Paul Contradicts YHWH's Dietary Law

Did Pharisee Paul Teach Gentiles The Truth About What We Should & Shouldn't Eat?

Leviticus 11(see below) contains our Creator’s clear instructions on what we are allowed to eat, as well as what we shouldn’t eat. Here is an excerpt…

Leviticus 11:1-47

And YHWH spake unto Moses & to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud among the beasts that shall ye eat...

These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins & scales in the waters, in the seas, & in the rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls: they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, the ossifrage, the osprey, the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; the owl, the night hawk, the cuckow, the hawk after his kind, the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the swan, the pelican, the gier eagle, the stork, the heron after her kind, the lapwing, & the bat. All fowls that creep going upon all four shall be an abomination unto you.

Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth. Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, the bald locust after his kind, the beetle after his kind, & the grasshopper after his kind. But all other flying creeping things which have four feet shall be an abomination unto you...

For I am YHWH your Elohim: ye shall therefore make yourselves kadosh & ye shall be kadosh; for I am Kadosh: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am YHWH that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt to be your Elohim: ye shall therefore be kadosh, for I am Kadosh. This is the law of the beasts & of the fowl, & of every living creature that moveth in the waters & of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: to make a difference between the unclean & the clean and between the beast that may be eaten & the beast that may not be eaten.

In Leviticus 11(see below), our Heavenly Father makes it clear that there are certain creatures that He does not want us to eat. The creatures which we are allowed to eat are called clean, & the creatures we are not allowed to eat are called unclean. As our Creator, our Heavenly Father certainly knows what is best for us. In addition, He most definitely has the authority to tell us what we should & shouldn’t eat!

On the other hand, Paul makes the following claim…

Romans 14:14

I know & am persuaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

The original greek word used in this passage for unclean is Strong’s G2839, koinos. Koinos (G2839) is the word for common, originally used to indicate things shared together. According to its usage in the Septuagint, it was later also used to mean food that was originally clean but has somehow become defiled. For example, if a clean animal dies of natural causes, if it has been killed by other beasts, if it were improperly slaughtered (strangled), if its blood were not properly drained, or if it had been offered to idols; it could be considered defiled. Strong’s doesn’t really make such a distinction, however, & indicates it could be used to identify something as being Levitically unclean per Leviticus 11(see below).

It could be argued that Paul’s usage of the word koinos indicates that he was not implying that the creatures prohibited in Leviticus 11 were now clean & suitable for human consumption. Pauline devotees feel that he would have used the greek word akarthtos (G169) to denote Levitically unclean creatures such as pork, rabbit, camel, shellfish, etc. Akathartos is used to denote something that is intrinsically unclean such as an unclean (demonic) spirit, or a creature not suitable for human consumption, as per Leviticus 11.

However, that is an extremely subtle distinction that the self proclaimed “Apostle to the Gentiles”, Paul is making in Romans 14:14. It is reasonable to say this distinction would be lost on the average gentile, as it is for the most part to this very day. It is also safe to say that the average gentile would simply take this passage to mean that Jewish people may consider certain foods to be unclean, but in reality it is fine for gentiles to eat those formerly Levitically unclean foods, such as pork, rabbit, camel, shellfish, etc. This is clearly the understanding of this passage held by mainstream Christianity to this day. Otherwise, Christians should all be observing the dietary restrictions of Leviticus 11(see below).

Furthermore, if we look at additional verses from this chapter, we find…

Romans 14:2-3

For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.

Pas, G3956, is the greek word originally used in this passage, & basically means all things or everything. While Messianic apologists for Paul could claim that he was just referring to Levitically clean meats, that is not what Paul wrote! Paul tells a group of gentile believers that the person who is weak in faith may only eat herbs, while another may eat ALL THINGS. The message the average gentile believer gets is that dietary restrictions, such as Leviticus 11(see below), are for the weak in faith. According to Paul, the true believer may eat ALL THINGS, which naturally includes those items prohibited in Leviticus 11(see below).

The majority of Christendom takes Romans 14:2-3 at face value. The overwhelming majority of Christians acknowledge that the true believer may eat all things including pork, shellfish, rabbit, etc., based on Romans 14:2-3 & other verses from Paul.

Similarly, at the end of the chapter we find…

Romans 14:20-23

For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure: but it is evil for that man who eateth with offense. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Here Paul is claiming that “πάντα μὲν καθαρά” or “panta men kathara”. Panta (G3956- all things) men (G3303- indeed) kathara (G2513- Levitically clean). This is another way of saying what he claimed in Romans 14:14! Instead of saying there is nothing unclean, & hedging on the “unclean or defiled”, he says “All things are clean”, but perhaps not for everyone! Paul is implying that certain items may continue to be unclean for people familiar with Leviticus 11(see below), or the children of Israel; while being perfectly fine for those not familiar with Leviticus 11, or the gentiles.

