Word of Wisdom

#Biblical Characters Were Not Subject to a “Word of Wisdom.”

Some have utilized the following scripture to demonstrate that the Bible does not support the proscriptions mention in the Word of Wisdom, namely that we should avoid tea, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco. “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie has commented upon this verse: “Wine is defined as ‘The fermented, or, loosely, the unfermented, juice of any fruit or plant used as a beverage; as, currant wine’ (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary). Having knowledge of Timothy’s physical infirmities, Paul is probably here counseling him that fruit juices will be more healthful than water. It is not reasonable to suppose that Timothy was being told to drink an alcoholic beverage, unless such was under limited medicinal circumstances.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965- 1973], 3: 93.)

Another passage that has caused concern is: “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man” (Matthew 15:11).

One must simply read the entire 15th chapter of Matthew to understand that Jesus is criticizing here the leaders of the Jews because their perverted prioritiesfor confusing tokens with covenants, ritual, especially ritual dietary restrictions, with religion. Further, he condemned their adherence to the “traditions of the elders” as “teaching the doctrines and the commandments of men.” In the eyes of the Lord, to present oneself as a master and expert of the law and then to miss the undergirding intent and type of the law was the height of hypocrisy. “Ye blind guides,” Jesus said in a scathing denunciation, “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24). In addition, the Lord chastened the leaders of the Jews for being so caught up in the observance of the traditions of the elders (see Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:1-9) that they had ceased to observe the very law around which those vain traditions had been established.