Discover the ancient roots of dietary customs in a journey through Leviticus 11, where we unwrap the complex dietary laws that have shaped cultural and religious practices for millennia. Our latest podcast episode unpacks the criteria for clean and unclean animals, delving into why the Israelites could eat creatures with a split hoof that chewed the cud, but not those like camels or pigs. We swim through the regulations pertaining to aquatic life, soar over the lists of forbidden birds, and even scuttle past the insects considered impure. Additionally, we tackle the handling of carcasses and the profound implications these guidelines had on daily life, emphasizing the pursuit of holiness in food consumption.
Amidst our scriptural feast, we savor the New Testament's insights on diet, where the focus shifts from rigid rules to heartfelt reverence. In a rich tapestry woven from passages in Romans, Corinthians, and Colossians, we reflect on the spiritual dimensions of eating and the significance of not passing judgment on others’ dietary choices. It's an invitation to taste the freedom found in Christ, while still savoring the heritage of Old Testament traditions. As we chew on the idea that every morsel can glorify God, we consider the mystery behind the delineation of clean versus unclean creatures and how the divine design encompasses more than just our plates.
Our exploration culminates in a clarification of Leviticus 11's dietary restrictions, illuminating that the emphasis was on specific traits, not the inherent cleanliness of animals. As we wrap up, we invite listeners to share their insights, fostering a community engaged in understanding the Bible's every verse. Join us on this enlightening journey, and may you be nourished in both body and spirit as we honor the scriptural roots of our faith and food traditions.
Discover the ancient roots of dietary customs in a journey through Leviticus 11, where we unwrap the complex dietary laws that have shaped cultural and religious practices for millennia. Our latest podcast episode unpacks the criteria for clean and unclean animals, delving into why the Israelites could eat creatures with a split hoof that chewed the cud, but not those like camels or pigs. We swim through the regulations pertaining to aquatic life, soar over the lists of forbidden birds, and even scuttle past the insects considered impure. Additionally, we tackle the handling of carcasses and the profound implications these guidelines had on daily life, emphasizing the pursuit of holiness in food consumption.
Amidst our scriptural feast, we savor the New Testament's insights on diet, where the focus shifts from rigid rules to heartfelt reverence. In a rich tapestry woven from passages in Romans, Corinthians, and Colossians, we reflect on the spiritual dimensions of eating and the significance of not passing judgment on others’ dietary choices. It's an invitation to taste the freedom found in Christ, while still savoring the heritage of Old Testament traditions. As we chew on the idea that every morsel can glorify God, we consider the mystery behind the delineation of clean versus unclean creatures and how the divine design encompasses more than just our plates.
Our exploration culminates in a clarification of Leviticus 11's dietary restrictions, illuminating that the emphasis was on specific traits, not the inherent cleanliness of animals. As we wrap up, we invite listeners to share their insights, fostering a community engaged in understanding the Bible's every verse. Join us on this enlightening journey, and may you be nourished in both body and spirit as we honor the scriptural roots of our faith and food traditions.
How is everyone doing? Open your Bible to Leviticus, chapter 11. The title of today's lesson is Laws About Animals For Food. Wherever you may be hearing this podcast, give it a like. I definitely appreciate having you Give it a subscribe. Whatever they have over there and I need to start mentioning that if you are listening to this on my Buzzsprout page, the Reans Corner, they do have transcripts there if you would like to follow and read along. So we're going to get right into it. Leviticus, chapter 11. Let's read.
Speaker 2:Leviticus 11. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron Say to the Israelites Of all the animals that live in the land, these are the ones you may eat. You may eat any animal that has a split hoof, completely divided, and that chews the cud. There are some that only chew the cud, only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them. The camel, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof. It is ceremonially unclean for you. The coni, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof. It is unclean for you. The rabbit, though it chews the cud, does not have a split hoof. It is unclean for you. And the pig, though it has a split hoof, completely divided, does not chew the cud. It is unclean for you. You must not eat their meat or touch their carcasses. They are unclean for you. Of all the creatures living in the water of the seas and the streams, you may eat any that have fins and scales, but all creatures in the seas or streams that do not have fins and scales, whether among all the swarming things or among all the other living creatures in the water, you are to detest. And since you are to detest them, you must not eat their meat and you must detest their carcasses. Anything living in the water that does not have fins and scales is to be detestable to you. These are the birds you are to detest and not eat because they are detestable the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the red kite, any kind of black kite, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, the stork, any kind of haran, the hoopy and the bat All flying insects that walk on all fours are to be detestable to you. There are, however, some winged creatures that walk on all fours that you may eat those that have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. Of those you may eat, any kind of locus, cateedid, cricket or grasshopper, but all other winged creatures that have four legs you are to detest. You will make yourselves unclean by these. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes and he will be unclean till evening. Every animal that has a split hoof, not completely divided, or that does not chew the cud, is unclean for you. Whoever touches the carcass of any of them will be unclean. Of all the animals that walk on all fours, those that walk on their paws are unclean for you. Whoever touches their carcasses will be unclean till evening. Anyone who picks up their carcasses must wash his clothes and he will be unclean till evening. They are unclean for you. Of the animals that move about on the ground, these are unclean for you. The weasel, the rat, any kind of great lizard, the gecko, the monitor lizard, the wall lizard, the skink and the chameleon, all of those that move along the ground, these are unclean for you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean till evening.