Many things could be said about Romans 14, but to say that Paul was teaching the gentiles the truth about Leviticus 11 in this chapter or any of his other letters would be grossly incorrect! Clearly the gist of Romans 14 contradicts our Heavenly Father’s instructions & teachings of Leviticus 11. This assertion is corroborated by mainstream Christianity, which in practice effectively views Romans 14 as definitive in abrogating Leviticus 11.

If we go back to Romans 14:14 & examine what Paul said about YAHUSHA, Paul claims that YAHUSHA persuaded Paul (although Paul already knew it) that nothing is defiled or unclean. Can any verses from the Gospels or Acts corroborate Paul’s claim? Nowhere in the Gospels does Adonai YAHUSHA clearly state or imply that the dietary instructions of Leviticus 11 are no longer in effect. Instead, Adonai YAHUSHA told us to be perfect in doing the will of our Heavenly Father (Matthew 5:48, Matthew 7:21, Matthew 12:50).

Matthew 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 7:21

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 12:50

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

The intent, purpose, or will of our Heavenly Father is recorded for us in the Scriptures as His Torah, which includes the dietary restrictions of Leviticus 11! This is explicitly stated in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Leviticus 22:31, Deuteronomy 4:2, etc.

Leviticus 22:31

Therefore shall ye keep My commandments, and do them: I am YHWH

Deuteronomy 4:2

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of YHWH your Elohim which I command you.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13

And now, Israel, what doth YHWH thy Elohim require of thee, but to fear YHWH thy Elohim, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve YHWH thy Elohim with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of YHWH, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

NIV translators falsely added a parenthetical phrase to Mark 7:19... “in saying this Jesus declared all foods clean”. However, this can be easily seen to be a false addition of the translators since that parenthetical phrase is not present in the earlier KJV of the same verse. The phrase “but goeth into the belly, & goeth out into the draught, purging all meats” in Mark 7:19 simply means that the food goes into the belly, & out the other end, where all meat or food is removed from the body. Also the phrase “purging all meats” is not found in Matthew 15:17, indicating that YAHUSHA was clearly not trying to do away with the teachings of Leviticus 11. The clear context of the passage(Matthew 15) is that YAHUSHA was saying that eating with unwashed hands does not defile a person.

One tactic Paulinists frequently will employ is to attack YAHUSHA’s words in Matthew 15:1-20 as being against the dietary restrictions of Leviticus 11 as well. On examination of Matthew 15:1-20, the clear context of this discussion was that the Pharisees asked Adonai YAHUSHA why His disciples were violating the tradition of the elders & eating with unwashed hands.

Adonai YAHUSHA then criticized them for violating the Commandments of our Heavenly Father through their false, manmade traditions. His criticism of the religious leaders of His day still applies 110% to the religious leaders of today. Adonai YAHUSHA concluded His discussion saying that to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man!! So it is clear that YAHUSHA was in no way trying to dispel with the instructions of Leviticus 11. He was speaking to a group of people who were observing the instructions of Leviticus 11 as well as man made traditions. He was telling them that it’s the thoughts of their hearts, such as adulteries, fornications, murders, covetousness, blasphemies etc. which will definitely defile a person no matter how closely they adhere to Leviticus 11! No one in his audience disputed his teaching, & they continued to be obedient to the dietary restrictions of Leviticus 11!

The fact that YAHUSHA never tried to do away with Leviticus 11 is also very clearly seen in Peter’s response to his Heavenly vision in Acts 10:14.

Acts 10:14

But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

Peter clearly says that nothing defiled or unclean had ever touched his lips! This indicates that YAHUSHA never taught against or did away with the dietary restrictions of Leviticus 11. In addition, YAHUSHA Himself said in Matthew 5:18, “For verily I say unto you, “Till heaven & earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Torah till all be fulfilled.” Everything has not yet been fulfilled (see Isaiah 11:6-9, Isaiah 65:24-25, Isaiah 66:23, Revelations 21:3-4), & we are still living here on earth. Consequently the Torah is still in full effect, including all the dietary restrictions of Leviticus 11!

Isaiah 11:6-9

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my kodesh mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of YHWH, as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 65:24-25

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith YHWH.

Isaiah 66:23

And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith YHWH.

