God Squad: The Bible's laws protect animals — to a certain extent (2024)

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God Squad: The Bible's laws protect animals — to a certain extent? ›

Even the psychological suffering of animals must be avoided. When taking the eggs from a bird's nest, the mother bird must be chased away so that she does not have to see her eggs taken. (Deuteronomy 22:6) However, those eggs are taken for food.

Psalm 104:31 affirms that God rejoices in all his works, in everything he has created. Proverbs 12:10 which says that a "righteous man cares about his animal's health". Matthew 10:29 in which Jesus identifies sparrows as animals which are not valued by humans, but which God still knows and remembers.

In Exodus, the Ten Commandments reminds us that we are supposed to treat animals with respect and care, particularly those who work our lands. When it comes to the laws on the Sabbath, not only are humans commanded to rest and not engage in any form of work, but animals, too, are exempt from work as well.

Looking again to the unassuming details, an example of Jesus showing practical care for animals is when he encouraged people to trust him by telling them “my yoke is easy” (Matthew 11:28-30). In the modern world, that phrase is something we can easily pass over; however, it is actually very important.

Several Bible verses depict animals in heaven:

The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

In the aftermath of the flood, God establishes an “everlasting covenant” with both human beings and animals (Gen 9:8–17), promising never to destroy the living again.

Taken by itself, Matt. 7:6 is a weird thing to say: “Don't give holy things to dogs, don't throw your pearls to pigs, lest they trample them under their feet and, turning, tear you to pieces” (author's translation).

And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them. And they were comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.

In Exodus 20:13, God gives the command, “Thou shalt not kill.” It is critical that we understand the laws of sound biblical interpretation before we pluck a verse out of the Scriptures and begin wielding it like a sickle.

Just as John 3:16 is inspired by God, so is Proverbs 12:10: “A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal.”

What kind of pet did Jesus have? ›

This past weekend, a team of researchers in Jerusalem announced the unearthing of archeological evidence which complicated Pope Francis' recent statement that having pets instead of children is “selfish”. The discovery, the remains of Jesus' rumored pet, a rose-ringed parakeet, throw the Pope's comments into question.

Pope Francis comforted a boy whose dog had just died, saying, “One day, we will see our animals again in eternity. Paradise is open to all of God's creatures.” Pope John Paul II later expressed, “Animals possess a soul and we must love and feel solidarity with our smaller brethren.”

Proverbs 12:10 in Other Translations

10 The godly care for their animals, but the wicked are always cruel. 10 Good people are good to their animals; the "good-hearted" bad people kick and abuse them. 10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Billy Graham

“God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there.”

Jesus, and Jesus alone, stopped by the dead dog. He knelt down, and lovingly gazed at the dog. After a long pause, he finally said: "Praise be to God, what beautiful teeth this creature has."

Although my dog may stare at me like I'm a deity, there's no evidence to suggest that non-human animals have religion. They don't worship, pray or believe in gods of any kind, but they do perform ritualistic behaviours, prompting some to speculate that animals could have a spiritual side.

In Exodus 20:13, God gives the command, “Thou shalt not kill.” It is critical that we understand the laws of sound biblical interpretation before we pluck a verse out of the Scriptures and begin wielding it like a sickle.

Most Christian denominations believe that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ permanently abolished animal sacrifice, primarily based on the teaching in the Epistle to the Hebrews that Jesus was the "Lamb of God" to whom all ancient sacrifices pointed.

All of God's animals (including humans) are precious to Him. All are worthy of consideration, respect, and prayer. Ecclesiastes 3:22 goes on: “So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot.

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”