PETER'S SHEET
Will God recognize us as a reflection of Him or are we just doing what was handed down to us by our fathers or church leaders?
Many times we talk about what we believe, knowing that we truly believe it, but are unable to explain WHY we believe what we believe. Sometimes when we explain why and what we believe, people just say “Well that’s how YOU interpret that scripture but I believe it means XYZ”.
Unfortunately, Many people believe that the same Scripture, can have opposing views. That is why we have so many denominations. While Scripture IS alive and can speak to each one of us differently as a means to help us grow in our own walk, Scripture has a unique truth. Truth cannot mean two opposing things at the same time.
When I see that there are complete opposite views, that is when I dig into the Scriptures and look at WHAT the scriptures actually say, the WORDS that were used, AND what it meant to the disciples at the time that they wrote the Scriptures. Then, I can PROVE not just speculate or assume or come up with my opinion, but actually PROVE by the original language, culture and context, WHAT God intended about that particular subject. In doing so, I am able to share with others that may have opposing views, the exact words that were used in the first century. They may then, choose to continue to believe what they want but I have given them factual information to grapple with. They have a choice to choose the red or the blue pill. God has given us free will and part of that free will is to choose truth or choose a lie.
That brings me to Peters sheet.
According to the Acts chapter 10, Peter had a vision of a vessel full of animals being lowered from heaven. A voice from heaven told Peter to kill and eat, but since the vessel contained unclean animals, according to Gods words in Leviticus 11, Peter told God “No”.
The command was repeated two more times, for which Peter told God “no” two more times. Afterwards, God said "What God hath made clean, do not call common" and then the vessel was taken back to heaven.
At this point in the narrative, messengers sent from Cornelius the Centurion arrive and urge Peter to go with them. He does so, and mentions the vision as he speaks to Cornelius, saying "God hath showed me that I should not call any man common or unclean".
Before we dive into this text, we need to begin at the foundation. What did God say in the law, His instructions for our life? We need to go back to the beginning to Leviticus 11 where God set the foundation of what to eat and what not to eat and see what he said:
He goes through describing all the types of ANIMALS -those that chew the cud and those that don’t, the fish with fins and scaled and the birds of the air. Then he says:
(Lev 11:44-45) For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy……..
Now, He goes on to tell us WHY he instructs us what to eat and what not to eat:
(Lev 11:47) To make a difference between the unclean (Tawmay H2931) and the clean (Tawhore H2889), and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
God set the food laws in place for our holiness. Not ANY OTHER REASON!
I have heard different theories why the food laws were enacted. Some say the REASON was to separate us from the Nations, others say because of health reasons. It is important to understand and to keep as a fundamental concept what reason God himself gave. God says that the SOLE REASON is Because He is holy, therefore, we need to also be holy (we need to be like him- imitate him, act like him, follow him- be his ambassadors on earth)
So in Hebrew Holiness is the Hebrew word kodesh (H6944)
Kodesh /Holiness means to be "set apart." Holiness is generally connected with God's perfection. God is good, perfect, He is love and He is life. All of this encompasses holiness. While Holiness means set apart, we do not do these things for the PUPOSE of being set apart, we do these things for the PURPOSE to reflect Gods character on earth. Be holy because I am holy. To replicate Him. The focus must be in the right place.
I have seen people do things so they will appear holy. We do what God says to be a reflection of God, and as a RESULT – a “by-product” …God sets us apart. It is the same concept as keeping his commandments because we love him not to get the blessings.
Although by keeping his commandments the blessings will automatically come because we are in line with His purpose of what he made us to be and therefore we will experience life and life more abundantly. Be holy because He is holy.
God never established the food laws for the PURPOSE of separating Israel from the Nations. This is a fundamental thinking error. Listen Up!!!THIS IS IMPORTANT> Many will try to get you to agree that the purpose of the food laws was to separate themselves from the nations and then say that Jesus did away with it because Gentiles, the nations, are now part of the commonwealth…..He broke down that barrier. Great concept But the initial thought is wrong!
The food laws were established to enable Israel to mimic God on earth. God is Holy therefore you shall be holy. Yes, the definition of Holy means set apart but the REASON is to be like God (in His image) not the REASON to be different. Selah
Of course, being like God will make you different but just being different will not make you like God. I think I have beaten that horse long enough. I think it is the focus. We do it because of God not because of those around us.
Let’s look at the other words used here in Hebrew.
