Did Peter's Vision of the Sheet Mean People & Food?

[Benny]

(03-08-2011 06:03 PM)Vic Wrote:  Hi Ben, Just some thoughts I have about the food issue. In Genesis 1, before sin entered, God said this:

[through]

While the rest of mankind had freedom to eat of any living creature on the earth, Israel was now limited to what God commanded in the Law through Moses. Not unlike, in a way, the difference God placed on Israel and the differences of the priests. I believe this is crucial because before they were chosen by God, Israel ate the same as the rest of mankind, just as God had determined to Noah for all mankind.
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I basically agree with what you are saying above, with the addition that they were forbidden to eat a "limb from an animal" as it says "the blood you shall not eat..." [Gen 9.4]. "Limb from an animal" is an expression, not necessarily just a literal concept. I have no clue why this expression is used, quite honestly.
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Before Mt Sinai, there was no nation of 'Israel', per say. Yes, there were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc...but the nation of Israel wasn't set apart until the Torah was given as a 'marriage contract'. There is an interesting bit of reading in a book called 'The Way of G-d' by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto that explains this concept.

Concerning the food we were given to eat... the animals we are allowed in the Torah 'of Moses' to eat, are many of the same animals sacrificed on the Altar in the Temple. There are exceptions, such as the deer, varieties of locust, many species of birds, and any of the fish mentioned. But the main behemot, cattle, sheep, goats, we may eat.

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When Peter saw the vision of the sheet, that he as a Jew knew the limitations placed by the law, not just with regards to people but food is clear. Just as Rose has stated. But Peter needed to learn that just as Jesus had already said, that it wasn't what a person ate that made them unclean:[/b]
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honestly, the vision doesn't show food being clean...the interpretation of the vision, by peter, is of people. again, I refer to dreams by Pharaoh as an example.

concerning the passage in Mark, what is the context?
the washing of hands before a meal [specifically, a bread meal]. The command is rabbinic in nature, admittedly, but we do it. It is connected with the Temple service, where the Kohanim wash their hands, perhaps. What I do know is Solomon instituted it.
According to the Talmud, berachot/blessings, there is a connection between Jesus seeming rejection of/belittling of the sages in this area specifically, and the large boulder rolled across his grave.

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Peter, speaking to fellow Jewish believers, said in Acts 15:7 said,[/b] " Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith."

Isa 11:10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Isa 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

Isa 49:6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

Amo 9:11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
Amo 9:12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this.

Isa 51:5 My righteousness is near; my salvation is gone forth, and mine arms shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on mine arm shall they trust.

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Concerning the promises...the major promise of all the Torah and the prophets is the return of a repentant and united people of Israel to the Holy Land, with a Temple. Why are Jews scattered across the nations? Because of our sins? maybe. But the sages say something profound...[a connection of several quotes by the sages] Jews are across the nations, to make gerim/converts. What gerim/converts? the lost tribes, who will return as Gerim/converts. Why will they return as converts? Their present status is like that of non-Israel. the prophet Hoshea talks all about this, along with Jeremiah, Ezekiel some, Isaiah, etc. The Torah prophecies this in the story of Joseph, where his identity is hidden from the other brothers, also in Lev, in Dt 4, 30.

When will these prophecies be fulfilled?

Vic, I tried to keep it short, please forgive me if I didn't respond to something you addressed or asked. If you have a thread of on the promises of the OT/Tanakh, please let me know.