Topical Bible: Idolatry: Other Customs of Meat offerings

◄ Idolatry: Other Customs of Meat offerings ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the context of biblical teachings, idolatry is the worship of idols or the elevation of anything above the one true God. The practice of idolatry often involved various rituals and customs, including meat offerings, which were prevalent in ancient cultures surrounding Israel. These customs were strictly prohibited for the Israelites, as they were called to worship Yahweh alone.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides numerous instances where God explicitly forbids the Israelites from participating in idolatrous practices, including meat offerings to idols. In Leviticus 17:7 , God commands, "They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat demons with which they have prostituted themselves. This will be a permanent statute for them for the generations to come." This verse highlights the prohibition against offering sacrifices to any entity other than God.

The Israelites were surrounded by nations that engaged in idolatrous practices, including the Canaanites, Egyptians, and Babylonians. These cultures often included meat offerings as part of their worship rituals to appease their gods. In Deuteronomy 32:17 , it is stated, "They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear." This passage underscores the spiritual danger and the deviation from true worship that idolatry represented.

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, the issue of meat offered to idols becomes a significant topic, particularly in the context of the early Christian church. The Apostle Paul addresses this issue in 1 Corinthians 8 and 10. In 1 Corinthians 8:4 , Paul writes, "So about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world, and that there is no God but one." Here, Paul acknowledges the existence of meat offerings to idols but emphasizes the supremacy and singularity of God.

Paul further advises believers to exercise caution and sensitivity regarding meat offered to idols, especially in the presence of those with weaker consciences. In 1 Corinthians 10:20-21 , he warns, "No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons." This passage highlights the spiritual implications of participating in idolatrous practices and the need for Christians to remain distinct in their worship.

Cultural and Historical Practices

Historically, meat offerings in idolatrous practices were often part of elaborate rituals intended to secure favor or avert the wrath of the gods. These offerings could include the sacrifice of animals, which were then consumed in communal meals or left as offerings at altars dedicated to various deities. Such practices were deeply ingrained in the social and religious fabric of ancient societies.

The Israelites were repeatedly warned against adopting these customs, as seen in passages like Exodus 34:15 : "Be careful not to make a treaty with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices." This warning reflects the potential for syncretism and the dilution of pure worship that could result from engaging in idolatrous customs.

Theological Implications

The prohibition against idolatry and associated customs, such as meat offerings, is rooted in the theological understanding of God's holiness and the exclusive covenant relationship between God and His people. Idolatry is seen as a direct violation of the first and second commandments, which call for exclusive worship of Yahweh and the rejection of graven images (Exodus 20:3-4).

The biblical narrative consistently portrays idolatry as a spiritual adultery, a turning away from the true God to false gods. This theme is echoed throughout the prophetic writings, where idolatry is condemned as a betrayal of the covenant and a cause of divine judgment.

In summary, the customs of meat offerings in idolatrous practices are consistently rejected in the biblical text as incompatible with the worship of the one true God. The biblical injunctions against such practices serve as a call to purity and faithfulness in the worship of Yahweh, setting the people of God apart from the surrounding nations.

Nave's Topical Index

Isaiah 57:6
Among the smooth stones of the stream is your portion; they, they are your lot: even to them have you poured a drink offering, you have offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these?
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 7:18
The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 44:17
But we will certainly do whatever thing goes forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.
Nave's Topical Index

Ezekiel 16:19
My meat also which I gave you, fine flour, and oil, and honey, with which I fed you, you have even set it before them for a sweet smell: and thus it was, said the Lord GOD.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Acts XVII
... by Paul, and the laws and customs of the ... philosophy, and the debasement of refined
idolatry had overpowered ... to establish his superiority to all other gods in ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xvii.htm

The Preacher as a Patriot.
... Idolatry in Israel was never due to theoretic changes ... it is embodied also in evil
customs and unjust ... of secular discussion; although, on the other hand, there ...
/.../stalker/the preacher and his models/lecture iii the preacher as.htm

Jews and Gentiles in "The Land"
... showing how deeply Gentile life and customs around had ... Greek language, so Grecian
rites and idolatry prevailed ... of the letter, and, on the other, guarded against ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 2 jews and gentiles.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... of heathen monarchs for their pride, idolatry, and profanation ... His Hebrew, on the
other hand, agrees in ... historical relations, manners, and customs belonging to ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

Questions About the Nature and Perpetuity of the Seventh-Day ...
... of fratricide, drunkenness, lying, unbelief, theft, idolatry, slave-dealing ... only
we will add, that the customs that were ... of the week, but upon no other that we ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/questions about the nature and.htm

The Conversion of the Jailor of Philippi.
... with troubling the city, and teaching customs, which were ... of profaneness, and the
invocations of idolatry, were heard ... shall escape, we have no other answer to ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xviii the conversion of.htm

Traditionalism, Its Origin, Character, and Literature - the ...
... of a tractate (in 400 sections) on idolatry by Abraham ... moral directions and the rules
and customs of social ... with the Sabbath observance and the other festivals. ...
/.../chapter viii traditionalism its origin.htm

Twenty-Seven Articles Respecting the Reformation of the Christian ...
... and of faith, soon began to set up idolatry and their ... should not be held in bondage,
through customs and laws ... is not good now; just as many other things were ...
/.../iii twenty-seven articles respecting the.htm

Cyrus, the Servant Of-The Lord {4}
... dwellers in the plains, and the effeminate customs of the ... So with that other
story"How young Cyrus, giving ... book gave them their hatred of idolatry; and made ...
/.../kingsley/historical lectures and essays/cyrus the servant of-the lord.htm

The Servant of the Lord.
... dwellers in the plains, and the effeminate customs of the ... So with that other
story"How young Cyrus giving ... book gave them their hatred of idolatry; and made ...
/.../kingsley/lectures delivered in america in 1874/lecture iv the servant of.htm