Speaker 2:When one of them dies and falls on something, that article, whatever its use, will be unclean, whether it is made of wood, cloth, hide or sackcloth. Put it in water, it will be unclean till evening. Then it will be clean. If one of them falls into a clay pot, everything in it will be unclean and you must break the pot. Any food that could be eaten but has water on it from such a pot is unclean, and any liquid that could be drunk from it is unclean. Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean. An oven or cooking pot must be broken up. They are unclean and you are to regard them as unclean. A spring, however, or a cistern for collecting water remains clean, but anyone who touches one of these carcasses is unclean. If a carcass falls on any seeds that are to be planted, they remain clean, but if water has been put on the seed and a carcass falls on it, it is unclean for you. If an animal that you are allowed to eat dies, anyone who touches the carcass will be unclean till evening. Anyone who eats some of the carcass must wash his clothes and he will be unclean till evening. Anyone who picks up the carcass must wash his clothes and he will be unclean till evening.
Speaker 2:Every creature that moves about the ground is detestable. It is not to be eaten. You are not to eat any creature that moves about on the ground, whether it moves on its belly or walks on all fours or on many feet. It is detestable. Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures. Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them, or be made unclean by them. I am the Lord, your God. Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves about on the ground. I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God. Therefore, be holy, because I am holy. These are the regulations concerning animals, birds, every living thing that moves in the water and every creature that moves about on the ground. You must distinguish between the unclean and the clean, between living creatures that may be eaten and those that may not be eaten.
Speaker 1:Alright now. The last time we were together we looked at more sacrifices that were required to be in the Lord's fellowship. Now we will look at Holiness. This chapter is one of the most discussed in the whole of the Old Testament. There are those who have taken this chapter and created a whole church and a movement with it. People have created podcasts and blogs and blogs about this chapter. But here we go verse by verse and we will look at what says the Lord. Now.
Speaker 1:This is a long chapter and I want to start this chapter out with our introduction. So I broke this introduction down into six parts. Intro, part number one God spoke to Moses and Aaron. We see this in verse one of chapter 11. The Lord spoke again to Moses and Aaron. Why am I bringing that up? Because I wanted to be known who the Lord is talking to in this chapter. Intro number two there was an instruction given to Israel, not to the church. We see that in verse two speak to the sons of Israel. So the Lord is speaking to Aaron and Moses and then he tells them to speak to the sons of Israel. Intro, part number three these dietary laws no longer exist.
Speaker 1:Now we're going to look at some scripture in the New Testament to you know more. Clarify this point. So keep your finger in Leviticus 11, but I want you to turn to Mark 7. Mark 7. And, like I said, we're going to go over a couple of chapters in the New Testament. Okay, mark 7. I'm sorry, excuse me, and we're going to look at verses 14 through 23.
Speaker 1:And after he called the multitude again, he began saying to them listen to me, all of you, and understand. There is nothing outside a man which, going into him, can defile him. But the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear. And when, leaving the multitude, he had entered the house, his disciples questioned him about the parable and he said to them are you so lacking understanding? Also, do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart but into his stomach and is eliminated? Thus he declared all foods clean, and he was saying that which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man. All right, go to your Bible a little bit to the right and go to Acts, chapter 10. When you get to Acts 10, we are looking at verses nine through 16. Acts 10, starting at verse nine.
Speaker 1:And on the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, peter went up on the house top about the six hour to pray and he became hungry and was designed to eat. But while they were making preparations he fell into a trance and he beheld the sky opened up and a certain object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. And a voice came to him arise, peter, kill and eat. But Peter said by no means, lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean. And again a voice came to him a second time what God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. And it happened three times and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.
