it. He goes on to further explain to the people
what he is talking about: “When He had called all the multitude to
Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters
a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are
the things that defile a man.” (Mark 7:14-15) But his disciples were a little confused about
what he was saying, so they asked him to explain it for them. “So He said to them, "Are you thus without
understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a
man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach,
and is eliminated, thus purifying all 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 thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness,
deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and
defile a man.” (Mark 7:18-23) So, he is saying that food is not what makes
you unclean, even if you eat it with unwashed hands, because it just passes through your
body. But, the things that come out of your heart
is what makes you defiled. To the Pharisees, cleanliness is the result
of special rituals, but according to the Messiah, cleanliness is about having a pure heart. So, did Messiah declare all foods to be clean? No, the translators of certain modern Bibles
made that declaration. Did Messiah declare all animals to be food? No, that is an assumption based on faulty
interpretation. Is is wrong to wash our hands before we eat? No, it is perfectly fine to wash your hands
before you eat, but don’t think it’s a magic ritual that will somehow make your food
clean. All you are doing by washing your hands is
getting the dirt and germs off.
