LIST OF ANIMALS THAT MAY & MAY NOT BE EATEN (Clean & Unclean Animals/Creatures for the Israelites in the Old Testament)

Christians today still are confused and debate about the clean and unclean animals mentioned in the Old Testament whether it is possible for Christians (not necessarily Israelites) to eat the unclean animals and creatures. The straight and direct answer is this:

Evil acts of a person make him unclean

Mat 15:16  Jesus said, "Don't you understand yet?
Mat 15:17  Don't you know that whatever goes into the mouth goes into the stomach and then into a toilet?
Mat 15:18  But whatever goes out of the mouth comes from within, and that's what makes a person unclean.
Mat 15:19  Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, other sexual sins, stealing, lying, and cursing come from within.
Mat 15:20  These are the things that make a person unclean. But eating without washing one's hands doesn't make a person unclean."

and the declaration of Jesus that all foods are acceptable

Mar 7:18  Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand? Don't you know that whatever goes into a person from the outside can't make him unclean?
Mar 7:19  It doesn't go into his thoughts but into his stomach and then into a toilet." (By saying this, Jesus declared all foods acceptable.)
Mar 7:20  He continued, "It's what comes out of a person that makes him unclean.
Mar 7:21  Evil thoughts, sexual sins, stealing, murder,
Mar 7:22  adultery, greed, wickedness, cheating, shameless lust, envy, cursing, arrogance, and foolishness come from within a person.
Mar 7:23  All these evils come from within and make a person unclean."


The Israelites in the Old Testament were commanded not to eat certain animals, birds, insects and other creatures. In the New Testament however, a voice spoke to St. Peter saying,
"Don't say that the things which God has made clean are impure."

Act 10:9  Around noon the next day, while Cornelius' men were on their way and coming close to Joppa, Peter went on the roof to pray.
Act 10:10  He became hungry and wanted to eat. While the food was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
Act 10:11  He saw the sky open and something like a large linen sheet being lowered by its four corners to the ground.
Act 10:12  In the sheet were all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and birds.
Act 10:13  A voice told him, "Get up, Peter! Kill these animals, and eat them."
Act 10:14  Peter answered, "I can't do that, Lord! I've never eaten anything that is impure or unclean."
Act 10:15  A voice spoke to him a second time, "Don't say that the things which God has made clean are impure."

This has deeper meaning:
Whoever respects God and does what is right is acceptable to Him in any nation

Act 10:34  Then Peter said, "Now I understand that God doesn't play favorites.
Act 10:35  Rather, whoever respects God and does what is right is acceptable to him in any nation.
Act 10:36  God sent his word to the people of Israel and brought them the Good News of peace through Jesus Christ. This Jesus Christ is everyone's Lord.


LIST OF ANIMALS THAT MAY AND MAY NOT BE EATEN (for the Israelites in the Old Testament):  (Lev 11, Deut 14)


EAT:

Lev 11:2  "Tell the Israelites: Here are the kinds of land animals you may eat:
Lev 11:3  all animals that have completely divided hoofs and that also chew their cud.
Lev 11:9  "Here are the kinds of creatures that live in the water which you may eat-anything in the seas and streams that has fins and scales.
Lev 11:21  However, you may eat winged insects that swarm if they use their legs to hop on the ground.
Lev 11:22  You may eat any kind of locust, cricket, katydid, or grasshopper.


NEVER EAT:

camels
rock badgers
rabbits
pigs
eagles
bearded vultures
black vultures
kites
buzzards
crows
ostriches
nighthawks
seagulls
falcons
little owls
great owls
barn owls
cormorants
pelicans
ospreys
storks
herons
hoopoes
bats
moles
mice
lizards
geckos
monitors
skinks
chameleons
every swarming, winged insect that walks across the ground like a four-legged animal
all swarming creatures living in the seas or the streams that have no fins or scales
all animals whose hoofs are not completely divided or that don't chew their cud
all four-legged animals that walk on their paws
any creature that swarms on the ground is disgusting and must not be eaten.
any creature with many legs that goes on its belly or on the ground like a four-legged animal


REASON:

Lev 11:44  "Here is the reason: I am the LORD your God. You must live holy lives. Be holy because I am holy. Never become unclean by touching anything that swarms or crawls on the ground.
Lev 11:45  Here is the reason again: I am the LORD. I brought you out of Egypt to be your God. Be holy because I am holy.
Lev 11:46  "These are the instructions about animals, birds, and every living creature that swims in the water and every creature that swarms on the ground.
Lev 11:47  These instructions help you distinguish between clean and unclean, the animals you may eat and those you may not eat."