s it biblical for Christians to eat meats like Crab, Pork, Shrimp or Lobster, which are described in the Old testament as unclean? This is a question that often weighs heavily on the minds of some people because of the prohibitions that are found in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. But the first reference that God made concerning clean and unclean animals was not in the law that God gave Moses on the mount, but was when God instructed Noah on their separation in Genesis.

Genesis 7:1-2

• "And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
• Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female."

Genesis 8:20

• "And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar."

This truth was underscored more plainly when God gave Moses the ceremonial law. In Leviticus chapter 11 and Deuteronomy chapter 14, God inspires written these very same separation principles, which He had "already" established. Indeed, in the harmonious arrangement of the scriptures, the agreement on all points reveal what is commonly called, "the continuity of the Covenant" relationship. The ceremonial law of meats that was given to Moses was meant as an example of the separation of Israel from the Gentile or unclean nations. By God requiring that His people make a distinction between clean and unclean meats, He is illustrating how God's people are to be Holy and set apart from the unclean people of the world. The very same separation principle that God illustrated to Noah in the figure of using the clean animals for the atonement sacrifice. And in Leviticus, following the list of meats that "His people" could and could not eat, verse 44 concludes that it was because He was LORD God, that they shall therefore sanctify themselves.

Leviticus 11:44-47

• "For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
• For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
• This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:
• To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten."

Leviticus 20:24-26

• "But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.
• Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.
• And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine."

Deuteronomy 14:21

• "Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself: thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk."

So we can begin to understand that these rules and regulations concerning clean and unclean meats were imposed in order to present the "figure" of distinction, until the time of the later dispensation (Galatians 3:23-26), when the fulfillment in Christ established the reality of what these separation regulations foreshadowed.

There are those who claim that it is their Biblical responsibility to keep these ceremonial laws concerning meats just as the Old Testament saints did. But is there any Biblical basis for observing Old Testament ceremonial laws and making the same separations between meats today? The question is answered as we carefully examine the New Testament revelation of the mystery that we come to understand the example it foreshadowed. There was a spiritual typology of clean and unclean meats as types of people, but this was never a law that God instituted designed to keep our bodies in good health. There is nothing within the scriptures that declare or imply that the laws were instituted because of God's concern with hygiene or bodily cleanliness. They were ritual or ceremonial in nature. A set form of conduct that illustrated sanctification.

You will note that you don't hear these same people who insist on our following this law, decrying the Lord's people planting two different kinds of seeds in a field. Or breeding two different types of cattle, or God's law that we cannot mix two types of thread in a cloth (Leviticus 19:19). These were the same "separation principle" ceremonial laws as the separation of meats. And they are fulfilled in the Lord reconciling the "whole world" to Himself in the death and resurrection of Christ. From the New Testament perspective on eating clean and unclean meats, it should be evident that the laws were a figure representing separation of God's people from the Gentiles. But with the reconciliation of all in Christ, that ceremonial ordinance has been fulfilled.

The fact is, the Apostle Peter was very "literally commanded to eat unclean meats" by God Himself! So those who continue to protest the eating of these very same meats, do not understand their significance. As indeed Peter himself at first did not understand. He himself protested the command saying he had never done so, because did not yet understand the true significance of the ceremonial laws concerning them, nor the vision of God wherein it is made manifest they were an example or figure of separation.

Acts 10:9-16

• "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
• And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
• And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
• Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
• And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
• But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
• And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
• This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven."

Acts 10:28

• "And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean."

Acts 10:33-35

• "Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
• Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
• But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."

Acts 10:45

• "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."

All through scripture there is the emphasis upon the division between the holy and the unholy people as the reason God instituted these laws. God in making these Gentiles clean who were unclean, is making known the mystery kept secret (Romans 16:25) since the world began. That the Gentiles would be included, grafted into the New Covenant with Israel. And to place emphasis upon this, God has Peter witness to these people. And as he spoke, the Spirit came upon them and they spoke in other languages. Again, a "sign" signifying that all tongues (languages) have been brought into God's covenant, and made clean. Call it not common, which the Lord has cleansed. We are not to make commandments that anyone abstain from unclean meats.

1st Timothy 4:1-5

• "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
• Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
• Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
• For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
• For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

Matthew 5:17

• "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."

Hebrews 9:9-11

• "Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
• Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
• But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;"

2nd Corinthians 6:14-18

• "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
• And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
• And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
• Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
• And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

2nd Corinthians 7:1

• "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

1st Corinthians 10:23-31

• "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
• Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
• Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:
• For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
• If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
• But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
• Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
• For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
• Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Others will say, this may be true, but what about doing it for good health reasons? If a Christian feels that eating certain meats are a health risk to them, there is nothing in scripture that forces them to eat such means. Remember, whatsoever is not of faith, is sin.

Romans 14:23

• "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

Romans 14:13-18

• "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
• I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
• But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
• Let not then your good be evil spoken of:
• For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
• For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men."

Matthew 15:1-2

• "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
• Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread."

• "And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
• Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man."

• "And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
• Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?"

Second, Christ says the foods don't enter into a man's heart (again signifying laws concerning eating were ceremonial), they enter into a man's belly and goeth out into the draught (toilet). That is the way the body purges meats. And this word translated purging is [katharizo], meaning to make clean, or to purify.

Clearly Christ is teaching that it is not injurious products (germs from eating without washing, bad meat, ham, Lobster) that we might put into our mouths that will ultimately defile us, it is false doctrines coming out of our mouth that will make us unclean. The laws concerning unclean animals were never instituted unto good physical heath, but to good Spiritual health. They were to teach that there is a difference between the people of God who are clean before Him, and unbelievers who are unclean. That this separation is necessary for keeping God's people a Holy people. The words clean and unclean are to be understood as purity and defilement in a spiritual, rather than physical sense. Peter hav8ing been raised in the Judaic traditions himself did not understand this, but Christ further explained to him exactly what He was speaking about.

Matthew 15:15-20

• "Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.
• And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
• Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
• But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
• For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
• These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."

So by understanding this, we can see that it is lawful to eat meats like Pork and ShellFish. But it's not mandatory, and whosoever doesn't want to eat such meats, is free not to eat. Just as those who do eat are free to eat them. This is also addressed in Romans illustrating how we should not force our liberty to eat Pork on others who may not choose to eat it, thinking it's harmful.

Romans 14:1-6

• "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
• For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
• Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
• Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
• One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
• He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks."

Unfortunately, there are those professing Christians today who seem to be hell bent on compromising these principles, and mixing the unclean with the clean, seemingly oblivious to the consequences. Not unclean meats, but unclean people. Believers are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, but in our day this seems to be the norm. Believers marrying unbelievers, Churches compromising with other religions, all the things that the law concerning meats really signified concerning God's people are being abrogated. And this is the true travesty. Not that Christians eat unclean meats, but that Christians were to be a People set apart from the unbelievers. These laws of Christ should be revealed through His dwelling within us, that we will and do of His good pleasure. The separation principle we must keep in Christ, that we forever remain a people consecrated, sanctified, made holy, set apart from the world, in service to God.

    May the Lord who is gracious above all give us the wisdom to receive His truths concerning our separation, because greater is He that is in us (1st John 4:4), than he that is in the world.

Amen!