What Does the Bible Say About Eating Meat Lent?

Matthew 6:16-18 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 4:1-2 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Esther 4:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.”

Acts 14:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

1 Timothy 4:1-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. ...

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Luke 2:37 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

Mark 9:29 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

Daniel 9:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Ezra 8:21-23 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.

Genesis 1:29 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

1 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Colossians 2:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.

Romans 14:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

John 17:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

John 13:1-17 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ...

Matthew 4:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Joel 2:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly;

Isaiah 64:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Nehemiah 1:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.

Exodus 34:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes

So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

1 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Colossians 2:20-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

Colossians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Galatians 1:6-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Romans 14:1-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. ...

Acts 27:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,

Acts 15:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

Acts 13:2-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Luke 5:35 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”

Luke 2:1-52 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. ...

Mark 7:7-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!

Matthew 18:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Matthew 17:20-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men,

Matthew 16:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:18-19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 15:1-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

Matthew 9:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Matthew 9:14-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Matthew 6:1-34 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ...

Ezekiel 8:14-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? You will see still greater abominations than these.”

Isaiah 58:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Psalm 69:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.

Psalm 35:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest.

Esther 4:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

2 Samuel 12:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground.

Deuteronomy 9:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin that you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger.

Deuteronomy 9:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When I went up the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the Lord made with you, I remained on the mountain forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water.

Leviticus 23:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the Lord.

Leviticus 11:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.

54 Bible Verses about Eating Meat Lent

Matthew 6:16-18 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 4:1-2 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Esther 4:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 14:23 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 4:1-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 2:37 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 9:29 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Daniel 9:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ezra 8:21-23 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:29 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 4:1-5 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 2:16 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 14:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 17:17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 13:1-17 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 4:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Joel 2:15 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 64:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Nehemiah 1:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Exodus 34:28 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 4:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 2:20-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Colossians 2:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 1:6-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 5:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 14:1-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 27:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 15:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 13:2-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 5:35 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 2:1-52 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 7:7-9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 18:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 17:20-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:18-19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 15:1-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 9:14-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:1-34 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ezekiel 8:14-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 58:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 69:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 35:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Esther 4:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Samuel 12:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 9:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 9:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 23:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 11:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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