4161 — Unclean of Itself
By Editor
The text reads: "I know, and 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." You will notice that the margin reads, "common,"—"I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing common of itself." The last two verses of the chapter indicate that the eating must be by faith; but faith has reference to God's word, for it is founded upon the Word. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10:17. But God has made distinction as between meats, not simply in the Levitical law as set forth in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, but evidently from the very beginning, when sin entered, as shown in the history of Noah in the discrimination that was then made between clean and unclean animals. What the apostle here seemingly has reference to is ceremonial uncleanness, not things that are fitted, or not fitted, for food. We would not gather from this that he meant that whatever there was, and whatever creature there was, was fit for food. There were many, doubtless, in the great Gentile world, that were eating things that were to the Jew abhorrent; and yet the conscience had not been condemned, nor had the soul seen that it was in any way unclean, and the Lord did not judge or condemn such a one, nor ought we. On the other hand, those who were better instructed did see some things as unclean; and if they so saw it, they ought to follow their convictions. If we understood all the questions that arose at the time of the apostle, some of these things would be clearer. There is one rule, however, that he has given us which is always clear, and ought to come home to every true Christian heart, expressed in 1 Cor. 10:31.—"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." The soul that follows that, will endeavor to follow his Master in all things, and to use the blessings which God has given us for food in such a way as will give us the strongest body, clearest mind, and a heart that is responsive to Him. Remember that the great central thought of Romans 14 is not a diet question, but that man should not judge his brother.