Unclean is the Hebrew word tamay (H2931) and Cleanis the Hebrew word Tahore (H2889)
Unclean means that it is not suitable for the purpose intended. Strongs says that it is foul or impure in a religious sense. Israel was intended to worship God and to be His ambassadors on this earth.
Unfortunately, there are human conditions that preclude or exclude them from taking part in the worship service to God. Being unclean refers to a state of ritual impurity that made an individual unfit to participate in religious activities, some community events or to be in the presence of God or his temple area.
Uncleanness could be incurred through a variety of ways, including contact with dead animals, dead bodies, bodily discharges like menstruation or semen, skin diseases like leprosy, and even household mold or mildew. These impurities were not necessarily sinful in themselves, but they symbolized a physical, moral, or spiritual defect that required cleansing. You see Uncleanliness is not a desired state. It is a representation of death or the realm of death. God is a God of life and we must be cleansed if we have been in contact with the realm of death before we can approach God.
Leprosy was the dying of skin- needed to be cleansed before they could entir into temple area or participate in Passover
Menstruation and semen is the expelling of the fluids that could produce life but did not. (death)- Cleansing to enter temple or participate in Passover
Dead bodies is death itself- needing cleansed
Unclean is a natural human condition that requires cleansing to participate in temple services or draw near to God.
Leviticus 11 outlines the ANIMALS that are intended for the purpose of food (clean) and the ones that are not suitable (unclean) for that purpose.
So for clarity sake, Unclean or uncleanliness definition is that something is not suitable for a particular purpose. UNSUITABLE In Lev 11 it is specifically ANIMALS that are suitable or unsuitable to eat as food.
Clean is the Hebrew word Tayhore which means ceremonially clean, pure or acceptable for a particular purpose specifically ritual services.
Let’s read Leviticus over again using our new definition so we understand the foundation before we move on:
(Lev 11:44-45) For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify (DEDICATE/CONSECRATE) yourselves, and ye shall be holy (SET APART); for I am holy (SET APART): neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the YHVH that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy(SET APART), for I am holy(SET APART)….
(Lev 11:47) To make a difference between the unclean(UNSUITABLE) and the clean (SUITABLE), and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
So now we come back to Peters sheet. How do we explain the fact that God said “What God has cleansed do not call common”? Is God telling Peter that He has now cleaned all these things for him to eat now? How did God clean them? Did Jesus's death cleans animals also?
In reviewing the Scripture of Peters sheet, it is clear that the topic was about people and the fact that Cornelious was a believer. Since Cornelious was considered a gentile, that is where there was a bit of a problem for Peter given his upbringing as a Jew. Our argument has always been that God was telling Peter that he should not call an MAN unclean
(Act 10:28) And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
What we really need to do is look back at what Peter said and then what God said to Peter to really understand the context of what is actually going on here.
(Act 10:11-15) And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common(G2839 Koynos) or unclean(G169 Akathartos) And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common (G2839 Koynos)
Notice the words used here. Greek is very specific and there are two different words being used that express two different concepts.
Common and Unclean
In Greek, koinos means “common”
C “unclean” is akathartos.
These two words have distinct meanings, particularly in the Jewish context.
(G169) Akathartos (UNCLEAN) refers to animals that are biblically forbidden by God Lev 11 (e.g., pigs, shellfish).
(G2839) Koinos refers to CLEAN FOOD (Lev 11) that has become ritually defiled (Unacceptable)by oral law (Jewish tradition not Scripture) often because they have been handled or prepared by Gentiles or offered to Pagan idols or not handled/ slaughtered saying the correct prayers or the “traditional way” the oral tradition teaches. (example: unwashed hands)
Jewish law took what was intended for the the Levites while ministering to God in the temple, and expanded it as a command to everyone. This principle was not commanded by God but was and is still practiced by Judaism today.
I want to repeat : COMMON….KOINOS DOES NOT MEAN UNCLEAN. IT MEANS CLEAN FOOD ….ACCEPTABLE FOOD, THAT HAS BECOME CONTAMINATED by Jewish oral tradition. COMMON is talking about CLEAN FOOD that has become ritually impure or contaminated in the eyes of Judaism ORAL LAW not Gods law.
As a matter of fact, I researched the entire Old Testament to find anywhere that the word COMMON , KOINOS was used. By using the Septuagint which is the Greek translation of the Old testament I was able to look for that Greek word. Guess how many times I found COMMON, KOINOS in the Torah or God's instructions?
ZERO TIMES
COMMON, KOINOS was a man made law- it was just “made up”!