Speaker 1:Ok, go to Romans. Go writing your Bible a little bit more until you get the Romans and we get the Romans. We need verse, excuse me, we need chapter 14. Romans 14, we're looking at verses two and three. One man has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. Let not him who eats, regard with contempt him who does not eat and let not him who does not eat. Let not him who does not eat and let not him who does not eat and let not him who does not eat, and I need to judge him who eats, for God has accepted him. All right, a couple more in the New Testament. First Corinthians, and I need first Corinthians, chapter eight. We're going to look at first Corinthians, chapter eight, and verse eight, the verse if we do not eat, neither the better. If we do eat. Ok, go to the right a little bit more. Let's get Colossians, and when you get to and when you get the Colossians, we're going to need Colossians, chapter two. Ok, colossians, chapter two, verse 14.
Speaker 1:Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us, and he has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross, drop down to verse 16. Therefore, let no one act as your judge, in regard to food or drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day, or in the New Testament, first Timothy, first Timothy, chapter four, we're looking at verses one through six. First Timothy four, one through six. But the spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons by means of the hypocrisy of liars, searing their own conscience, as with a Brandon iron and then who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in 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 gratitude, for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. Okay, okay, I'm sorry about that. I said one through six, but it was a one through five.
Speaker 1:We want to read. All right, now we're going back turn. You can turn back to the old testament, back to Leviticus 11, and we go to intro point number four. People could be forgiven even if they violated these laws. You know, let's look at that real quick. In the new and, excuse me, in the old testament. Go to second Chronicles. Second Chronicles, chapter 30 is what we're looking for, so we can illustrate this point. Second Chronicles, chapter 30. We're looking at verses 14 through 20.
Speaker 1:And when they arose and removed the Arctur's, they were in Jerusalem. They also removed all the instant Arctur's and cast them into the Brook Kendron. Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the 14th of the second month and the priests and the Levi's were shamed themselves and Consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the Lord and they stood at the Stations after their customs, according to the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levi's for their many in the assembly who had not consecrated Themselves. Therefore, the Levi's were over the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean in order to consecrate them to the Lord. For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim and Manasseh is occur in Zebulun had not purified themselves yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed, for Hezekiah prayed for them, saying made the good Lord pardon Anyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord of your fathers, though not according to the purification laws of the sanctuary. So the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
Speaker 1:Intro, point number five God created all the animals of the world, so all animals give glory to God. We need to remember that the Lord didn't make any animal to Not give him glory. The same way he created us to give him glory, he also created, created his animals, which is part of his creation, to give him glory. And in intro, part number six, god does not give us his blueprint on how he decided what animal was clean or unclean, and we will see that as we go through this chapter. Now I have broken this chapter down into 12 parts.
Speaker 1:Part one God speaks to Israel, not to the church. The Vedic is 11. Verse 1 the Lord spoke again to Moses and Aaron saying to them Saying to who, moses and Aaron? Part two we look at eating animals on the earth. We see this in verses 2 through 8 Speak to the sons of Israel saying these are the creatures which you may eat. From all the animals that are on the earth, whatever divides a hoof, thus making split hoofs, and choose the cud among the animals that you may eat. So we see right now the animal the Lord said they could eat and what was the reason why they had to divide the hoof and chew the Cud first four. Nevertheless, you are not to eat of these among those which chew the cud or among those which divide the hoof.
Speaker 1:The camel, for, though it choose could, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you. Why is the camel unclean, people? Because it divided the hoof, but it does not chew the cud. That's the reason that the Lord gave. That's why I said the Lord didn't give us a blueprint on what, why he said these animals were Clean or unclean. He just tells us these. This is the verification of it. And what I mean by that is is that the Lord didn't say in verse 4 the camel, because it is a nasty animal. He said because it doesn't chew the cud even though it splits the hoof. Verse 5 likewise the rock badger, for, though it choose could, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean. Why is the rock badger unclean? Once again, though it choose the cud, it does not divide the hoof. Verse 6 the rabbit also, for, though it choose could, it does not divide the hoof, it is unclean to you. And the pig, for though it divides the hoof, does making a split hoof, it does not chew could. It is unclean to you. You should not eat of their flesh nor touch their carcasses. They are unclean to you. Once again, why did the Lord cuz? Verse 7 is a tricky one. Why did the Lord say that the pig is unclean to you? Where did you see the Lord say the pig is unclean to you because he rows in his own slop, because he rows in the mud, because he's a he's a nasty animal. That's not why he said they couldn't eat the pig. Verse 7 for the pig, though, it divides the hoof, though to us, making a split hoof, it does not chew the cud. It is unclean to you. It's just that simple. That's why the pig was unclean, because the Lord said that he had that he choose the cud. I'm sorry. He does not choose the cud, but has a split hoof Per three eating things in the water.