Furthermore, the Pharisees were searching for false accusations that they could make against YAHUSHA. Even the Pharisees who were seeking to make these false accusations against YAHUSHA never once accused YAHUSHA of teaching against Leviticus 11, or of eating unclean foods!

Therefore no corroboration is found for Paul’s false claim about YAHUSHA in Romans 14:14. In fact, YAHUSHA indicates in Revelations 2:14 that eating food sacrificed to idols is simply unacceptable, which Paul denied in Romans 14:14 & 1 Corinthians 8:4,8. So Paul is clearly making false claims about Adonai YAHUSHA in Romans 14:14!

Romans 14:14

I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

1 Corinthians 8:4,8

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one... But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

Revelations 2:14

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

1 Corinthians 8:1-10 is really a remarkable passage, even for Paul! In this passage, Paul acknowledges that we have only one Creator, & that YAHUSHA is our Heavenly Father’s Messiah. He asserts that idols are really nothing since we have only one Creator & Savior. Paul concludes that eating foods offered to idols will not alienate from our Heavenly Father!

Similarly, Paul also claims that abstaining from foods offered to idols will not bring us any closer to our Heavenly Father. He does imply that that people lacking this “knowledge”, or those “weak” in the faith are imperiled by eating food offered to idols because they do so with a guilty conscience. Paul goes so far as implying that there is nothing wrong with eating food offered to idols, even in the temple of the idol; as long as the eater/idolater is not seen by those weak in the faith! He concludes with a lot of sanctimonious, flowery language attempting to obscure the wickedness of this passage. In this one passage alone, Paul manages to contradict YAHUSHA’s real Apostles, YAHUSHA, & YHWH!

1 Corinthians 8:1-10 clearly contradicts YAHUSHA’s Apostles. As mentioned previously, in Acts 15 Paul & Barnabas had been sent to question the James & the Apostles in Jerusalem regarding whether gentiles should be circumcised to be saved. Acts 15:19-21 summarizes their decision on the matter: gentiles don’t have to be circumcised to be saved. Gentiles do have to abstain from idolatry, sexual immorality, things strangled, & blood. As they do so, they will be able to learn more of our Heavenly Father’s Torah on the Sabbath days.

Acts 15:19-21

Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day.

On the other hand, Paul clearly implies & insinuates that it is fine to eat food offered to idols, even in the temple of the idol as long as the eater/idolater is not seen by any “weak” in the faith! Paul is clearly in violation of Deuteronomy 17:8-12 as a result!

Deuteronomy 17:8-12

If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which YHWH thy Elohim shall choose; And thou shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew thee the sentence of judgment: And thou shalt do according to the sentence, which they of that place which YHWH shall choose shall shew thee; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee: According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before YHWH thy Elohim, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.

As mentioned previously, in Revelations 2:14 YAHUSHA indicates that anyone teaching there’s nothing wrong in eating food offered to idols is like Balaam, who was ultimately put to death for causing the children of Israel to sin! In Jesus Words Only, Del Tondo explains that Paul certainly appears to be a New Testament version of Balaam.(1)

Revelations 2:14

In 1 Cor 8:4-10, Paul discusses the eating of foods offered to idols. Paul claims that eating foods offered to idols will not alienate us from our Heavenly Father if we eat such foods, nor will it bring us any closer to him if we don’t. Our Heavenly Father explicitly warned us to not worship other gods or idols in Exodus 20:2-6.

Exodus 20:2-6

I am YHWH thy Elohim, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I YHWH thy Elohim am a jealous Elohim, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

To be seated in the temple of an idol, eating food offered to idols would be to engage in idolatry which is a violation of the greatest of the 10 Commandments! Furthermore, we are all living in a world full of pain & suffering because Adam & Eve were deceived into eating something our Heavenly Father told them not to eat!

Paul’s statement of 1 Corinthians 8:8 apparently seeks to continue that disobedience, & is absolutely false! Our Heavenly Father has given us instructions on what we should & shouldn’t eat (see the Leviticus 11 below). To disobey our Heavenly Father in regards to what we should & shouldn’t eat is only illustrating that we have learned nothing from Adam & Eve’s mistake.

Going back to Romans, in Romans 14:15…

Romans 14:15

But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

While this statement certainly is very sanctimonious & “holier than thou”, it doesn’t really even make any sense! If a statement doesn’t make any sense, it is basically nonsense! If a Torah adherent individual (A) witnesses a non-Torah adherent individual (B) eating pork, shellfish, rabbit, & every unclean meat three times a day on a daily basis; individual A is not going to be destroyed as a result! This is clearly confirmed in Ezekiel 18:30 & Matthew 25:31-46. We are judged based on our own actions, not based on what another person eats! Ezekiel Chapter 18 is an excellent discussion of repentance given by our Heavenly Father, & it reveals Paul’s statement of Romans 14:15 to be nothing but absolute nonsense!

