Jesus Cautions Against Meat-Eating in the Bible

There is biblical evidence that Jesus cautions against meat-eating. In an Old Syriac biblical manuscript titled the Evangelion da-Mepharreshe (also known as the Curetonian Gospels), Jesus states in Luke 21:34–36, “Now beware in yourselves that your hearts do not become heavy with the eating of flesh and with the intoxication of wine and with the anxiety of the world, and that day come up upon you suddenly; for as a snare it will come upon all them that sit on the surface of the earth. Be ye wakeful therefore at all times, and be seeking that ye may be worthy to flee from these things that are about to be, and that ye may stand before the Son of Man.” This Old Syriac translated quote differs from Luke 21:34–36 in modern English translations (like the ESV), which are virtually all based on Greek. However, the dating of the Evangelion da-Mepharreshe is approximately 200 A.D., (2) which makes this biblical text very early and older than any existing Greek manuscript.

Furthermore, Syriac is an Aramaic language dialect. Aramaic is widely considered the language that Christ primarily spoke while he resided on earth. Thus, the Evangelion da-Mepharreshe’s version of Luke 21:34–36 is likely the authentic words of Jesus. Within this version of Luke 21:34–36, Jesus indicates that eating meat can lead to a heavy heart, which is a condition associated with negative emotions like sadness (Prov 25:20; Isa 65:14), grief (Prov 14:13; Isa 24:16), sorrow (Rom 9:2), hopelessness (Ecc 1:12–18), distress (Ps 25:17) and misery. Also, this condition can be linked to poverty and should be treated with wine (Prov 31:6–7). Therefore, in Luke 21:34–36 of the Curetonian Gospels, Jesus warns not to be distracted by a heavy heart, which can be brought about by anxiety (Prov 12:25) or activities like meat consumption and alcohol intoxication (23:20–21) and instead to be ready for the Second Coming, specifically Judgment Day (2 Cor 5:10). Notably, ‘consecrated flesh’ ingestion is figurative now and forever, but Christ’s warning still applies to secular meat consumption. In conclusion, in Luke 21:34–36 of the Evangelion da-Mepharreshe (Curetonian Gospels), Jesus cautions against secular meat-eating.