In Leviticus Chapter 11 we are given the extensive list of “clean” and “unclean” foods. Yeshua wrote these Laws (remember He is Torah as declared in John 1). Of course, He and His talmidim abide by these instructions. As you study them remember this – He gave them to us for specific reasons. Not to deprive us from the enjoyment of bacon and eggs, or an Easter ham. First, I believe He gave them to us for health reasons. Think of it. Pigs eat garbage. If you are eating pig you are eating garbage, including worms. “Bottom feeders” (like lobster and fish) on the base of the ocean floor are eating scum and bad things. If you eat them, you eat the unhealthy ocean refuse. Think about what vultures eat – road kill! So, of course, HaShem would not want you to eat that! Secondly, the reason to follow dietary laws is simply this: to obey G-d. And in obeying HaShem we get closer to Him and to holiness.
I remember as a child watching my mom almost die. She had eaten a shrimp dinner and had a horrible reaction. Her throat swelled up and she couldn’t breathe. An ambulance came for her and she almost died at the hospital. She never ate seafood again. However, she could eat fish. I have a close friend that when he was a child ate raw bacon. He was deathly sick for almost a year. He had gotten the disease trichinosis. He lost weight, appetite and strength. He recovered, but it has had lifelong effects on this health.
HaShem knows what is best for us. Why do we not listen? After all He created all animals. He most likely created the “unclean” so that they could clean up the earth! So, they could eat the refuse or clean up other dead animals. To provide us with a cleaner and safer planet! Wouldn’t that be wonderful if we would just allow for that to happen?
The church and food laws
The "church" doesn’t believe we have to follow the food Laws. Let’s look at the verses they might use. The most popular argument against keeping “kosher” is in Peter’s vision – Acts Chapter 10. Peter is up on the housetop praying at the sixth hour (more on praying later) and he falls into a trance. He sees heaven open and a big “sheet” descends with all kinds of unclean animals in it. HaShem calls to him and tells him to eat them. Peter says “Not so, Yahweh! I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” HaShem replies, “What Elohim has cleansed you must not call common.” This happened 3 times (verses 10-16).
Surely if HaShem is telling Peter to eat the unclean meat then the food Laws no longer apply right? That is what we have been taught, but this definitely not true! Read on:
Peter goes to Caesarea to the house of a Gentile named Cornelius. Cornelius was a Roman centurion, but a “G-d fearer”. That means he believed in the Elohim of Abraham, and practiced the Law for the most part, but never formally converted to Judaism. Probably because he was a centurion! He has a vision from Elohim, to summon Peter to his house. And Peter goes. When he gets there he says “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation (Gentile). But Elohim has shown me that should not call any man common or unclean. Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for.” (Verses 28-29)
Really? HaShem has told Peter not to call any MAN common or unclean. When did He tell Peter that? In the vision of the “sheet”, the verses right before this! You see Peter know the “interpretation” of the vision. Of course, HaShem would not be telling Peter to disregard the law about eating unclean animals, nor would HaShem CHANGE the Law. Remember, no one can add or subtract from the Law (Deuteronomy 4:2). HaShem was speaking to Peter by using an illustration. For you see, Jews had made up strict rules (fences) for themselves about associating or eating with Gentiles. This was not Torah. This was man-made. HaShem clearly wanted the nations to come to faith in Him and wanted Peter to start helping Him with this. So, He tells Peter, through use of an analogy, it is ok to eat with “unclean” people or the Gentiles! Peter gets it! Why haven’t we?
Peter goes on to tell Cornelius and his household about salvation or deliverance through Yeshua the Messiah. That He came as the prophesied Mashiach – to save and deliver Israel. HaShem’s Spirit falls on Cornelius and his household and they begin to trust in Yeshua. This is witnessed as they begin to speak in different languages – just like what happened at Pentecost (Shavuot in Hebrew).
Yes, the early talmidim followed the Torah and its food Laws. It wasn’t a burden; it was a joy to eat food that would make you healthy. Whose diet do you want to follow – the worlds or HaShem’s? The answer is obvious.
No, Yeshua would not have attended church pig roasts. He wouldn’t have eaten BLT sandwiches. He would not have eaten at your local seafood restaurant. And neither would His talmidim.