These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat,
The beasts allowed for food include the ox, the sheep, and the goat. This listing belongs to God's rules distinguishing clean and unclean animals and forbidding the eating of the unclean. Swine was among the animals declared unfit for food.
The restrictions were given to protect health and to keep the blood pure. Eating the prohibited meats could fill the blood with impurities and shorten life. They were not arbitrary burdens, and the animals permitted here were specified as least objectionable for food.
Later teachers went beyond these rules, even requiring water to be strained lest it contain a tiny unclean insect. Jesus rebuked that focus on trivial outward cleanliness while neglecting the seriousness of sin.
The beasts allowed for food include the ox, the sheep, and the goat. This listing belongs to God's rules distinguishing clean and unclean animals and forbidding the eating of the unclean. Swine was among the animals declared unfit for food.
The restrictions were given to protect health and to keep the blood pure. Eating the prohibited meats could fill the blood with impurities and shorten life. They were not arbitrary burdens, and the animals permitted here were specified as least objectionable for food.
Later teachers went beyond these rules, even requiring water to be strained lest it contain a tiny unclean insect. Jesus rebuked that focus on trivial outward cleanliness while neglecting the seriousness of sin.