Many Christian theologicians often use this passage in upholding the doctrine that Yeshua taught that all foods are now etable, including meats which G_d considers unclean,and which He said were not to be eaten in Wayyiqra/Leviticus, Chapter 11 which reads:

The LORD spoke again to Moses and to Aaron, saying to them,

² "Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'These are the creatures which you may eat from all the animals that are on the earth.

Our Father said, “These are the creatures”giving specifications with respect to which ones are to be considered food and which ones are not. Even at this juncture, it is G_d which gives definition to what meats (among all the animals) are to be considered worthy of being eaten. In other words, he placed within the “Circle of Permissible Meats/Food”, certain animals deemed clean, or fit for human consumption. THIS IS NOT A JEWISH TRADITION, IT IS A COMMAND FROM G_D HIMSELF! The Jewish people did not speak this Command to Moshe, it was, “The Lord spoke again to Moshe…”. Now, if we believe this Commandment changed, then we have to overlook one of the charasterics of G_d, namely his unchanagable nature, for in him there is no variation. So, if this changed, this would imply a change in the word of G_d, and that is something he does not do.

¹⁷ Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (Jam 1:17 NAU)

²⁹ "Also the Glory of Israel will not lie or change His mind; for He is not a man that He should change His mind." (1Sa 15:29 NAU)

Therefore, when the word “food” is mentioned in scripture, one has to realize that “food” was understood as only consisting of all the plants & meats HaShem deemed to be “Clean”, everything outside of that was not considered food.

Many Christian Ministers point to Mark, Chapter 7, as evidence of this perceived change in the Command of G_d, as given in Wayyiqra/Leviticus, Chapter 11. However, Mark 7 is not at all about eating unclean food, if it were, you can bet this passage would have taken a different course of discussion with respect to Pharasic discourse, given we all know they were hunting something to pin against Yeshua, and the eating of unclean things would have been the ticket to do just that, since doing so would have constituted an infraction against the Torah of Moshe itself. Even the Pharisees did not suggest Yeshua was eating foods not permissible by Torah. They were upset because Yeshua’s talmidim/disciples did not “first” wash their hands prior to eating.

Now, with respect to the below verse, which many cite as ground zero of Jesus declaring all foods clean (note the inclusion in parentheses at the end of the verse).

¹⁹ because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all food clean.) (Mar 7:19 NAU)

This inclusion does NOT appear within the original Greek. Youngs translation, which I believe to be closer to the original intent, gives the following:

¹⁹ because it doth not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and into the drain it doth go out, purifying all the meats.' (Mar 7:19 YLT)

“Purifying" is a word from which is translated in the Greek as "catharsis", which also relays a purging. In other words, explaining how the body purges itself by the normal digestive process. The whole phrase "thus he declared" is nowhere to be found in the original! If He did mean to contradict HaShem’s earlier Commandment, then he would be in violation of his own teachings:

"Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men to do the same will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:19a)

Mark, Chapter 7

1 And the Pharisees and some of the scribes assembled to Him, having come from Yerushalayim.

2 And seeing some of His taught ones eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault.

3 For the Pharisees, and all the YehuÅim, do not eat unless they wash their hands thoroughly, holding fast the tradition of the elders,

4 and coming from the market-place, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions which they have received and hold fast – the washing of cups and utensils and copper vessels and couches.

5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your taught ones not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”

(*Note: From the very outset, it is apparent with respect to the dialogue and the subject matter being discussed, this passage is about handwashing, and not the consumption of unclean food. It was taught by many of the Pharisees in that day that unless one washed his hands prior to eating, the uncleaness of the hands would transmit uncleanness to the food one was consuming. Even if the food had been deemed clean by HaShem, as stated within the Torah of Moshe, without washed hands, the food would be unclean and not fit for consumption. However, there is no command found within the Torah, which mandates the washing of hands prior to eating. In other words, this traditional action of handwashing, though not bad within itself, took on the authority of a Commandment given by HaShem. This is what upset the Master, not handwashing itself, but traditions which had been elevated by men, being passed off as having the authority of G_d. These traditions were the burdens being placed upon the shoulders of the children of Israel by rabbinic and pharisaic authorities. Make no mistake, it was not the Torah of Moses whereby this burden came, it was the oral traditions of men, being elevated and mandated by such authorities which prized traditions over the Commandments of Elohim. Insomuch, such traditions became the tools whereby the religious authorities of that day, sought to impose their controls over the masses. This begs another question, is such traditional tools being utilized today with respect to both Christian and Jewish authorities, to continue such control over the hearts and minds of men?

6 And He answering, said to them, “Well did Yeshayahu prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it has been written,‘This people respect Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

7 And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.’ i

8 “Forsaking the command of Elohim, you hold fast the tradition of men.”

9 And He said to them, “Well do you set aside the command of Elohim, in order to guard your tradition.

10“For Mosheh said, ‘Respect your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’

11 “But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me, is Qorban (that is, a gift),” ’

12 you no longer let him do any matter at all for his father or his mother,

13 nullifying the Word of Elohim through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such traditions you do.”

14 And calling the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand:

15“There is no matter that enters a man from outside which is able to defile him, but it is what comes out of him that defiles the man.

16 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”

17 And when He went from the crowd into a house, His taught ones asked Him concerning the parable.

18 And He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside is unable to defile him,

19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purging all the foods?”

20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.

21“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil reasonings, adulteries, whorings, murders,

22 thefts, greedy desires, wickednesses, deceit, indecency, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.

23 “All these wicked matters come from within and defile a man.”

In other words, it's not the food we are eating, nor is it that we are eating this food with unclean hands, that defiles a man. What defiles a man is that which he possesses in his heart, or perhaps that which he does not possess, for out of his mouth (Teachings) will proceed the defilement of his heart.

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