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My Painting of Yeshua as the Merciful Shepard

Love Animals, Don't Eat Them

By Shlomo Nachman © 1997, updated 4/1/2022

Before the world flood, all humans and all animals were either vegetarians or possibly vegans according to Genesis.

The first reference to food:

Genesis 1:29: And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you, it shall be for food.

Likewise to the animals:

Genesis 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and every fowl of the air, and to everything that creeps upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for food: and it was so.

Hence, the acceptable foodstuff for humans and animals was vegetarian, not meat. This is confirmed,

Genesis 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also amid the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

This is what was eaten by both the humans and the animals. Then there came the day when God instructed Noah to prepare the ark. Note God's instruction:

Genesis 6:21 And take unto you of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to you; and it shall be for food for you, and for them

Note that Noah brought "food for you, and them..." Humans still did not eat animals, nor did animals eat animals; otherwise, there would have been no need to bring the food. Noah could have brought extra animals to eat.

After the world was completely flooded and the survivors left the ark, God allowed Noah and his family to begin eating animals (there would have been nothing to eat for a year or more until the plants reseeded).

Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall all of you not eat.
5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.

Here, Noah is told that even as humans were previously given vegetation to eat, now humans would be allowed to eat animals under certain conditions. Verse four gives the fundamental condition. The blood must be drained before eating. Other requirements are added under the Sinai and Rabbinic Laws. Note, however, that life is contained in the blood. Even when the blood is drained from meat as required by the laws, it is impossible to remove all of it. Therefore, when eaten, one will consume a portion of the being's life, something Torah frowns upon, which may have dire consequences for one's neshama or soul.

Notice what happens to human beings who decide to take part in this new dietary allowance, "...your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man."

As a result of eating animals, violence of all kinds increases within human society. Note that nowhere are humans commanded to eat their fellow creatures. It is merely allowed. It is a fact that those societies that encourage the eating of their fellow creatures have higher crime rates, wage more wars of aggression, etc. According to the Bible, eating animals is directly related to increased violence, and history demonstrates this is true.

The Torah moderates what people may and may not eat. Meat is allowed, as long as the blood is properly drained, etc. Most meat eaten today does not observe the biblical kosher requirements, although they generally meet the Noahide requirements. It is obvious from the scriptures that meat-eating is allowed, but it requires a high price. Among many aboriginal people, before killing an animal for food, the hunter apologizes and offers to be the food next time. Likewise, in the Indian Vedas, Hindus are allowed to eat animals to prevent starvation, but the acquired karma will usually lead them to an animal life after they die. For the People of the Book, meat is likewise allowed, but the price tag is very high.

We don't have much information about what the historic Yeshua did or didn't eat. We know the Essenes were vegetarian, as were many of the mystics, including John the Baptist. The only reference to Jesus eating is this

Luke 22:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

Here, he may have eaten fish (or he may have only eaten the honeycomb, but he was at the least offered fish to eat by people acquainted with his diet. Many people who eat fish still consider themselves vegetarian, though frankly, I've never understood this as fish are also conscious beings with faces. Yeshua may have been a vegan. There is no sure way to know based on the texts we have. However, it would certainly be harmonious with his overall teachings of love and compassion if he was.

One of the main proof texts Christians use to defend eating animals is Paul's famous comment on this subject. Let's consider the context:

I Corinthians 8:

1 Now, as concerning things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love (o. agape) edifies.
2 And if any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 But if any man loves God, the same is known of him.
4 As concerning the eating of those things offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no other God but one.
5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7 Nevertheless, there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8 But food commends us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.
10 For if any man see you which have knowledge sit to eat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11 And through your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12 But when all of you sin so against the brethren and wound their weak conscience, all of you sin against Christ.
13 Wherefore, if food makes my brother offend, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, lest I make my brother offend.

Paul is speaking of not judging people due to eating this particular "meat." In context, that reference refers to eating meat sacrificed to Pagan gods. The issue was not about eating meat in general but about eating Pagan sacrifices (cheaper because the Pagans had to do many offerings each day). Some argued this was forbidden food, but the Apostles determined that as long as Yeshua's talmidim were not eating the foods for religious reasons, it was not idolatry and hence acceptable under the Noahide requirements. As Paul ruled in Romans 14:14, "Nothing is unclean of itself, but to one who deems anything unclean, to that person, it is unclean."

We read that food does not commend anyone to God. Meat eating is not the deciding factor of one's spirituality from the biblical perspective.

In the Olam Haba (that follows the War of Magog), Mashiach will restore balance to the planet. 'The lion will lay down with the lamb' etc. Then, all beings will then return to a peaceful vegetarian diet.

Isaiah 11: 6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
8 And the nursing infant shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse [i.e., The Mashiach] who shall stand for an unmistakable sign to all people; he shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

And again,

Isaiah 65:25: The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, says the LORD

So yes, it is true that under the Law, animal eating was/is allowed. But why would we, given the negative consequences both to ourselves and the world at large?

Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto the Anointing, that we might be justified through our emunah

The Jewish Temple sacrifices were aimed at demonstrating the severity of our sins, to make us feel responsible for the slaughter of the innocents that human sin perpetrated so that we would repent of our sins. Personal teshuvah or repentance is what God wanted the whole time:

Micah 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams or ten thousand oil rivers? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

I agree that people can kill, eat, and wear the flesh of defenseless animals if they want, but can you honestly see Yeshua killing defenseless animals when there is no need to do so? Can you picture the Prince of Peace slitting the throat of defenseless animals? I can't.

Before the flood, people were vegetarian, and in the New Earth, they will be vegetarian again; why not avoid this pain and suffering of the animals now? Love animals, don't eat them!

Health-wise, humans don't need to eat meat either. Is it Christian to cause such needless pain and suffering to those in our care? Our job as humans is to be caretakers of the planet. Eating animals makes no sense and seems indefensible to me.

How about you?

Jude 1:21: "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference"

Have compassion:
Love animals, don't eat and wear them

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