Clean and unclean. Why?

"There are things in the old Testament that are different from the new testament. I think in Deuteronomy there are certain animals that are labeled as unclean to eat but in the old Testament I'm not sure if who it was that was talking To God and God told him that it was okay to eat the animal that was presented to Him. Why is that?" - Alex


Response.

1. Timelines: The Shifts in God's Instructions

- Before the Fall (Genesis 1:29-30): In the beginning, humans and animals were vegetarians. God gave plants and fruits as food. The world was in perfect harmony.  

- After the Flood (Genesis 9:1-4): When Noah came out of the ark, God allowed humans to eat meat for the first time. However, there were still restrictions—not to eat blood or animals that were improperly killed.  

- The Law of Moses (Leviticus 11, Deuteronomy 14): God gave the Israelites specific rules about clean and unclean animals. These dietary laws weren’t just about health; they set Israel apart as His holy people and taught obedience. Things like pigs were never to be eaten. This is why Jesus sent the demons to the pigs without blinking twice. 😂


2. Worship: Clean and Unclean Animals  

- Sacrifices: Clean and unclean animals were central to worship under the Law of Moses. Only clean animals (e.g., sheep, goats, and oxen) could be used for sacrifices. This pointed to God’s holiness—worship wasn’t random but followed His instructions.  

- Symbolism of Cleanliness: The concept of clean and unclean also taught spiritual truths/principles. It reminded the Israelites that they needed to be pure and separate from sin to approach God.  


3. Diet: Why Peter’s Vision Matters (Acts 10)

- In the New Testament, Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17). This means the old ceremonial rules, including dietary laws, were no longer binding for Christians.  

- In Peter’s vision (Acts 10:9-16), God showed him a sheet filled with all kinds of animals and said, "Kill and eat." Peter, as a Jew, was shocked because some of those animals were unclean under the old rules.  

- The vision wasn’t just about food; it was a powerful message that God’s salvation was now open to everyone—Jews and Gentiles alike. The dietary laws symbolized separation, but now, through Christ, the walls of division were broken. They could eat anything edible. Ata punda msee.


Summary...

When we look at the Bible as a whole, we see that:  

1. The rules about clean and unclean animals were specific to a time and purpose. They taught Israel about worship, holiness, and obedience.  

2. Jesus fulfilled the law, and those old restrictions no longer apply. The focus now is on what comes from our hearts (Mark 7:18-23).  

3. Peter’s vision wasn’t primarily about food but about people. God was showing Peter that no one is unclean or excluded from His grace through Christ.


How to Apply This Today.

- We are free in Christ to eat any food (1 Timothy 4:4-5), but we should still honor God in our eating and drinking (1 Corinthians 10:31).  

- The clean/unclean PRINCIPLE reminds us to stay spiritually pure and walk in obedience.  


The Bible is a journey that points us to Jesus. Whether it's timelines, worship, or diet, all these instructions ultimately lead us to understand God’s plan for salvation through Christ.


Keep the questions coming—it’s a joy to explore these truths.




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