What's For Dinner - Part 4 of 7

MEAT FROM THE MARKET PLACE

“Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience' sake; 26 FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS.” (1 Cor 10:25-26)

 

In biblical times, meat was available to the general public, but it was expensive and the diet of most people consisted of vegetables and fish. The Talmud records that only the very wealthy ate meat on a regular basis.

 

“He who possesses a mana (100 shekels) should buy a measure of vegetables for his pot; if he possesses ten mana he should buy a quantity of fish for his pot; if he possesses fifty mana he may buy a quantity of meat for his pot; and if he posses a hundred mana he may have meat cooked for him every day. As for those who possess less than a hundred mana, when may they have their dish of vegetables or fish? Every Sabbath.”

 

From a practical standpoint, the local butcher shop and the pagan temple may have been closely related. Since refrigeration was not available in the Roman world, most individuals probably took their animal to a place where the balance of unused meat could be sold to the general public.

 

In the first century world, the local pagan temple provided the opportunity to offer the animal, receive a portion of the animal for food, and then sell the balance of the animal to the public or give to the temple. Paul gives us the impression that eating establishments were either contained in the pagan temples or in buildings adjacent to the temples.

 

“For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?” (1 Cor 8:10)

It is unclear what conditions make it acceptable to dine in an idol’s temple. Although Paul seems to permit this act in chapter eight, he speaks strongly against this action in chapter ten, “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons,” (1 Cor 10:20-21).

 

Offering animals for sacrifice prior to eating must have been the normal practice in the ancient world. Against this backdrop, the LORD specifically told Israel that they could eat meat that had not been offered at the temple in Jerusalem,

 

“When the LORD your God extends your border as He has promised you, and you say, 'I will eat meat,' because you desire to eat meat, then you may eat meat, whatever you desire. 21 If the place which the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, then you may slaughter of your herd and flock which the LORD has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates whatever you desire. 22 Just as a gazelle or a deer is eaten, so you will eat it; the unclean and the clean alike may eat of it.” (Deut 12:20-22).

The people living in Israel far away from the temple were permitted to slaughter an animal from their own herd or flock for food. Further, the LORD said that a person could eat of the meal whether the person was clean or unclean. Therefore, Jesus could eat with “sinners,” Peter could eat with Cornelius, and believers do not need to separate during eating when some are not clean.

 

Maybe daily, but certainly on bountiful days, meat from pagan temples ended up in the general market place. To address this concern, Paul writes,

 

“Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience' sake; 26 FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD'S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS.” (1 Cor 10:25-26)

 

I have seen a tendency among some in the Messianic community to not partake of meals when members of the body come together. This caution originates from the uncertainty that the meat was prepared in accordance with rabbinical principles, “Is it kosher?” Paul does not appear to establish a higher standard based on how the meat was handled or prepared. For the Gentile believer, it is acceptable to, “Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions.” If that was the standard of Paul in the days of the pagan marketplace, how much more acceptable should it be to eat meals prepared by any believer who uses meat purchased from the store.

 

The broad permissive words of Paul should exclude the concerns about how acceptable “clean” meats were processed and prepared. Paul then goes further, it is acceptable to eat meat prepared for you by an unbeliever, who has no knowledge about the dietary laws, provided that thanksgiving is offered and the meat has not been sacrificed to an idol.

 

“If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience' sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, "This is meat sacrificed to idols," do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience' sake; 29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man's; for why is my freedom judged by another's conscience? 30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?” (1 Cor 10:27-30)

The words of Paul have a previous precedent in scripture. The disciples of Jesus had the same concern when they were sent in pairs to every city and place where Jesus had gone. For this reason, Jesus instructed them saying, “Whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you,” (Luke 10:8). Even Jesus did not want the disciples to lose the opportunity to fellowship because of their concern about the preparation of their food. In the words of Paul,

 

“Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food,” (Rom 14:20).

(to be continued - Scott)