From our study of Jesus’ teachings, it is quite evident that he taught the law of recompense for sins. And if he also taught reincarnation as so many of the more mystically minded, early Christians believed, he would certainly have been vegetarian and have taught vegetarianism to his disciples. What is also clear is that he was of such a kind, loving, forgiving, merciful and compassionate disposition that it is difficult to imagine him even hurting another creature, let alone placing it upon his plate and eating it.

Jesus’ philosophy of non-violence was as far advanced as that of any other teacher of this subject, probably all of whom have also been vegetarian. How can one who advises turning the other cheek, giving your cloak to one who has already taken your coat and walking two miles with one who has already coerced you into going one mile with them, be thought to have happily eaten up the bodies of slaughtered animals? How can one who is so far removed from thoughts of violence and revenge that he recommends extending unlimited forgiveness to others, advises loving with your enemies and doing good to those who treat you badly, have been expected to have condoned the killing of other creatures for his food?

Jesus also reiterated the commandment attributed to Moses,”Thou shalt not kill”, as we find in the King James Version of Mark and Luke. In many modern translations, however, the key word has been changed to “murder” in both the Old and New Testaments, though the meaning in Deuteronomy is ambiguous and could mean either or both. ‘Murder’ implies only human beings,’killing’ refers to all life, and the translators must have been aware of the implications of their change.

But there is another passage among the books attributed to Moses, this time in Genesis, where the meaning is stated clearly:

And God said,
“Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed,
which is upon the face of all the earth,
and every tree,
in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed;
To you it shall be for meat.’

Genesis 1:29, KJV

There is no doubt about the vegetarianism inherent in this piece of advice. So although the provenance of these biblical writings is largely a mystery and their meaning often obscure and allegorical, this passage at least is clear enough and applicable to all human beings in all ages and cultures. This is one of the reason why Jesus said:

Did not Moses give you the law,
and yet none of you keepeth the law?

John 7:20

Jesus, who spoke so definitely about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Jewish priests, is hardly likely to have behaved hypocritically himself. How, then, can he be expected to have killed for his food? Can one imagine Jesus with a gun, a knife or a sword, or going out as a hunter or butcher? The picture is quite inconsistent with everything else he taught.

So although there is no explicit quotation from Jesus recorded in the gospels on the subject, the evidence of the remainder of his teachings alone is more than suggestive. It would have been most inconsistent of him if he had not abstained from killing animals and eating meat.

Quote from John Davidson’s book : Gospel of Jesus: In Search of His Original Teachings (Origins of Christianity)

By : Best Vegetarian Info Guide at www.22Vegetarian.com

December 23rd, 2008 | Tags: Jesus, John Davidson, vegetarian | Category: Best Bible Info Guide, Best Compassionate Info Guide, Best Fruit Info Guide, Best Herb Info Guide, Best Jesus Info Guide, Best John Info Guide, Best Kind Info Guide, Best Loving Info Guide, Best Merciful Info Guide, Best Moses Info Guide, Best New Testament Guide, Best Non-Violence Guide, Best Old Testament Guide, You Shalt Not Kill | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL