What Comes from Me, What Comes from God

Leviticus 11:46–47 (ESV) This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten.

As is mentioned in the previous post, the laws of distinction for Israel's diet was instructive in nature to remind them of their special status before God, not necessarily a code for proper health. 

Israel was to be a people of distinction among the nations. They are in history as well. Today the are still distinct in that most of the world is divided about their status as a sovereign nation. To this day God's electing choice of Israel has split the world in half. 

Now when Christ comes these distinctions of diet are no longer in effect. The passage where we first realize this comes from the Gospel of Mark...

Mark 7:14–23 (ESV) And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Jesus alludes to Leviticus 11 here to teach something deeper that Israel lived through shadows. There will be one who is distinct and from God (Israel in the Old Covenant, Christ in the New Covenant) that will bring good to those around them (the law in the Old, grace and truth in the New). 

Now in the New Testament Jesus reveals the true unclean thing (not a shadow). It is our hearts. Our hearts are not holy in and of themselves. We are defiled NOT by what we eat, but by what comes out of us. Only in Christ are we able to see that distinction. He is true and better Israel drawing the line between clean and unclean.

Now notice how fast Mark sweeps across this bit of profound theology. Mark adds the astounding qualifier: "Thus he declared all foods clean." His Word makes thing clean. The process of our redemption occurs at the hearing and believing of His Word. As Israel was to be the distinct and holy people belonging to God, Jesus is true and better Israel not simply making distinctions (between us and God) but also making clean what was once unclean through the declaration of His word.

Later in the scriptures, Jesus says, "Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you." John 15:3 (ESV)

So recapping. Why were certain foods cleared clean? Because God's Word revealed it to be so. Israel was revealed separate and distinct from all nations for His purposes.

And why are they declared clean? Because of the Word of God through Jesus. Now all nations can be cleansed through His Word.

Come, hear, and be clean!