Question for Bible Scholars

Was Jesus a Vegetarian?


I have had this discussion with a few people (looking at you know who....lol), and I still haven't gotten a solid answer.  Well, solid in my book.  I have my thoughts/opinion on this, but I would be very interested in hearing (reading) yours.



Please give your insight/thoughts on this and provide scripture, please.

Thanks!


I have to go, but I will check back for your answers (if there are any).

I don't have an answer to that, babe.  Just  popping in (heathen meat-eater that I am) to say Hi!!!

I say no...and am too lazy to get the scripture but I would think that when Jesus fed 500 on a loaf of bread and a few fish that he probably ate some too.

How could that be true if (I think it was him) that did the whole 1 loaf of bread and fish thing?

Wasn't it Jesus that did the feeding folks with one fish thing?  

Bible scholar that I am, I know of no scripture that will give you and honest answer of whether Jesus ate meat or not.
There is scripture to suggest that he ate fish.  After Peter and his crew went fishing.  After Jesus' death and resurrection. When Peter was upset and depressed.  He fished all night and could not catch anything.  Jesus was sitting on the shore cooking fish.  Peter left all that he had to meet up with Jesus. Some say that he did not eat the fish because of him being after the resurrection but there is support to show he did eat after the resurrection, but we dont no whether he did or did not eat the fish.  However scriptures do state that he kept the law  which he kept passovers and passover requirement is the eating of lamb, therefore knowing Jesus, I believe this is the support that he did eat some kind of meat.

Not a specfic answer to your questions but some verses I find interesting,

Leviticus 11:2

 ²Spea****o the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

Romans 14:2 (New International Version)

²One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.

 

Romans 14:17 (New International Version)

¹⁷For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

 

"Was Jesus a vegetarian?"

Cookie, I personally can't think of any Passage of Scripture that would "specifically" answer that question.

However...Jesus did "specifically" eat fish (which IMO, is meat) in Luke 24:42-43.

I think it would be rather strange for Him to "not have" eaten fish when He miraculously feed the multitudes with "fish and bread" in Matthew 14:17-21.

I also would consider it rather strange if He Himself didn't eat any of the lamb that is talked about in Luke 22:8-15.

However...I think it's clear that there is nothing wrong with being a vegetarian..."if"...one is doing it for God's glory.  ("I will honor God by abstaining from meat"...like saying, "I will honor God by abstaining from liquor"...like saying, "I will honor God by not wearing make-up"...like saying, "I will honor God by no****ching TV"...etc, etc, etc,).  For "His" glory...and not for trying to earn one's way into Heaven as some kind of "work" that must be performed to merit entry.

The Bible does not command one to be a "vegetarian" nor a "meat-eater".

I think it also interesting a Passage in Acts 10:10-15, in which the Apostle Peter has a vision in which all food, including meat, was declared "clean".  (No doubt this was a shocking revelation for a person like Peter who was steeped in "The Law".)

I believe the best overall principle for this matter is understood in Romans 14:2-3, in which Paul says, basically, "One person's faith allows him to eat everything, but another person, who's faith is weak, eat's only vegetables.  The person who eats everything must not look down on the person who only eats vegetables, nor should the person who eats only vegatables look down on the person who eats everything, for God has acceped them both."

Why do you ask?  What prompts the question?

I agree with, Doug. I also have to add. According to my bible understanding there are laws and principles. There are no verses that state "thou shaa not eat meat." But there are verses that tells how to eat meat; that is to abstain from eating their blood! At work on BB can't give you the scripture right now.

And recall, prior to the Flood, all men were vegetarians.  God didn't instruct man to eat the flesh of animals until the waters receded.  (Gen 9:3)

It appears that Jesus was not a vegetarian.  Though there is no scripture that says it directly.

The Bible says that Jesus knew no sin. II Corinthians 5:21

As a keeper of the whole law, He would have likely eaten lamb.  Exodus 12:3-4, Exodus 12:10, Numbers 9:10-13


There are other portions of scripture that indicate He ate fish.  Matthew 14:15-21 and Luke 9:12-17 and John 6:4-13 and Mark 6:35-44

It is important that we search scripture, and utilize scripture in every part of our lives, not to beat people over the head or appear self righteous but to be strengthened in our daily press toward the mark.  I hope you find the info that you need Sis.