Demonstration 15: On the Distinction between Foods

Demonstration on the Distinction between Foods Many are the thoughts of men, children and laypeople, that are troubled concerning what enters the mouth, that it is not able to corrupt a person. And thus they say, those who are zealous in these matters, that God distinguished and showed to Moses, his servant, concerning impure and pure foods. And he made known to Moses which are not to be eaten and which are fitting to be defiled. And he warned concerning beasts, birds, and fish of the sea according to their kinds. Concerning these, my beloved, as much as I am able, I will give you a little persuasion: that foods do nothing to their eaters, nor does anything harm those who partake of them. For the holy mouth testifies that nothing that enters a person corrupts him, but rather what comes out of him, that is what corrupts a person. And this the Savior said, in order to cut off the pretext of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, who were boasting in their baptisms, their purifications, the washing of their hands, and the distinction of foods. Then he rebuked them and said to them: "Blind Pharisees, to what end do you wash the outside of your skin and your body? You are filled within with iniquity and robbery. And you are like tombs, which are whitewashed on the outside and appear beautiful, but within are filled with the bones of the dead and all filth." And he distinguished and showed them that they are not at all helped by their baptisms and their purifications. And he said to them: "It is in the heart that evil thoughts arise, and these evil thoughts that are in the heart—these corrupt a person, and not foods." For foods go to the belly, and from there, through purification, they are cast out. And a person is not corrupted by them. For all tastes that are sweet and pleasant to the palate, to the smell, to the sight, and to the taste—if a person eats from these, his palate alone perceives their pleasant flavors.

and from there it receives into its stomach, and distributes its power to all its veins and limbs of the body. And when the food descends below, instead of a sweet fragrance it is changed and becomes foulness, and instead of good taste and fair appearance it is changed to an evil appearance, and outside it is cast forth in excrement. And if a person eats coarse bread, which has no fair appearance, nor sweet taste, nor pleasant fragrance, in that way it sustains the person, and gives strength to all his veins and limbs. And from there it is cast forth in excrement. And it happens that a sweet food is changed into foulness more than that which is not cooked and is sweet. And in these things there is neither sin nor righteousness. And also the Apostle, the victor, cut off the pretext of those who boast about foods. For he said to those who are arrogant in this opinion, who reject and distinguish foods: "Do not set up foods before God. For neither if you eat are you the richer, nor if you do not eat are you the poorer. For if a person eats all kinds of portions and tastes, and it is right and fair that he not err, he will be sustained by the creation of God, and in humility he will receive his gift; there is no sin or folly in it. And if, moreover, he eats dust like a serpent, and from the poison of the serpent which is venomous in it, there is no harm or benefit in it, because all the creatures of God are fair, and there is nothing in them that is rejected, and they are sanctified by the word of God and by prayer." And this that the Apostle said, my beloved, he said against the children of his people, when he saw that they were disgusted by the foods of the nations, because the children of Israel do not sustain themselves willingly with all the foods that the nations make, and they press all the wine of the nations and do not drink it, because the nations are pagans who press all the presses and all the winepresses of sacrifices and mention the names of their idols.

d of a sweet fragrance it is changed and becomes foulness, and instead of that which is pure it becomes impure. Concerning this, that the children of Israel are not sustained by their foods, and this is the sickly gate. And the Apostle cut off the cause of those who stand in this opinion, and said that all foods are sanctified by the word of God and by prayer. For when a person is sustained by the creatures of God, before he partakes of them, he remembers and praises and blesses and sanctifies the name of their Creator, and prays, and then they are sanctified. And the power of the evil one flees from them. And again the Apostle said: If a person with a pure heart calls you to a feast and wishes you to go, eat everything that is set before you, because of the gate. Concerning these, my beloved, as much as I am able, I am your brother, this which the holy God distinguished for the children of Israel among foods. It was not that righteousness would be for them, but because of their ignorance and their error they found this division, that they might be restrained from idolatry and sins, which they were practicing in the land of Egypt. For from the beginning, when He made the son of man, thus God commanded Adam and his descendants, and Noah and his generations: Behold, I have given you animals and birds and all flesh, pour out its blood on the ground and eat. And it shall be considered to you like vegetables. Only do not eat it unless you have poured out its blood on the ground like water, because blood is the soul. These things God commanded those of the first generations, and He did not distinguish foods for them. For if something were sin and transgression of the law in foods, from the beginning He would have distinguished impure things from pure for Adam and Noah, as He warned them and said to them: Do not eat blood, but kill all flesh and eat, and it shall be considered to you like vegetables. And to Abraham and his descendants again He commanded that they not be sustained by impurity, but that they know the law of all the priests and the righteous.

