Firstly, Leviticus 17:10 – 16 tells God’s people not to consume blood.

It makes it clear that ‘the life’ is in the blood. Symbolically, this may mean that God alone supplies our life, and consuming the ‘life’ of another animal for sustenance separates us from our God-sourced life. But it will have special significance in Christ.

Leviticus 11 gives us the list of clean and unclean foods. I think that God gave these instructions through Moses for (i) a national physical health reasons (ii) a symbolic spiritual meaning.

The Torah states that clean mammals are those that chew their cud (ruminants) and are cloven-hoofed. The following common animal species are among those considered to be clean: cows, sheep and goats, but now include addax, antelope, bison, cow, deer, gazelle, giraffe, goat, ibex and sheep.

Again – this is a great health instruction. Most meat-borne diseases come from omnivorous or carnivorous animals. E.g. pigs.  As a disease preventative – it’s best to stay away from them.

Spiritually – all clean animals are herbivores i.e. they are innocent of shedding the blood of other animals. When we kill an innocent animal to sustain our life it foretells the death of an innocent person (Jesus) to sustain our eternal life.

The Torah does not enumerate specific characteristics to distinguish permitted and forbidden birds. Instead, it enumerates 24 forbidden species of fowl, while all other birds are considered to be clean. The unclean birds are again birds of carrion – those that eat dead flesh. Again – the innocence of Jesus is symbolized by the clean birds, who sustain our life without doing harm to others.

The Torah establishes two criteria to determine which fish are clean. The fish must have fins and scales. This excluded all shell fish, squid, eels etc etc. Again, at least here in Australia, all poison fish are scale-less, and oysters and prawns etc are filter feeders and can transmit disease – so it’s a good health measure.

Jews found the transition out of the ‘Law’ very difficult. For their whole lives they were told to ‘keep the rules’ – now they are told that ’it’s all by faith and grace’. Imagine how shocked the Jewish believers were to be told that they had to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus.

Matt 26 “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”

They would come to realise that, indeed, the life was in the blood – and eternal life was in the shed blood of Jesus. Every believer takes the life of Jesus into themselves.

Jesus was the Passover Lamb of God – and therefore, not only permitted to be eaten– but commanded to be eaten so that the angel of death would pass over us to eternal life.

His body was the unleavened bread of the Passover. No leaven of malice or wickedness, but the pure bread made form the first fruits of grain dedicated to God.

There was great difficulty for Jews transitioning to the Christian life. They were permitted to keep some laws as transitional laws (Acts 15:28-29).

In Mark 7:14-20, Jesus makes it clear that the food which enters our body is not the cause of defilement – but the thoughts and deeds which come out.

For Christians – all foods are acceptable and should be received as the gift of God.

Romans 14

 As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. 2 One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. 4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand 

 13 Then let us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.