Reference: Abstinence
Fausets
Enjoined by God, from blood (Ge 9:4); and by the Jerusalem council, from blood and idol meats (Ac 15:29), not to offend Jewish brethren in things indifferent (1Co 9:20-22). The blood was considered as the seat of the life, and as typifying the one Blood that cleanseth from all sin therefore it was treated as a sacred thing. "The children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day, because the angel touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank" (Ge 32:32); modern Jews, therefore, abstain from the whole hind quarter.
The law defined whole classes of animals, by the not eating of which the Israelites were distinguished from other nations (Leviticus 11); to mark the separation of the church from the world. Also certain parts of lawful animals, to teach typically that even in lawful things moderation and self control are needed (1Co 6:12-13; Le 3:9-11). So the priests, from wine, during their ministration (See AARON) (Le 10:1-9); also the Nazarites during their separation (Nu 6:3-4); also the Rechabites, constantly, by voluntary vow (Jeremiah 35). All idol meats were forbidden, namely, such as after the first portion had been consecrated to the idol were then eaten as food among the Gentiles (Ex 34:15; Ps 106:28; 1Co 8:4-10; Ro 14:3).
Paul lays down the principle that Christians should act each according to his conscience in the matter, but not, even in the exercise of Christian liberty, so as to cast a stumbling-block before weaker brethren. This was the principle of the decree, Ac 15:29. In 1Ti 4:3-4, he foretells the rise of Gnostic heretics, the forerunners of the ascetics of the apostate Greek and Latin churches who should forbid marriage, and command to abstain from meats which God created to be received with thanksgiving. Holy Scripture does not enjoin, nor yet forbid, vows of abstinence from intoxicants. The sacrifice of one's lawful right for our neighbor's good accords with the law of love: "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak." (Ro 14:21; Jeremiah 35.) (See RECHABITES.)
See Verses Found in Dictionary
But flesh with the life of it, [which is] the blood of it, ye shall not eat.
But flesh with the life of it, [which is] the blood of it, ye shall not eat.
Therefore the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is upon the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip.
Therefore the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is upon the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip.
Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and [a man] calls thee and thou eat of his sacrifice,
Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot after their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and [a man] calls thee and thou eat of his sacrifice,
And he shall offer of the sacrifice of peace-offerings an offering made by fire to LORD. The fat of it, the entire fat tail, he shall take away close by the backbone. And he shall take away the fat that covers the innards, and all
And he shall offer of the sacrifice of peace-offerings an offering made by fire to LORD. The fat of it, the entire fat tail, he shall take away close by the backbone. And he shall take away the fat that covers the innards, and all and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the loins, and the caul upon the liver, with the kidneys.
and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the loins, and the caul upon the liver, with the kidneys. And the priest shall burn it upon the altar. It is the food of the offering made by fire to LORD.
And the priest shall burn it upon the altar. It is the food of the offering made by fire to LORD.
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each of them took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before LORD, which he had not commanded them.
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each of them took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before LORD, which he had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before LORD, and devoured them, and they died before LORD.
And there came forth fire from before LORD, and devoured them, and they died before LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, This is it that LORD spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in those who come near me. And I will be glorified before all the people. And Aaron remained silent.
Then Moses said to Aaron, This is it that LORD spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in those who come near me. And I will be glorified before all the people. And Aaron remained silent. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, Draw near. Carry your brothers from before the sanctuary out of the camp.
And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, Draw near. Carry your brothers from before the sanctuary out of the camp. So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said.
So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said. And Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, Let not the hair of your heads go loose, neither tear your clothes, that ye not die, and that he not be angry with all the congregation, but let your brothers, the w
And Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, Let not the hair of your heads go loose, neither tear your clothes, that ye not die, and that he not be angry with all the congregation, but let your brothers, the w And ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, lest ye die, for the anointing oil of LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.
And ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, lest ye die, for the anointing oil of LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses. And LORD spoke to Aaron, saying,
And LORD spoke to Aaron, saying, Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye not die--it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations--
Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye not die--it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations--
he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried.
he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is made of the grape-vine, from the kernels even to the husk.
All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is made of the grape-vine, from the kernels even to the husk.
They also joined themselves to Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
They also joined themselves to Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, keeping yourselves from which, ye will do well. Be strong.
to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, keeping yourselves from which, ye will do well. Be strong.
to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, keeping yourselves from which, ye will do well. Be strong.
to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, keeping yourselves from which, ye will do well. Be strong.
