The Bible addresses dietary choices in various contexts, from Old Testament laws to New Testament freedoms. Today, we’ll explore what Scripture says about eating meat, dairy, and honoring God through our choices.
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What Does The Bible Say About Meat And Dairy
Genesis 1:29
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”
This verse highlights God’s original intention for mankind to consume plant-based food. It emphasizes the abundance and variety of plant-based options that God provided for nourishment.
It also sets the foundation for a compassionate and sustainable way of eating, as plant-based diets have been shown to have numerous health benefits and are more environmentally friendly compared to animal-based diets.
Proverbs 15:17
Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened calf with hatred.
This verse emphasizes the importance of love and unity in relationship over indulgence in luxurious food. It teaches us that the quality of fellowship and the atmosphere in which we share our meals are more significant than the type of food we consume.
Selecting a meal of vegetables signifies simplicity, humility, and contentment, whereas a fattened calf represents excess and opulence. The verse encourages us to prioritize love and harmony in our relationships above material possessions or extravagant feasts.
Isaiah 11:6
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.
This verse portrays a future vision of peace and harmony in God’s Kingdom, where even the natural order of predator and prey is reversed. It reflects the transformative power of God’s love and its ability to reconcile and unite all creation.
From a dietary perspective, this verse highlights the possibility of a world where the consumption of meat becomes unnecessary as animals coexist peacefully. It encourages us to consider a more compassionate and peaceful approach to our food choices, promoting empathy towards all creatures.
Genesis 9:3
“Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.”
After the flood, God grants permission for humans to consume animal flesh. This verse marks a significant shift from the original plant-based diet and introduces the allowance for animal consumption.
While this verse permits the consumption of meat, it is essential to consider the context and the principles of stewardship and compassion towards animals. It does not necessarily imply an endorsement of excessive or inhumane practices but rather sets the stage for responsible and mindful consumption.
Daniel 1:8-16
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
This passage tells the story of Daniel’s conviction to abstain from the king’s food and wine, instead choosing a diet of vegetables and water. Through his commitment to follow the dietary laws, Daniel demonstrates his faith in God’s provision and his desire to remain faithful to His commands.
By choosing plant-based foods, Daniel not only maintained physical health but also exhibited spiritual and moral strength. This story serves as an example of how our dietary choices can reflect our devotion and commitment to God’s principles.
1 Corinthians 8:8
But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
In the context of specific dietary restrictions during early Christianity, this verse reminds believers that food choices do not impact their standing with God. It emphasizes that following certain dietary practices or abstaining from certain foods does not affect one’s spiritual worthiness.
While this verse addresses the specific issue of consuming meat sacrificed to idols, it carries a broader message that our relationship with God is not determined by our dietary preferences. It encourages believers to prioritize unity and love over disputes about food choices.
1 Timothy 4:3-4
They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.
This passage addresses false teachings that promote strict dietary restrictions and forbidding certain foods. It affirms that God created all food and pronounces it as good, to be received with gratitude by believers.
While discernment and moderation are necessary in our dietary choices, this verse underscores that there is no inherently impure food. It encourages a balanced and thankful approach to our meals, free from legalism and unnecessary restrictions.
Matthew 15:11
What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.
Jesus spoke these words in response to the Pharisees’ criticism of the disciples for not washing their hands before eating. He challenges the superficial focus on external rituals and addresses the importance of inner purity.
This verse reminds us that our food choices alone do not determine our moral state or our worth in God’s eyes. Instead, our words, actions, and the condition of our hearts bear true significance in our relationship with Him and others.
Romans 14:2-4
One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.
This passage addresses the issue of dietary preferences within the early Christian community. It encourages believers not to judge or despise one another based on differing food choices but to respect each other’s convictions and live in unity.
It teaches us that our individual dietary decisions should not become a source of division but an opportunity to demonstrate grace and acceptance, recognizing that all believers are accountable to God alone.
Acts 10:9-16
He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
In this vision, Peter, a Jewish disciple, was instructed by God to eat animals that were previously considered unclean according to Jewish dietary laws. This event symbolizes the unification of Jews and Gentiles in the early church.
While this passage primarily addresses the inclusiveness of the Gospel message, it also carries implications for dietary practices. It challenges the notion of categorizing certain foods as impure and highlights that, through Christ’s redemptive work, the restrictions on food have been removed.
Romans 14:14-15
I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not, by your eating, destroy someone for whom Christ died.
This passage emphasizes the importance of love and consideration towards others in our dietary choices. It recognizes that individuals may have different convictions and personal preferences regarding food.
While certain foods may be personally permissible, this verse encourages believers to prioritize the spiritual well-being of others over personal freedoms. It promotes a mindset of selfless love and the avoidance of causing stumbling or distress to fellow believers.
