Did Jesus teach that all foods are clean to eat?
Let’s look at the Bible verses this question is based on:
“So He said to them, ‘Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?’” Mark 7:18–19
When we read the context of this passage, we learn that the subject of this conversation is not what we eat, but how we eat. Yes, certain translations make it seem as if Jesus is declaring all foods purified; however, that is not the case at all.
The phrase, “thereby He declared all foods clean” is added by the translators in the New American Standard Bible 2000 (NASB 2000). This phrase is not supported by the original Greek. God has warned us against adding to or taking away from His Word:
“Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5–6
Unfortunately the Revised Standard Version (RSV), New International Version (NIV), English Standard Version (ESV), American Standard Version (ASV), and other translations pretty much add similar words into the text, again with no Greek support. The King James Version (KJV) and New King James Version (NKJV) do not do this (a good reason to have at least one of these translations on hand for comparison purposes).
The original Greek word for “purifying” is katharizo, which means to “cleanse,” “purge,” or “burn.” In this passage, the Pharisees condemned Jesus and His disciples for not washing their hands and cups before eating, in compliance to their traditional ceremonial laws. They believed that an unclean Gentile could have possibly touched them or their food at some point, which brought on the need for the ceremonial washing before eating. If they didn’t wash, according to their tradition, they would defile themselves while consuming any food. And yes, that meant that even the biblically declared clean foods would have defiled them if they ate them without washing according to the Pharisees’ laws.
However, Jesus set the record straight by telling the Pharisees that ceremonial washing did not do anything, spiritually. He also indicated that even if the food enters the body without washing one’s hands or cup, the stomach would purge or cleanse the food; therefore, not defiling the body.
So “purifying all foods” is within the context of the stomach cleansing or purging any unwanted germs or contaminants. Nowhere in this passage is Jesus addressing what foods should or should not be eaten. The subject matter is how the Pharisees believed food should be eaten, according to their traditions and man-made laws.