Jesus declared that all foods, including various types of meat, are clean, thereby sweeping away previous dietary distinctions. His teaching shifted the focus from external dietary laws to internal purity of the heart.
Jesus' Stance on Eating Meat
In the New Testament, Jesus fundamentally changed the understanding of what makes a person "unclean" concerning food. Prior to His teachings, the Mosaic Law (Old Testament) prescribed specific rules regarding clean and unclean animals, dictating which meats could be consumed and which were forbidden. Jesus, however, redirected attention away from external dietary regulations, emphasizing internal spiritual defilement instead.
The Declaration of All Foods Clean
Jesus’s teaching, specifically recorded in Mark 7:18-19, clarifies His position on food:
“There is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.”
This statement is pivotal because it explicitly declares all foods clean. This includes various types of meat that were previously deemed unclean under the Old Covenant laws. The implication is that what a person eats does not inherently defile them in a spiritual sense. Instead, true defilement originates from within a person's heart, manifesting in actions and intentions such as evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, and greed.
Shifting Focus: From External Rules to Internal Purity
Jesus's teaching marked a significant departure from the strict dietary codes of the Old Testament. This shift can be summarized as follows:
- Old Covenant Focus (Levitical Law): Emphasis on external adherence to dietary rules, distinguishing between "clean" and "unclean" animals based on specific criteria.
- New Covenant Focus (Jesus' Teaching): Emphasis on the internal state of the heart and moral conduct as the true source of purity or defilement.
Key Aspects of Jesus' Teaching on Food:
- Broadened Acceptability: Jesus’s declaration effectively removed the religious barriers to eating any type of meat, including those previously forbidden.
- Spiritual Purity Redefined: The emphasis moved from what enters the body (food) to what comes out of the heart (sinful thoughts and actions).
- Liberty in Diet: This teaching laid the groundwork for the early Christian church to understand that dietary choices were not a measure of spiritual righteousness.
Comparison: Old Covenant vs. New Covenant on Food
| Aspect | Old Covenant (Mosaic Law) | New Covenant (Jesus' Teaching) |
|---|---|---|
| Basis of Purity | Adherence to external laws, including dietary rules | Internal purity of heart and moral conduct |
| Dietary Scope | Strict distinctions between clean and unclean meats | All foods, including all meats, declared clean |
| Source of Defilement | Consuming forbidden foods | Evil thoughts and actions originating from within |
| Primary Concern | Ritualistic cleanliness | Moral and spiritual righteousness |
In conclusion, Jesus taught that the consumption of meat, regardless of its type, does not make a person spiritually defiled. His emphasis was on the condition of one's heart and the moral choices that proceed from it.