Romans 14:20-21
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.
In the context of dietary choices, this verse emphasizes the importance of not prioritizing personal preferences over the well-being of fellow believers. It encourages believers to be mindful of their actions and choices to avoid causing stumbling blocks to others.
While all food is declared clean, this verse underscores the principle of selflessness, urging believers to abstain from certain foods or actions that may have a negative influence on the faith of others.
1 Corinthians 10:25-26
Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
This verse addresses the issue of eating meat that may have been offered to idols. It advises believers not to be overly concerned about the source of meat but to recognize God’s ownership of all things.
While this verse specifically pertains to a cultural and historical context, it carries a broader message of recognizing God’s sovereignty over the earth and the freedom that believers have in their dietary choices.
Matthew 9:10-11
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
This passage depicts Jesus having a meal with tax collectors and sinners, causing the Pharisees to question His choice of company. It highlights Jesus’ mission to reach out to those seen as outcasts and demonstrates His acceptance and love for all people.
While this verse does not directly address dietary practices, it portrays Jesus’ inclusive approach to fellowship and challenges us to extend hospitality and acceptance to all, regardless of their backgrounds or dietary choices.
Colossians 2:16-17
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Addressing early Christians, this passage encourages believers not to allow others to pass judgment based on dietary practices or observance of religious customs.
It reminds us that food choices and adherence to specific dietary laws or traditions do not define our relationship with Christ or our salvation. Our focus should be on the substance found in a personal relationship with Jesus, rather than external practices or opinions of others.
Acts 15:19-20
It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.
In the early church, the apostles addressed the issue of Gentiles coming to faith and their adherence to certain Jewish customs, including dietary restrictions.
In this verse, they establish guidelines for Gentile believers, advising them to abstain from food offered to idols, sexual immorality, and the consumption of certain types of meat. These guidelines allowed for unity and harmony within the diverse early Christian community.
Leviticus 11:1-2
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Of all the animals that live on land, these are the ones you may eat: You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and that chews the cud.”
In the book of Leviticus, God provides the Israelites with specific dietary laws known as kosher laws. These laws outline which animals are permissible to eat based on their characteristics, such as having a divided hoof and chewing the cud.
While these laws were specifically given to the Israelites and are no longer binding for Christians, they served to set the Israelites apart and foster a sense of holiness and obedience to God’s commands.
Leviticus 11:9-12
“Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams you may eat any that have fins and scales. But all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales—whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water—you are to regard as unclean. And since you are to regard them as unclean, you must not eat their meat; you must regard their carcasses as unclean.”
Continuing from the previous verse, this passage outlines God’s guidelines for the consumption of seafood. It states that fish with fins and scales are permissible to eat, while those without fins and scales should be regarded as unclean and not consumed.
Similar to the kosher laws for land animals, these dietary restrictions reinforced the Israelites’ separation from the surrounding nations and their commitment to following God’s specific instructions.
Leviticus 7:23-24
“Say to the Israelites: ‘Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goats. The fat of an animal found dead or torn by wild animals may be used for any other purpose, but you must not eat it.
In this verse, God commands the Israelites not to consume the fat of cattle, sheep, or goats. The fat of an animal that has died on its own or has been killed by a wild animal should not be consumed as food.
These regulations served to instill a sense of reverence and respect for the sanctity of life and the offering of sacrifices in the worship of God. They served as a reminder to prioritize purity and obedience in their dietary practices.
Matthew 4:4
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
When tempted by Satan during a time of fasting, Jesus responded with this verse, emphasizing the importance of spiritual nourishment over physical sustenance.
While this verse does not specifically address dietary choices, it reminds believers that true satisfaction and fulfillment come from a relationship with God and the nourishment found in His Word, rather than solely relying on physical food.
John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Jesus spoke these words in the context of feeding the multitude and demonstrating His ability to provide for their physical needs. However, He also conveyed a deeper spiritual truth.
This verse emphasizes that Jesus is the ultimate source of nourishment and fulfillment. It encourages us to seek satisfaction in Him and His teachings, recognizing that true fulfillment comes through a relationship with Him rather than through purely physical means.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
While this verse primarily addresses the importance of sexual purity and avoiding immorality, it also carries implications for our overall lifestyle choices, including our dietary habits.
It reminds us that our bodies are not our own, but temples of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, our choices should reflect a desire to honor and glorify God in every aspect of our lives, including the foods we consume.
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
In this verse, Paul encourages believers to make all aspects of their lives—including eating and drinking—centered on bringing glory to God
Regardless of specific dietary choices or restrictions, this verse reminds us that our ultimate aim should be to glorify God in everything we do. It encourages us to approach our meals with gratitude and intentionality, recognizing that our choices have the potential to reflect and magnify God’s goodness and provision.