In the first generations, until Moses who distinguished foods for Israel, all those generations were sustained by all the foods that are lawful, without any compulsion from them, without sins. But this that he commanded to the children of Israel and distinguished foods for them, was because the children of Israel strayed to the worship of the Egyptians and abandoned the God of their fathers. Because the Egyptians worshipped oxen and calves. And this also, consider: when Joseph's brothers came to him, and he commanded his steward and made bread for them, when it was time to eat, it is written that they set it for him alone, and for his brothers separately, and for the Egyptians who ate with him separately, because the Egyptians were not able to eat bread with the Hebrews, for it was an abomination to them. Because the children of Israel from early times, before they entered Egypt, ate all meat, and the Egyptians did not eat the meat of sheep and oxen, which were their gods. And also when Jacob went down to Egypt, Joseph brought with him five of his brothers, and set them before Pharaoh, and commanded them that when Pharaoh asked you and said to you, "What is your occupation?" say to him, "We are shepherds of sheep, your servants, and lords of cattle, and also our fathers." When you said thus to him, he will honor you, because of the abominations of the worship of the Egyptians, and he will give you a good pasture land in the land of Goshen, and he will separate you so that you do not mix with him and stand over his work, as it is written that the Egyptians abominate all shepherds of sheep. And again it is written: when Moses said before Pharaoh, "I will go and sacrifice to the Lord my God in the wilderness," Pharaoh said to him, "Worship the Lord your God in the land of Egypt." Moses said to him, "It is not possible to do this thing.

because the Egyptians worshipped the animals of their gods, they stoned them. And again it is written that even among the gods of the Egyptians, the Lord executed judgment, when he destroyed the firstborn of the flock and the firstborn of the cattle by hail and by pestilence. For the firstborn of the flock and of the cattle were the firstborn of the Egyptians, as it were of the darkness, and they did not eat them, because they worshipped them. However, the food of the Egyptians even to this day is the flesh of swine, along with the vegetables of many kinds in their land, as the children of Israel said when they desired food: "Do you not remember the vegetables that you used to eat in Egypt, leeks with onions, garlic, and cucumbers, and melons?" And the children of Israel were governed by the custom of the Egyptians, and they ate their food, and they worshipped their gods. And know that they practiced sorcery in the land of Egypt and worshipped their gods. For Joshua son of Nun, when the time of his death came, called the children of Israel and said to them: "Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve, whether the gods whom your fathers served beyond the river, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, or the gods whom you served in the land of Egypt. But I and the house of my household worship the Lord God." And he added and warned them that they should choose for themselves today whom they would serve. And they said to him that they worship the Lord and serve him, because he is God. And he said to them: "See that you are able to serve the Lord." And they said: "We are able." And he said to them: "You yourselves bear witness that you have chosen for yourselves to serve the Lord." And they said: "We bear witness." And that you may know further that they worshipped the flock and the cattle in Egypt, see when Moses delayed on the mountain, and they turned away from after the Lord and worshipped the idols.

