NOTHING ON THIS PAGE IS INTENDED TO OFFEND
Then said I, 'Lo, I Come (in the Volume of the Book it is Written of Me,)to Do Thy Will, O G-d'. Hebrews 10:7
THE ISSUES DEFINED
The shedding of blood was Commanded and Permitted by G-d under the Old Covenant with regard to the Jewish people. First, there were Sacrificial Offerings made to G-d. Some were partaken of as food by the Priests only. Secondly, Ritual Slaughter was for the Jewish people before they could consume any clean animal as food. All animals brought to the Priests would be identified as a clean animal (according to the Levitical Laws) and fit for the Jewish people to consume. These Holy Laws were Authorized and Commanded under the Old Covenant as a "shadow image" of the Future Offering of Yeshua (Jesus) our Messiah.
UNDER THE OLD COVENANT, ONLY MEN OF THE TRIBE OF LEVI WHO WERE ALSO DECLARED FIT TO BE PRIESTS WERE AUTHORIZED TO MAKE BLOOD OFFERINGS TO G-D
According to the Old Covenant (The Torah, the Mosaic Law), the time came when only the Levitical Priesthood could shed any blood for Offering or Slaughter unto G-d, and this was only to be done in strict Accord with the Levitical Laws. This included both clean animal Offerings and Ritual Slaughter for food. Sacrifice or Ritual Slaughtering could only be done Lawfully after the Comandments Written in the Torah. No Gentile could offer any animal on his own to G-d apart from this Levitical System.[1]
But there is more:
THERE WAS ONLY ONE SPECIFIC PLACE WHERE G-D AUTHORIZED HIS PEOPLE TO SHED BLOOD UNTO HIM AS OFFERINGS OR FOOD FOR CONSUMPTION, AND THIS WAS SOLELY TO SHOW FORTH MESSIAHS' FUTURE SACRIFICE
Under the Old Covenant, the time came when there was only one place where any offering or slaughter could take place, or offerings presented. At the href="http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/3511/tab.html">Tabernacle of the Congregation found at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. No other place. The Jewish people were kept together as a people by this.
Let us closely examine what the Torah (Law of Moses) says about every blood offering and every animal to be slaughtered for food ("Ritual Slaughter") that the Jewish people were Commanded to Observe under the Old Covenant.
THE ETERNAL TORAH STATUTE
And the L-RD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and said unto them; This is the thing which the L-RD hath Commanded, saying, What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp, And bringeth it not unto the Door[2] of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, to offer an offering unto the L-RD before the Tabernacle of the L-RD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people: To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the L-RD, unto the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the L-RD. And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the L-RD at the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the L-RD. And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a Statute Forever unto them throughout their generations. And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice, And bringeth it not unto the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, to offer it unto the L-RD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people. Vayekrah (Leviticus) 17:1-10
We see here that only one place was Authorized for Sacrifices or slaughter after the Giving of the Torah to Moishe (Moses), which Tabernacle of the Congregation was deposited in The Bais HaMikdash (Holy Temple) in Jerusalem. No other place. Period.
THE EXAMPLE OF DANIEL IN BABYLON
The army of King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the First Temple in Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Daniel was taken as a prisoner to Babylon. Daniel and his friends were offerred "meat from the kings' table" which had not been Ritually Slaughtered at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Since the Temple was torn down and there could be no Ritually Slaughtered meat as Torah Commanded, what did Daniel do? Daniel and his friends ate "pulse" (vegetables) instead. Daniel 1:5-16. He and those with him ate no meat at all while in Babylon. Simply put, Daniel became a vegetarian rather than violate Torah! No Temple, no meat!
There was no Lawful way for Daniel to have any sort of meat in his diet since the Temple was not standing nor its fixtures in place (the Temple fixures were all stored in Nebuchadnezzars' treasure house). Neither would any Priest have done Ritual Slaughter to provide meat either for Daniel or any other of the children of Israel in Babylon, as that act would have violated Torah (Vayekrah 17:1-10).
When the Second Temple was later restored, and the Priesthood went back to Jerusalem, along with the ashes of the red heifer and the original Tent of Meeting of Moses in place, once again the Jewish people could Lawfully partake of Ritually Slaughtered meat. Not before. The Jewish people kept the Torah.
THERE WERE ONES THAT OFFERRED ELSEWHERE, WITHOUT THE TENT OF MEETING
Here os what the Prophet Isaiah says about them:
Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to Me; for I am holier than Thou. These are a smoke in My Nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Behold, it is Written before Me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the L-RD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed Me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom. Isaiah 56:5-7
This would also apply to all that continued to make offerings after the Final Sacrifice was Given, for Yeshua said, "I AM The Door". That is, the Door of the Tent of Meeting Himself is Yeshua.