Ezekiel 18:30-32

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith Adonai YHWH.

Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith Adonai YHWH: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

Matthew 25:31-46

When the Son of man shall come in His majesty, and all the kodesh angels with him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His Majesty: And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me. Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave Thee drink? -- When saw we thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee? -- Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.

Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The above passages clearly indicate that we are judged based on our own actions, not based on what another person eats, as Paul falsely implies in Romans 14:15.

Instead of simply outlining the restrictions of Leviticus 11 for gentile believers, Paul repeatedly implies that the dietary restrictions of Leviticus 11 no longer apply to believers of the Messiah. The consequence of this is that the majority of Christians today are living in disobedience to our Heavenly Father’s dietary instructions of Leviticus 11.

Paul the pharisee finishes Romans 14:23 with his conclusion that, “whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Really? Most of us have to get up early during the week to go to work. Getting up & going to work is not of faith; as atheists, hindhus, buddhists, muslims, etc all do the same thing. Since going to work is not of faith; according to Paul’s conclusion of Romans 14:23, then it must be sinful!

Similarly, regardless of religious beliefs or lack thereof, we all have to do a variety of things routinely such as wash dishes, cook, clean, etc. These chores have nothing to do with faith, as atheists, & people of all different religious backgrounds must do these same chores to live neatly. Hence, these chores must be sinful according to what Paul the pharisee teaches in Romans 14:23. Paul’s definition of sin is grossly incorrect, & another false teaching from the self proclaimed, “apostle to the gentiles”.

In contrast, the Apostle John defines sin in 1 John 3:4 as transgression of YHWH’s Law or Torah. We repent of our sins by turning away from our transgressions of our Heavenly Father’s Torah, & returning in obedience to Him, & in submission to His Righteous Authority. Therefore, we should all be keeping YHWH’s Sabbaths, following His instructions on what we should & shouldn’t eat, loving our Heavenly Father, loving our neighbors, & our enemies, etc.

1 Tim 2:7

Whereunto I am ordained a preacher and an Apostle (I speak the truth in Messiah & lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith & verity…

If Paul so absolutely failed to teach gentiles the truth of Leviticus 11, isn’t his claim of 1 Tim 2:7 clearly false? Similarly, aren’t Paul’s claims of Romans 14:14-15 equally false? What is most noteworthy in Paul’s approach is that not only does he fail to clearly outline what should & shouldn’t be eaten according to our Heavenly Father; Paul also insinuates that gentile believers are free to eat whatever they please. "ALL THINGS". Paul’s letters are causing countless billions of people to transgress the Laws or Torah of our Heavenly Father! This is exactly the Scriptural definition of sin, according to 1 John3:4. Paul the pharisee is still leading countless believers astray with his false teachings to this very day!

Passages Referenced in Above Text

1 John 3:4

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Leviticus 11

And YHWH spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind; And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.

Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.

And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.

These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind, And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.

And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it. Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.

Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean. And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean. But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.

And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even. And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. For I am YHWH your Elohim: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be kadosh; for I am Kadosh: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am YHWH that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your Elohim: ye shall therefore be kadosh, for I am Kadosh. This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.

Ezekiel 18

The WORD of YHWH came unto me again, saying, What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? As I live, saith Adonai YHWH, ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, Adonai YHWH.

If he beget a son that is a robber, a shedder of blood, and that doeth the like to any one of these things, And that doeth not any of those duties, but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife, Hath oppressed the poor and needy, hath spoiled by violence, hath not restored the pledge, and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols, hath committed abomination, Hath given forth upon usury, and hath taken increase: shall he then live? he shall not live: he hath done all these abominations; he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him.

Now, lo, if he beget a son, that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done, and considereth, and doeth not such like, That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife, Neither hath oppressed any, hath not withholden the pledge, neither hath spoiled by violence, but hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment, That hath taken off his hand from the poor, that hath not received usury nor increase, hath executed my judgments, hath walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence, and did that which is not good among his people, lo, even he shall die in his iniquity.

Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live. The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith Adonai YHWH: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Yet ye say, The way of Adonai is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of Adonai is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith Adonai YHWH. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

Sources

(1) Douglas Del Tondo, Jesus Words Only, (Infinity Publishing, 2007), pp. 131-153, p.344.