Common, koinos spilled over from food to people. Gentiles were considered Koinos, common and therefore Jews wouldn’t even eat with them. Today the orthodox still believe this and will spit as you pass by them because they consider you COMMON, Koinos (ask me how I know this)?
Note what Peter, the Jew says to God
(Act 10:14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common(G2839 Koynos) or unclean(G169 Akathartos)
Peters strict adherence to Gods law AND Jewish tradition was clear.
But God said:
(Act 10:15) And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common (G2839 Koynos)
Notice God does not say what God has cleansed don’t call UNCLEAN. God used the word COMMON. Here God is specifically debunking the oral tradition of things being called “common” which is way beyond anything God intended. And then of course to clarify even more, Peter states that God showed him that it was about MAN and not food.
So when people come to you and say that God said to Peter that what God has cleansed don’t call unclean you can correct them and say That is not what God said, and encourage them to read it again.
You error for you know not the scriptures!!!
Now that we clarified Peter’s sheet, lets look at some other verses that have been used to seemingly convey the same message:
(Rom 14:13-15) Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
This is the translation of the King James.
After careful review of the Greek words we will see what was actually being said.
(Rom 14:14) I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing uncleanG2839of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean,G2839 to him it is unclean.G2839
Notice the word is translated unclean when it should be translated as the word common, koinos
UNCLEAN (G169) Akathartos refers to animals that are biblically forbidden by God Lev 11 (e.g., pigs, shellfish).
COMMON (G2839) Koinos
Koinos refers to CLEAN FOOD (Lev 11) that has become ritually defiled by oral law (tradition not Scripture) often because they have been handled or prepared by Gentiles or offered to idols or not handled the “traditional way” the oral tradition teaches (example: unwashed hands)
The word was translated “unclean” yet the correct translation should have been “common”. See the difference? Doesn’t this make more sense?
So when people quote you this verse using the word “Unclean”, you can tell them that Greek uses the word COMMON which is different than unclean.
Now there is one more text in the New Testament that people use that we need to look at but before we do, let’s look again at the words that we have been discussing
UNCLEAN (G169) Akathartos refers to animals that are biblically forbidden by God Lev 11 (e.g., pigs, shellfish).
COMMON (G2839) Koinos refers to CLEAN FOOD (Lev 11) that has become ritually defiled by oral law (tradition not Scripture) often because they have been handled or prepared by Gentiles or offered to idols or not handled the “traditional way” the oral tradition teaches (example: unwashed hands)
Earlier We looked at the Hebrew word that means “Clean” and it was Tahore but we are now in the New Testament and since the New Testament is in Greek we must look at the Greek equivalent
Clean-(G2513/2511) Katharos/karharidzo means ceremonially clean, pure or acceptable for a particular purpose.
(Mar 7:1-4) Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews, don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders. They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)
(Mar 7:5-8) The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?” He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ “For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”
(Mar 7:14-16) He called all the multitude to himself, and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile the man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
(Mar 7:17-19) When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable. He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile him, because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, thus purifying all foods ?”
(Mar 7:20-23) He said, “That which proceeds out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the hearts of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
This was the WEB(world English bible) translation but this is what other translation say:
KJV(Mar 7:19) Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
ASV (American standard version)(Mar 7:19) because it goeth not into his heart, but into his belly, and goeth out into the draught? This he said, making all meats clean.
ESV(English standard version)(Mar 7:19) since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
NIV (Mar 7:19) For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.)
Wow! What a difference! The NIV actually added that Jesus declaired all foods clean.
I would hate to be that person that made the NIV Bible and upon death come face to face with God and he looks at me and says “YOU SAID , I SAID WHAT????”
The LANGUAGE, CULTURE, CONTEXT ! The Pharisees were complaining that they were eating with unwashed hands (ritual hand washing not to clean off any germs as we do today)
This had nothing to do with Hygeine- This didn’t have anything to do with dirt or germs.
Rabbinic washing of hands was ritual.
Traditionally, Jews are required to wash their hands (ritually) and say a blessing before eating any meal that includes bread or matzah. The ritual, known as netilat yadayim, is typically done using a two-handled cup. There are various customs regarding HOW the water should be poured, but a common practice is to pour twice on the right hand followed by twice on the left (this is reversed for those who are left-handed). The custom is to pour three times on each hand. The washing is done for ritual rather than pragmatic purposes. The tradition is UNRELATED to personal hygiene, Let me repeat that this has nothing to do with germs or personal hygene, and a person is still required to perform this ritual even if his or her hands have previously been washed of germs and are clean. It is also customary not to speak following the recitation of this blessing until reciting the blessing for bread and partaking of some of it. This ritual was Never commanded by God. It was just made up.