The man who eats should not disdain the man who does not eat, and the man who does not eat should not criticize the man who eats, for God has received him.
The man who eats should not disdain the man who does not eat, and the man who does not eat should not criticize the man who eats, for God has received him.
It is good not to eat meats, nor to drink wine, nor in whatever thy brother stumbles against, or is caused to stumble, or becomes weak.
It is good not to eat meats, nor to drink wine, nor in whatever thy brother stumbles against, or is caused to stumble, or becomes weak.
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under control by anything.
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under control by anything. The foods are for the belly and the belly for foods, but God will abolish both this and these things. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
The foods are for the belly and the belly for foods, but God will abolish both this and these things. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
And to the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews, to those under law, as under law, so that I might gain those under law,
And to the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might gain Jews, to those under law, as under law, so that I might gain those under law, to those without law, as without law (not being without law to God, but within law to Christ), so that I might gain men without law.
to those without law, as without law (not being without law to God, but within law to Christ), so that I might gain men without law. To the weak I became as weak, so that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that by all means I might save some.
To the weak I became as weak, so that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, so that by all means I might save some.
forbidding to marry, to abstain from foods, which God created for partaking with thankfulness by those who believe and know the truth.
forbidding to marry, to abstain from foods, which God created for partaking with thankfulness by those who believe and know the truth. Because every creation of God is good, and nothing rejected that is received with thankfulness,
Because every creation of God is good, and nothing rejected that is received with thankfulness,
Watsons
ABSTINENCE, forbearance of any thing. It is generally used with reference to forbearance from food under a religious motive. The Jewish law ordained that the priests should abstain from the use of wine during the whole time of their being employed in the service of the temple, Le 10:9. The same abstinence was enjoined upon the Nazarites, during the time of their Nazariteship, or separation, Nu 6:3. The Jews were commanded to abstain from several sorts of animals. See ANIMAL.
The fat of all sorts of animals that were sacrificed was forbidden to be eaten, Le 3:17; 7:23; and the blood of every animal, in general, was prohibited under pain of death. Indeed blood was forbidden by the Creator, from the time of the grant of the flesh of beasts to man for food; this prohibition was continued under the Jewish economy, and transmitted to the Christian church by Apostolic authority, Ac 15:28-29. (See Blood.) The Jews also abstained from the sinew which is upon the hollow of the thigh, Ge 32:25; because of the shrinking of the sinew of Jacob's thigh when touched by the angel, as though by that the part had been made sacred.
Among the primitive Christians, some denied themselves the use of such meats as were prohibited by the law; others treated this abstinence with contempt. St. Paul has given his decision on these questions in his epistles, 1Co 8:7-10; Ro 14:1-3. The council of Jerusalem, which was held by the Apostles, enjoined the Christian converts to abstain from meats strangled, from blood, from fornication, and from idolatry, Ac 15:20.
The spiritual monarchy of the western world introduced another sort of abstinence which may be termed ritual, and which consists in abstaining from particular meats at certain times and seasons, the rules of which are called rogations. The ancient Lent was observed only a few days before Easter. In the course of the third century, it extended at Rome to three weeks; and before the middle of the succeeding age, it was prolonged to six weeks, and began to be called quadragesima, or the forty days' fast.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And when he saw that he did not prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained as he wrestled with him.
It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that ye shall eat neither fat nor blood.
Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no fat, of ox, or sheep, or goat.
Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye not die--it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations--
he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any juice of grapes, nor eat fresh grapes or dried.
but to write to them, to abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood.
For it was decided by the Holy Spirit, and by us, to lay upon you not one greater burden than these necessary things: to abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication, keeping yourselves from which, ye will do well. Be strong.
But the man who is weak in the faith, do not receive for arguments of opinions. One man has faith to eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables. read more. The man who eats should not disdain the man who does not eat, and the man who does not eat should not criticize the man who eats, for God has received him.
Nevertheless the knowledge is not in all men, but some, with conscience of the idol until now, eat as sacrificed to idols, and their weak conscience is defiled. But food does not present us to God, for neither if we eat are we ahead, nor if we do not eat are we behind. read more. But take heed lest somehow this privilege of yours becomes a stumbling-block to those who are weak. For if some man sees thee, who have knowledge, dining in an idol-temple, will not his conscience, being weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?