and they did not make images for worship, but the image of a calf, for that which they were accustomed to worship in the land of Egypt. And they contended and argued before the calf which they had made. And also Jeroboam son of Nebat, when he led Israel astray, made a calf for them to worship, for that which they had worshipped in Egypt. And when the Holy One saw that the Egyptians' leaven had not yet been purified, and that they were still standing in that opinion of error, then he commanded Moses to distinguish for them the foods, and to declare unclean for them those which had been clean for them to eat in the land of Egypt. And he forbade them to eat those which they had worshipped in the land of Egypt, and they did not eat from them. And because of their evil inclination, also the sacrifices which they used to offer before it, from that which they worshipped, he commanded to offer, so that they would not even desire to eat because of their sacrifices, for they ate the flesh of sheep and oxen. And see that from among the many animals he distinguished for them for purity, from all of them he did not command that they should offer sacrifices, but only from sheep and oxen. Therefore, my beloved, it is evident that the boast of Israel about the distinction of foods is vain. You will say to me, "But the book of the wise leader of the people says, 'If it is uncleanness for Israel when they offer and partake of that which the law declares unclean, why did Samson, the strong man of Israel, serve with unclean animals? From the jawbone of an ass he took honey and ate, and it ran down his hands, and nothing foolish or evil was thought of him because of this deed, and it is not written that he was defiled. And also when he made a feast at the feast of wine, and overcame the Philistines with hard bonds, he was thirsty and prayed before his God and said, 'Lord God, you have accomplished through the hand of your servant this great feast, and now I will die of thirst.' And God heard the prayer of Samson and brought forth water from the jawbone of an ass, and he drank and his thirst was quenched.

If indeed uncleanness and folly were in the juice of wine, for it was unclean in the Law, then for its purification from the juice he would have sought water to drink. For if this is uncleanness, it would have been fitting that he should have sought it from a rock, as he brought forth water from a rock for the children of Israel in the desert, or from the earth, as he brought forth for Hagar and Ishmael drank. And if, moreover, uncleanness is in food, in the whole creation there are no unclean and pure among the ravens, which used to carry bread and meat to Elijah the holy prophet when he was sitting in the ravine of Cherith. And from where, then, did the ravens carry Elijah's food except from Jerusalem, the place of its sanctity? The priests used to set it aside in one place, and in their bestial nature they gave it to the ravens, and they took and carried it to Elijah by the command of the Most High, his God. And Elijah's sustenance was pure, which he received from the mouth of ravens, from the creation which is unclean in the Law. And know, my beloved, that because he cut off their reasons so that they would not worship the calves of the idols of the Egyptians, he separated for them foods and commanded them that they should offer sacrifices from that which they used to worship in the land of Egypt. For it was not a need for God concerning sacrifices and offerings, but so that they would be hindered by the reason of offerings from worshipping the gods of the nations when they entered and mingled among them, as they worshipped the gods of the Egyptians when they entered and mingled among them. For this reason he bound and restrained them in this, that before its altar they should offer their offerings and sacrifice their sacrifices. And when he had greatly warned them, they turned aside after it and worshipped and served the gods of the nations and corrupted their way, as Moses said to them: I know that after my death corrupters will corrupt you, and you will turn aside from the way which I commanded you.

And he showed you many evil things at the end of days. And that Theoplis said that God was not at all concerned with sacrifices and offerings and incense and fragrance. But because they were deceived. And when they went astray, and because of the sacrifices which he gave them, they began to sacrifice to idols. Then through the prophet he said to them: "Do not go to me with the multitude of your sacrifices," said the Lord. And he said to them: "Incense is abominable to me, and the beginning of your months and your festivals have wearied my soul." And also David said: "Did not my father eat the flesh of lions? And did my father drink the blood of goats?" But instead of these he sacrificed thanksgiving to God, and offered praise to the Most High with his hands. And when you did this, you called me on the day of distress, and I answered you and praised you. And again it is written in the prophet: "I have despised and rejected your festivals, and I have not smelled your incense." And again it is written: "Even if you bring me offerings in the abundance of your fattened animals, I will not turn." And again he said: "Did you not offer me sacrifices and offerings for forty years in the wilderness, O children of Israel? And did you eat and drink? It was not you who ate and drank," said the Lord. And Isaiah said: "He who slaughters a lamb is like one who slaughters a dog; and he who offers an ox is like one who slays a man; and he who offers a pig is like the blood of a swine; and he who prays before me is like one who blesses idols." And Samuel said to Saul, when he heard the sound of the goats and oxen that came from the Amalekites: "What is this sound that I hear?" Saul said to him: "The people are busy with the beauty of the goats which they are sacrificing to the Lord your God." And Samuel said to him: "Behold, the sound is good from the sacrifices, and the fat is from the fattened animals." And again he said that the Lord did not desire the deeds of sinners. And again it is written: "The iniquity of the house of Eli was not atoned for by sacrifices and offerings forever." And again it is written.

that the Lord was not pleased with rams, nor with the multitudes of the mighty ones of the sacrifices. But instead of these, I showed you at the beginning something that helps, that you should seek the Lord, that you should do good, and seek faith, and be ready to go after your God. And even when sacrifices and offerings were abolished in the days of Isaiah, he said: I showed you what the Father desires. Cease from evil deeds and learn to do good. Pursue good and do good to the oppressed. Judge orphans and judge widows. And when you have done these things, then speak with one another, says the Lord. And if your sins are like scarlet, like snow they will become white. And if they are red like a worm, like wool they will become, and the angels say: Do not go up to the altar of Magus, because the Father is not pleased with you, says the Lord. And Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar: Redeem your sins with alms, and your iniquity with mercy upon the weak, and not with sacrifices and offerings. For he rejected Israel and rejected his offerings, as Jeremiah said: Silver is rejected, call them, because the Lord rejected them. And again he said: Take them out from before my face, and they went out. And if they say: Where shall we go? say to them: To the sword, to the sword; to captivity, to captivity; to exile, to exile. And again it is written that he did not again strike them. And also Isaiah said: Separate yourselves from them, and call them impure. And also Jeremiah said: I have left my house, I have left my inheritance; I have given my beloved self into the hands of my enemies. And again it is written: I gave the daughter of my people a bill of divorce. And again it is written: The Lord led them astray from their festivals and Sabbaths. And also in Ezekiel the prophet he distinguished and showed them because of their impurity, and gave them sacrifices and offerings, that by means of them they might be restrained from their sins.

He said to them: "Above I gave you commandments and judgments, and I made known to you that if you had observed them, you would have lived by them." And again he said: "I gave you commandments that are not good, and judgments that are not sound by them, and I wearied you with their gifts when you offered sacrifices." The scribe of the law, the teacher of the people, was confounded. So the holy mouth testifies that the commandments and judgments that were given to you are not sound and not good. Why then are you so bold-faced and stubborn in disputation? Behold, because of your sins he gave you sacrifices and distinguished for you foods. Concerning which commandments and judgments did Ezekiel say that if they had observed them they would have lived by them? And concerning which did he say: "I gave you commandments that are not good, and judgments that are not sound by them"? The commandments and judgments that were life-giving were those that are written above. And the judgments that are bitter and righteous are those before which he placed the ten holy commandments that he inscribed with his own hands and gave to Moses to teach them. And when they made the calf and strayed after it, then he gave them commandments and judgments that are not good: sacrifices and purifications for leprosy, and for the bear, and for the ape, and for childbirth, and that a man should not approach a corpse, or a grave, or bones, or the slain, and that for every sin he should offer a sacrifice, and for every impurity of a man, and concerning each one of them he said: "He shall be unclean until evening, even if he washes in water." Truly, in these that are written, Israel has no purity, not even one day of cleansing from sins, but all their days are spent in sins and impurity. And from the law they are not able to justify themselves, as the apostle said: "From the law no man is justified, but from those who do what is written in it, he lives by them." And it is known that a man is not able to do them, nor is he able to keep them.

And again our Lord, when he saw that it was heavy, called out and said to them: "Come to me, take up my burdens and carry my loads, and I will lighten you. And take my yoke upon yourselves, because my yoke is light and pleasant." He confessed that those who took from him a harsh yoke and a heavy yoke, and gave them his own light and pleasant yoke. These few reminders I have written to you, my beloved, concerning the proud, the arrogant, and the boastful people of the Jews who defile and distinguish foods. For in these three arrogant things—circumcision, the Sabbath, and the distinction of foods, along with others—concerning these three I have written a little, as much as I have understood, and I have sent to you. Concerning the others, as God gives me at the proper time, I will write and send to you. Completed: On the Distinction of Foods.