Speaker 1:We see this in verses 9 through 12. These you may eat whatever is in the water, all that has fins and scales, those in the water, in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But whatever is in the seas and in the rivers that do not have fins and scales, among all the teaming life for the water and among all the living creatures that are in the water. They are detestable things to you and they shall be abhorrent to you. You may not eat of their flesh and their carcasses. You shall detest. Whatever in the water does not have fins and scales is a herring to you. So, once again, we're talking about fish. We're talking about, we're really we're talking about, you know, we're talking about animals in the water. Why did the Lord say not to eat them? Because they had to have fish and scales. If they had scales and fins, you can eat them, but if they didn't, you couldn't. Why? That's just all the Lord gave us and that's what he gave Israel to obey.
Speaker 1:Per four eating of birds. We see this in verses 13 through 19, and there are 20 different birds named here. These, moreover, you shall detest among the birds. They are abhorrent not to be eaten the eagle and the vulture and the buzzer and the kite and the falcon in his kind, every raven in it raven in its kind, and the Austro's in the owl, and the seagull and the hawks in its kind, and a little owl and Cormorant and the great owl and the white owl and the pelican and the Korean vulture and the stork, the heron in its kind and the Hoopa and the bat. Now we see right here what that. The Lord gives a list of at least 20 birds here that the people were not to eat. Now why did the Lord say that these things could not be eating? He's only he sends. Verse 13 is is that you show detest among the birds they are up her and not to be eaten? The eagle, and he goes into name them why. He just says that they are herring. He didn't really give a reason why. Now, some of those birds in there you know the people back then may not want to eat anyway, but the Lord gave his reason of why they could not eat them.
Speaker 1:We move on to part number five, eating flying insects. Verses 20 through 23. All the wing insects that walk on all fours are the testable to you. Yet these you may eat. Among all the wing insects which walk on all fours, those which have Above their feet, join it legs with which to jump on the earth, these are them. You may eat the locusts in its kinds and the devastating locusts in its kinds, and the cricket in its kinds and the grasshopper in its kinds, but all of the wing insects which are for foot it are detestable to you. Like I mentioned earlier, the Lord didn't really say why it was okay to eat crickets. He just said that the people could, and grasshoppers, he just said that they could. Part six you became unclean.
Speaker 1:If you touch an unclean animals carcass, verses 24 through 28 by these more over, you will be made unclean. Whoever touches their carcasses Becomes unclean until evening, and whoever picks up any of their carcassist shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. Concerning all the animals which divide the hoof but do not make a split hoof or which do not chew cudd, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches them becomes unclean. Also, whoever walks on its paws Excuse me, whatever walks on his paws among all the creatures that walk on all fours are unclean to you. Whoever touches their carcasses becomes unclean until evening, and the one who picks up their carcassist shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. They are unclean to you. Now we see right here that, excuse me, the Lord, you know the Lord once again talks about even touches their carcasses. Now we know that if an animal died, somebody had to touch the carcass. There was somebody whose job that has to be. But he makes it clear that if you did touch it, you know they had to wash their clothes and they would be unclean until evening.
Speaker 1:Now we move on to part 7. You became unclean if you touch an unclean swarming thing. We see this in verses 29 through 31. Now, these are to you the unclean among the swarming things, with swarm on the earth the mole and the mouse and the great lizard in its Kinds, and the gecko and the crocodile and the lizard and the sand reptile and the chameleon. These are, to you the unclean among all the swarming things. Whoever touches them when they are dead becomes unclean until evening. Now it's not saying that somebody wasn't going to touch them, but the Lord said if you do, you're unclean to evening. Why was that? Because the Lord said so.
Speaker 1:Part 8? If an unclean animal fell on certain things, those things were considered unclean, and there are various items mentioned in verses 32 through 38. Also, anything on which one of them may fall when they are dead becomes unclean, including any wooden article or Coating, or a skin or a sack, any article of which use is made. It shall be put in the water and be unclean until evening. Then it becomes clean. Lord is very clear on the way he wants the people to be holy. As For verse 33, as for any earthenware vessel into which one of them may fall, whatever is in it becomes unclean, and you shall break the vessel, so he said. Even if it was water in it or wine in it, it becomes unclean. Verse 34 any of the food which may be eaten on which water comes shall become unclean, and any liquid which may be drunk in Every vessel shall become unclean. Everything More over on which part of their carcass may fall becomes unclean, and oven or a stove shall be smashed. They are unclean, and shell can continue as unclean to you. Nevertheless, a spring or a sister in collecting water shall be clean, though the one who touches their carcass shall be unclean. And if a part of their carcass falls on any seed for soaring, which is so, it is clean. Though if water is put on the seed and a part of their carcass falls on it, it is unclean. Now, to the best of my knowledge, that could be because if water was on the sea, if the sea was dry and one of these animals fell on it, it wouldn't stick to it. It would just stay on the on the ground. But if the seed was wet, it will probably stick to this animal. So that is probably why it was unclean.