70 A.D.
In 70 A.D, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in fulfillment of Daniel 9:27. As of then, there simply has been no place where anyone is Authorized to either have Sacrifices done, or bring their animals for Ritual Slaughter. The original ashes of the red heifer are also missing, so the Priests (the Aaronic Priesthood itself has been done away; see the Book of Hebrews) have been unable to Purify themselves to perform any Lawful Sacrifice or Ritual Slaughter, or burn the fat before the Door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation.
Why has G-d done such a thing? He did it because Yeshua was Sacrificed and is the last Blood Sacrifice that will ever be Accepted by G-d. This is called the Brit Chadashah: New Covenant (Testament). Yeshua Said: "It is Finished".
THE NEW COVENANT
The Old Covenant showed forth the coming death of our Messiah in all shed blood. The New Covenant Fulfilled all blood Sacrifices and Ritual Slaughters (which were designed by G-d solely for the Purpose of Pointing to Messiahs' Future and Final Shedding of His Precious Blood). Ritual Slaughter for the purpose of making any animal "acceptable for consumption" ceased. Without the Holy Temple, its' fixtures, and the Aaronic and Levitical Priesthoods which presented the Sacrifice or Slaughter to G-d, there was simply no other Lawful way to have said Sacrifices or Slaughters, according to Torah (see Vayekrah [Leviticus] 17:1-10 again above).[3]
What about now under The New Covenant? See the following verse:
...Sacrifice, and offering and burnt-offering and [offering] for sin, Thou Wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the Law (Torah). Above when He Said, 'Sacrifice and Offering and Burnt Offering and [Offering] for sin Thou Wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are Offered by the Law (Torah); Then Said He, ''Lo I Come to Do Thy Will O G-d'. He Taketh Away the First that He may Establish the Second. Hebrews 10:7-9
All Blood Sacrifice and Ritual Slaughter has now been Removed and Replaced with the Second. The New Covenant. This means no "Third Temple".
All animal Sacrifice and/or Ritual Slaughter at the Holy Temple was a "shadow image" and "carnal ordinances" Designed by G-d to Point to One Thing Only: The Coming of The Messiah of Israel: Messiah Yeshua and HIS Future Sacrifice that would end the Sacrificial System. All Sacrifice and/or Ritual Slaughter CEASED at the Cross!
Any Believer in Yeshua, Jew or Gentile, can now Lawfully (because of New Covenat Law) eat reguarly slaughtered meat, as long as it is Prayed over and Thanks is Given. The may not knowingly consume ritually-slaughtered meat. Ritual Slaughtering can no longer be done. The meat now becomes Sanctified by Giving Thanks to G-d over it when it is served at the table.
WHAT THE NEW TESTAMENT FURTHER SAYS ABOUT RITUALLY-SLAUGHTERED MEAT
Since the New Covenant has done away with all need for Ritually-Slaughtered meat, let us take a look at the passages that address this subject.
ASK NO QUESTIONS FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE, BUT IF IT IS REVEALED THAT IT IS RITUALLY-SLAUGHTERED, REFUSE IT
If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and you be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. But if any man say unto you, "This is sacrificed to idols", eat not for his sake that showed it... I Corinthians 10:27,28
If one did not know it was ritually-slaughtered, then he is exempted. If he has prior knowledge, or it is made known to him while eating, he is to politely refuse it.
CONCERNING SAVED INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTINUE TO KNOWINGLY CONSUME RITUALLY-SLAUGHTERED MEAT
For it is impossible for those once enlightened, and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit. And have tasted the good Word of G-d, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto Repentance; seeing that they crucify to themselves the Son of G-d afresh, and put Him to an open shame. Hebrews 6:4-6
Persons who are Saved and think (or have been taught) that any ritually-slaughtered meat is "sanctified" may simply have not been informed concerning this subject.[4]
Persons in the New Covenant, who refuse to abstain from such, after having been informed, the Scripture says it is "impossible" to renew them again unto Repentance. In so doing, they "crucify to themselves the Son of G-d afresh and put Him to an open shame". Blood Sacrifice and Ritual Slaughtering are over. The Messiah has Come!
If you want to have a steak, go and buy it at a regular grocery store, Give Thanks and say a Blessing over it, and it is then Sanctified.
MORE FOLLOWING SOON!
PEOPLE OF G-D MINISTRIES
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FOOTNOTES
[1
They could also have a Sacrifice presented to the Levitical Priests on their behalf. They could not enter specific parts of the Temple area. Gentiles had a place where they could assemble called "The Court of the Gentiles". Under the Torah, the Jewish people and the Priests were to be "set apart" from every Gentile. Under the Old Covenant, no Jew could so much as enter the house of a Gentile.
[2
[3
Yeshua Commanded the disciples the following:
[4
Many restaurants that feature "Middle Eastern food" are known to serve ritually-slaughtered meat to their patrons. Why do they still ritually-slaughter meat? For the simple reason that they do not believe our Messiahs' crucifixion set aside every Sacrificial System FOREVER! They are taught that the New Testament is just "wrong" in those many places.
Some Believers in Yeshua think it's "ok" to knowingly consume ritually-slaughtered meat: under the New Covenant, it is not.