Did Jesus Declare All Animals Good for Food?

ONE of the most frequently cited verses used to support the idea that Jesus abolished the biblical dietary laws is Mark 7:19. The phrase “Thus He declared all foods clean” has led many to believe that Jesus gave blanket approval to eating any animal. But is that what the Bible truly teaches? When we examine this verse in context—along with Acts 10, the teachings of both Testaments, and what scholars and health research suggest—we find a different story.

Mark 7:19 — Context Is Key

Let’s start with Mark 7:19. The verse is part of a broader conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees concerning ritual handwashing. The Pharisees accused Jesus’ disciples of eating with “defiled” hands, violating oral traditions. Jesus responded by emphasizing moral purity over ceremonial tradition:

“There is nothing from outside a man that entering into him can defile him... because it does not go into his heart but into his stomach, and is eliminated”—thus purging all foods (Mark 7:18–19, literal rendering).

The phrase “Thus He declared all foods clean” appears in some English translations, notably the NIV. However, this is not a part of the original Greek text but rather an interpretive addition by translators. The Greek reads more literally: “it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and goes out into the sewer—cleansing all foods.”

Jesus wasn’t discussing which animals are permissible to eat but addressing the Jewish tradition that certain foods became defiled through "unwashed hands". He was overturning human traditions—not God’s dietary laws found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.

Renowned scholar Dr. Craig Evans notes, “Jesus is not abrogating the dietary laws here; He is dismissing the Pharisaic obsession with ritual purity not commanded in Scripture.” Similarly, the New International Greek Testament Commentary states that the issue is ceremonial impurity, not dietary regulation.

Acts 10 — Peter’s Vision Misunderstood

Another passage often used to support the abolishment of dietary restrictions is Acts 10, where Peter sees a vision of unclean animals and hears a voice say, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter, a devout Jew and apostle of Christ, replies, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean” (Acts 10:14).

If Jesus had taught His disciples to disregard the dietary laws, Peter’s response would make no sense—especially since this event occurred years after Jesus' resurrection. More importantly, Peter himself interprets the meaning of the vision in verse 28:

“You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean." (Acts 10:28)

The vision wasn’t about food—it was about people. God was preparing Peter to accept Gentiles into the Church. He used the image of unclean animals as a symbolic teaching tool. Peter never took the vision as permission to eat unclean meat.

Jesus and the Law of God

Jesus affirmed the authority of God's law throughout His ministry:

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

“Fulfill” does not mean to abolish but to complete or bring to full meaning. He warned against loosening even “the least of these commandments” (v. 19). That would certainly include dietary laws unless explicitly overturned—which we do not find in His teachings.

New Testament Consistency

The apostles continued to respect the dietary laws after Christ’s resurrection. In Acts 15, during the Jerusalem Council, the apostles gave four prohibitions for Gentile converts, one of which included abstaining from blood—another reference to dietary regulation (Acts 15:20).

Paul also warned Timothy that some would later command people to abstain from foods “which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3). But what foods did God create to be eaten? Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 answer that question, describing clean animals as “those which you may eat.”

Paul added, “For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (v. 5). The “word of God” only sanctifies clean animals as food—not pigs, shellfish, or other unclean creatures.

Old Testament Dietary Laws — Still Relevant?

The clean/unclean distinction was never merely “ceremonial.” God told Israel the reason for these laws:

“You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45).

Cleanliness laws were part of being set apart, distinct from pagan practices. And as Peter reminded the New Testament Church, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16), quoting that very passage.

The prophet Isaiah warned of judgment upon those who defile themselves by eating “swine’s flesh and the abomination” (Isaiah 66:17), a prophecy concerning the end times.

What About Health?

Modern science aligns with Scripture’s dietary guidance. Numerous studies link the consumption of pork, shellfish, and other biblically unclean animals to health risks:

Pork: Frequently associated with trichinosis, parasites, and increased risk of liver disease.

Shellfish: Known to be high in toxins, cholesterol, and heavy metals due to being bottom-feeders.

Red meat from unclean animals: Linked to heart disease, hypertension, and certain cancers.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and World Health Organization (WHO) have issued warnings about excessive consumption of processed and unclean meats. God’s dietary laws are not arbitrary—they are protective.

Scholarly Perspectives

Many biblical scholars and historians affirm the continuity of dietary law for early Christians. Scholar David Bivin, a Jewish Christian and expert in first-century culture, explains:

“The early Church, especially in Judea, remained observant of dietary laws well into the second century. There was no sense that Jesus ‘freed’ them from these practices.”

Likewise, the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary acknowledges, “There is little evidence that Jesus or His original followers broke from traditional Jewish food laws.”

Conclusion: Did Jesus Declare All Animals Clean?

No. A close reading of Scripture, in both Testaments, reveals that Jesus upheld the authority of God’s law—including dietary laws. Mark 7:19 and Acts 10 are often misunderstood or misapplied. Rather than giving license to eat anything, these passages emphasize purity of heart and the inclusion of Gentiles—not changes to the menu.

God’s Word has always distinguished between what is clean and unclean, holy and profane. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, did not teach us to disregard what the Father declared unfit. His teachings call us to deeper obedience, not cultural compromise.

As believers called to holiness, let us honor God not only with our hearts but also with our choices—even at the dinner table.

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