Henaynei
4th October 2003, 06:49 AM
It was asked else where "why do you (Messianic Jews) continue to keep the food laws (Torah kosher laws) when Peter was told in Acts that all things are permissible to be eaten?"
1) Is that really what the "whole consul" of the Scripture says?
and
2) Not all Messianic Jews keep any level of kosher - but a great many do.
Therefore I would like to attempt a short (LOL) answer for those who do, like myself.
Much has been taught about Acts 10. Let us agree together to look at what scripture says....
Due to space I have skipped some verses so that we might address the topic here - but do read it all..... Come, let us reason together and agree on the following:
1) All Scripture is G-d breathed
2) G-d does not change, neither ammends His promises or His word.
3) Scripture is the first place to go to find the meaning of Scripture and the meaning Scripture gives itself is the primary one to be taken.
4) When we find the plain meaning of a Scripture then humility and obedience are the hallmarks of our love and service to the Messiah.
Agreed? Good :0) Here we go.
Acts 10:11-18
11 [Peter looked] and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat."
14 But Peter said, "Not so, L-rd; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, "What G-d hath cleansed, that call not thou common."
Now some folks stop here and say "it's plain and done" - but what did Peter do at this point, and afterwards? Did Scripture ever tell us what this vision meant?
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17a Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean,
Hmmm.... seems Peter did not think it meant to go eat unkosher foods (no matter *what* some current teachings say) - rather it confused him because G-d had said at Mt. Sinai that the laws of clean and unclean foods would stand forever, and neither G-d nor His Word changes - Amen??
So did G-d leave him in a quandry or was G-d preparing him for something - what WAS G-d teaching him?
17b behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, "Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them."
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing (according to the Oral Tradition) for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but G-d hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?"
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, "Of a truth I perceive that G-d is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."
Now, mind you - Peter did not say EVERY man in every nation feareth G-d and work righteousness, any more than every animal is clean - only those foods and men G-d has called clean.
Please also note that many Messianic Believers believe that the Kosher Laws were given only to the Jews and not the Gentiles. Views for and against this opinion are much too lengthy and involved for me to post.
Shalom v'L'Shanah Tovah
(Peace and a Good Year)
Henaynei
1) Is that really what the "whole consul" of the Scripture says?
and
2) Not all Messianic Jews keep any level of kosher - but a great many do.
Therefore I would like to attempt a short (LOL) answer for those who do, like myself.
Much has been taught about Acts 10. Let us agree together to look at what scripture says....
Due to space I have skipped some verses so that we might address the topic here - but do read it all..... Come, let us reason together and agree on the following:
1) All Scripture is G-d breathed
2) G-d does not change, neither ammends His promises or His word.
3) Scripture is the first place to go to find the meaning of Scripture and the meaning Scripture gives itself is the primary one to be taken.
4) When we find the plain meaning of a Scripture then humility and obedience are the hallmarks of our love and service to the Messiah.
Agreed? Good :0) Here we go.
Acts 10:11-18
11 [Peter looked] and saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat."
14 But Peter said, "Not so, L-rd; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, "What G-d hath cleansed, that call not thou common."
Now some folks stop here and say "it's plain and done" - but what did Peter do at this point, and afterwards? Did Scripture ever tell us what this vision meant?
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17a Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean,
Hmmm.... seems Peter did not think it meant to go eat unkosher foods (no matter *what* some current teachings say) - rather it confused him because G-d had said at Mt. Sinai that the laws of clean and unclean foods would stand forever, and neither G-d nor His Word changes - Amen??
So did G-d leave him in a quandry or was G-d preparing him for something - what WAS G-d teaching him?
17b behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, "Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them."
25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him
27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
28 And he said unto them, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing (according to the Oral Tradition) for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but G-d hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?"
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, "Of a truth I perceive that G-d is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."
Now, mind you - Peter did not say EVERY man in every nation feareth G-d and work righteousness, any more than every animal is clean - only those foods and men G-d has called clean.
Please also note that many Messianic Believers believe that the Kosher Laws were given only to the Jews and not the Gentiles. Views for and against this opinion are much too lengthy and involved for me to post.
Shalom v'L'Shanah Tovah
(Peace and a Good Year)
Henaynei