Speaker 1:Part 9 eating swarming things made you unclean. We see this in verses 40 through 43. He too, who eats some of the carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening, and the one who picks up its carcass Shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. We see, that's how you became clean again. Now.
Speaker 1:Every swarming thing that swarms on the earth is detestable not to be eaten, whatever crawls on its belly and whatever walks on all fours, whatever has many feet. In respect to every swarming thing that swarms on the earth, you shall not eat them, for they are detestable. Do not render yourselves detestable through any other swarming things that swarm, and you shall not make yourselves unclean with them so that you become unclean. Now the Lord gives some more things that he says are unclean. We see, we talked about the swarming things. He talked about things that crawled on their belly and walked on all fours Part 10. These things had to be done to be holy before a holy God. Look at verse 44. For I am the Lord, your God. Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am holy, and you shall not make yourselves unclean with any other swarming things that swarm on the earth. Why do the Lord want the people to do this? So they could be holy? Because he is holy.
Speaker 1:Part 11. The Lord reminds Israel who rescued them. We see this in verse 45. For I am the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. Who did he bring up from the land of Egypt? The church of Israel, to be your God. Thus you shall be holy, for I am holy. Once again, he reminds them of who saved them, where he saved them from, and that they are to be holy. Then we come to part 12. The Lord lets Israel know this is the law and there had to be a distinction, and we see this in verses 46 through 47. This is the law regarding the animal and the bird and every living thing that moves in the waters and everything that swarms on the earth to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the edible creature and the creature which is not to be eaten. Now that brings us to the end of Leviticus, chapter 11.
Speaker 1:Now I want to touch on a few things. When I went through my intro for the chapter, I talked a lot about I took us to the New Testament and the fact that the Lord made all animals clean. Now, what does that mean in the church age? What it means is feel free if you want to eat these animals. There is nothing that the Lord held back from us, and I also mentioned that.
Speaker 1:There are people who have made doctrines out of this, because there are people to this day who want to follow this Leviticus 11 chapter to the T. The weird thing is is that if you just take the 10 commandments not the 613, but just the 10, the Lord says that if you break one commandment, you have broken them all. There are those who will cling to this chapter 11, because, to be honest with you, it's an easier chapter to follow. It's easier command, not a chapter people. I meant it's easier command to follow. Why do I say that I eat sausage and bacon and I like beef beef bacon, but I also like pork bacon. Right, and the truth is this is that if I was told by my doctor that it was something wrong with eating bacon and to not eat it again, to be honest with you, I wouldn't lose a lot of sleep over it. I like it, but I don't like it so much that it would affect my health. I can actually give it up and I think that's why some people ride so hard for Leviticus 11.
Speaker 1:People make podcasts talking about their doctors out there that agree with the Old Testament law of Leviticus 11 and that certain animals are unclean, when the Lord has already made these animals clean. And I think they do it because, like I said, it's an easier command to follow. But those same people who they won't touch a pig, they will touch in other sins. I won't name them because those people know what those sins are. There are other sins right there in those 10 Commandments, right there in the 613, right there in the New Testament, that Jesus commanded that they would have no issue doing those sins and they'll talk about how they're struggling with those sins. But they seem to never struggle with this one because it's a little bit easier to follow and I believe it's a reason for some to kind of puff themselves up and look at me I'm being holy.
Speaker 1:The Lord said to be holy and not to eat these things, when the truth is is that the Lord never said not to eat any of these animals because they were dirty. He gave reasons why it had to spit the hoof and had to chew the cud If it was in the water, it had to have fins and scales. That was pretty much it. All right, people? That brings us to the end of Leviticus 11. I thank you for joining me. I hope that you got something out of it and remember, wherever you're hearing this podcast, give it a like comment, all that little stuff they have over there, and spread the word. Let people know that there's a brother out here who goes through books and chapters of the Bible, verse by verse. We are gonna if the Lord wills, we're gonna go through this whole Bible and we're not gonna miss a single verse. That's all I have for now. God bless, blossom ένα. The Coup de l'Occitane. The Coup de l'Occitane. You.