Leviticus 11

Peace to you my brothers and sisters.

Today’s Bible Verse: Leviticus 11

I rarely do two of these but the Holy Spirit is impressing me with the importance of this one.

Leviticus 11 is Clean and Unclean Animals and also referred to the dietary code. I’ll let you read it from your favorite Bible.

Some say that this was written to Israel alone; however, the elect is grafted into Israel.

[Romans 11:17-21 ESV] 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. 19 Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

Israel is referred to as the olive tree. Israel was chosen for the linage to Jesus. Israel was chosen for this task but not all of Israel is elect. A good example of some of Israel not being elect is Judas; he was part of Israel and among the 12 but he was not elect.

By the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the elect are grafted into the line of Israel.

Returning to Leviticus 11, we have two types of animals, clean and unclean. The clean may be used for food and the unclean may not.

[Mark 7:18-19 ESV] 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.)

Some say that this verse overrides Leviticus 11, but, let’s take a closer look.

First of all, it is the parenthetical that is cited. The parenthetical was inserted by the translators and is not in any of the manuscripts. Mark never said this. What he was saying that no foul thing can enter into a person from the outside; it comes from within. Even if Jesus was declaring all foods clean he was never declaring those things not considered food to be clean; He would not override what he declared to Moses in Leviticus to be clean or unclean.

Also, some say that Peter’s vision in Acts 10 declares unclean animals clean. If you read all of it in context you will see that the whole thing was in regard to Cornelis, a gentile. The Jews considered the gentiles to be unclean and would not even enter a gentile’s house. What Peter’s vision was telling him was that the gentiles are not unclean and need to be ministered to.

Leviticus 11 has not been overridden in the New Testament. Pork and shellfish were never on the menu and I suggest that you look up why; there are plenty of articles regarding how unhealthy they are.

We all have a job.

[Matthew 28:18-20 ESV] 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

All of the disciples of Jesus are to spread His word and the gospel.

This is the gospel:

[1 Corinthians 15:1-6 ESV] 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

[Acts 2:22-24 ESV] 22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know-- 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

[1 John 2:2 ESV] 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Propitiation: ἱλασμός hilasmós, hil-as-mos'; atonement, i.e. (concretely) an expiator:—propitiation.

This is penal substitution; that is, our sins were transferred to Jesus and His righteous transferred to us.

Go forth and spread this good news.

I pray that God has revealed Himself to you and that you have salvation.

Remember, God is sovereign. That means that he controls everything.

I hope this has been a blessing to you. May the rest of your day be blessed. Peace.