After washing, this is recited.
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al n’tilat yadayim.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands.
Interestingly enough, God did NOT command them concerning the washing of the hands!!!
Origins of hand washing
The tradition of netilat yadayim prior to eating bread originated with the rabbis of the Talmud.
It derives from various practices concerning ritual impurity from when the ancient Temple stood in Jerusalem. The priests who performed the temple rituals were given gifts of oil, wine and wheat that could be eaten only after ritual washing because the gifts were sanctified to God in the temple service But, for various reasons, the ancient rabbis extended this practice to all Jews before eating meals. Some sources suggest that the practice was instituted so the Temple’s washing ritual would not be forgotten.
Whatever the reason, the practice, incumbent upon both men and women, was established by talmudic times and later included in Jewish law but was NOT commanded by God for anyone other than the priests (Levites) during the temple service because it was already dedicated to God.
Some passages in the Talmud indicate that failing to wash hands before a meal is a significant transgression. One talmudic sage even says that acting contemptuously toward this ritual causes one to be uprooted from the world.
So by NOT performing the ritual hand washing, they believed that the CLEAN food (whether it be bread, wheat or beef) would now become contaminated or “COMMON- KOINOS. Washing of the hands for anyone other than a Levite during temple service was not a command from God but a tradition of the Elders or How Jesus phrased it, a commandment of men.
So let’s read this again with this understanding in mind:
(Mar 7:1-4) Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem. Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled (COMMON-KOINOS), that is unwashed, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews, don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders. They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace ( as they may have been in contact with Gentiles who they consider common) unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things, which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches.)
(Mar 7:5-8) The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?” He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But they worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ “For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.”
(Mar 7:14-16) He called all the multitude to himself, and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. There is nothing from outside of the man, that going into him can defile(KOINOS- COMMON) him; but the things which proceed out of the man are those that defile(KOINOS-COMMON) the man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
So it is very clear that Jesus does not agree with their tradition or even their idea of what makes things COMMON. He is debunking their idea of WHAT makes one COMMON or KOINOS.
So then we come to the verse that hangs everyone up. First of all, who was Jesus arguing with? The Pharisees. The Pharisees knew what was acceptable for food and what wasn’t. If you had asked them what was food, they would have given you a list of everything in Leviticus 11 that was considered clean. Now, Jesus is explaining his comments to the disciples who are also Jewish and understand and have a firm grasp as to what is considered food and what is not. So when Jesus said what goes into a man, would the disciples or even the Pharisees think he was talking about anything other than what is clean or anything other than what was listed in Lev 11?
In addition, this passage is all about wheat. Wheat isn’t even part of Lev 11 because Lev 11 is all about ANIMALS not VEGETABLES! The CONTEXT of this passage has Nothing to do about animals at all but about eating the wheat with unwashed hands. To make this about animals would take it out of context.
(Mar 7:17-19) When he had entered into a house away from the multitude, his disciples asked him about the parable. He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Don’t you perceive that whatever goes into the man from outside can’t defile (COMMON –KOINOS) him, because it doesn’t go into his heart, but into his stomach, then into the latrine, cleansing all meat.
This could also be translated purging all meat or cleansing out all food
He is speaking about ACCEPTABLE food or in this case wheat.
The disciples were eating WHEAT and the Pharisees considered the wheat contaminated or COMMON-KOINOS because of ritually unwashed hands.
Jesus is debunking this tradition of COMMON- KOINOS which if you remember the definition means CLEAN FOOD that has been contaminated because they didn’t say the prayers or wash their hand. Jesus is debunking this by saying CLEAN food cannot defile you. What defiles you is what comes out of your heart. evil thoughts, adulteries, sexual sins, murders, thefts, covetings, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness.
This verse is saying that the food is cleansed from your body not that, your body or stomach cleanses the food! Your digestive system did not immediately change once you became a Christian.
Think with me for a minute. Let’s assume, for just one minute that Jesus said ALL food is now ok to eat. Forget Lev 11 and you can now eat shrimp or crab legs. Just assume this. That would mean that the disciples were taught that it was ok. Then why did Peter still tell God “NO” three times when the sheet came down of all the unclean food in Acts?
Instead of telling others what you believe it means, tell them what the actual Greek and Hebrew words, that the disciples wrote, says and means. They can then choose.
Summary: In all these verses in the new testament, Jesus is debunking the idea of “common- Koinos which was a Talmudic law that was a tradition of the elders not any commandment of God.