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

[Rose of Shushan]

Quote:The covenant with Abraham was to be circumcised. Anyone who wasn't circumcised, would be cut off from the covenant. Obviously, one should not misconstrue the act of circumcision as only a physical, commandment, without a spiritual dimension. This is seen from the Moses speech to Israel, Circumcise your hearts...
Later, this was included in the Torah given to Israel at Sinai; but, it was given originally way before Sinai. Why is it not considered to be in force by Christians, based on the reasoning given in regards to Genesis 9 concerning eating blood?
I realize that one will argue, 'BUT in the NT they did away with it, oh see Galatians', etc. Then, why didn't the NT do away with the 'eating of blood'- food with the blood- as well as the many other tid bits that Christians hold on to, that are found in the Torah before Sinai?

Benny because we cannot take one reasoning and apply it to everything.The blood issue,along with things strangled does remain in the NT and is expressely mentioned in Acts.Circumcision is mentioned in the NT but in this case it is one of the things that is done away with.
It is a logical question and I too once thought that maybe us Christians too should circumcise our children.However in the NT we are warned against it.
We can't really say that just because one thing remains that all should remain or that if a large part goes all should go too.
I think if we do this we run the danger of dictating what God should have or shouldn't have done.
I can offer you some of my reasons on why I think circumcision is now done away with.In the times of Abraham it was a sign of the covenant and also a shadow of the true circumcision that is the heart. Now we are not living in the shadows but in the eternal Covenant so I can see why this should not be made an issue.

Quote:Thus, Jesus seems to be saying that a lay person who is going to eat a bread meal, doesn't transfer tumah to the bread/food, which goes into his mouth [and thus, the entire meal, as the washing and blessing over the bread, according to Jewish law, includes all other foods except wine or dessert], goes through the digestive system, and out. This is not the case with the priests in the Temple, however.
Paraphrased, Jesus could be said to be saying,
"If a lay person doesn't wash hands before eating, he doesn't become defiled. But what you, pharisees and scribes, are doing [ie speaking evil of the innocent], that defiles a man. For from your evil hearts you seek to find fault with me and my followers."

Maybe you didn't read my post too closely since I did say that Jesus did say what He did in response to the Pharisees accusing Him of not keeping a tradition of the elders.

Mar 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

I am not sure what you mean when you said

Quote:Thus, Jesus seems to be saying that a lay person who is going to eat a bread meal, doesn't transfer tumah to the bread/food, which goes into his mouth [and thus, the entire meal, as the washing and blessing over the bread, according to Jewish law, includes all other foods except wine or dessert], goes through the digestive system, and out. This is not the case with the priests in the Temple, however.

Jesus didn’t mention bread or the transfer of impurity or any of the things that you read into it though.All He said was

Mar 7:14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
Mar 7:15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
Mar 7:16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

What you think Jesus may have meant is fine and makes sense just that its not even a paraphrase of what Jesus said.
I don't understand what you mean by it not being the case with the priests in the Temple.What isn't the case?


Ben the verses about the Syrophoenician woman I included in a tongue in cheek way since Nearyah alleged that food wasn't even mentioned in Mark chapter 7.

Quote:And since you said food wasn't even mentioned in Mark 7 I will be pedantic and include two other verses to do with food that I found in Mark 7 Biggrin