Read Time: 7 Minutes
This week, we delve into the rich and mature themes of the double Torah portion, Acharei Mot ("After the Death") and Kedoshim ("Holy Ones"), found in Leviticus chapters 16 through 20. These chapters are considered the heart of the Torah, revealing God's instructions from His very heart. They cover deep covenantal themes, Laws of purity, and the profound call to holiness.
The title itself, "After the Death, Holy Ones," carries significant meaning. It references the death of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, who approached God incorrectly. Their death serves as a stark reminder of the importance of approaching a Holy God on His terms. This theme also points forward to a greater "death" – the death of Yeshua HaMashiach. Through His sacrifice, we, who were dead in sin and offered "strange fire" through disobedience and false worship, can become "holy ones," set apart for Him. Just as a seed dies to bring forth new life, or we die to our old selves in baptism to be born anew, Yeshua's death enables us to pursue holiness.
The Central Command: "You Shall Be Holy, For I Am Holy"
A key theme, repeated for emphasis at the beginning of Leviticus 19 and the end of chapter 20, is God's command: "You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy." This isn't a threat, but a promise and a calling. God sets out His ways, His mitzvot (commandments), as the path to becoming set apart, consecrated for His unique purpose. As Peter echoes in 1 Peter 1:14-16, we are called to be obedient children, not conforming to former ignorance, but being holy in all we do, just as God who called us is holy.
What does this holiness, or kadosh (sacred, set apart) in Hebrew, entail? It means being separate from the ways of the world, dedicating ourselves to God's ways, and sanctifying ourselves according to His Word. This walk of sanctification is a process, a path of preparation.
Holiness and the Dietary Laws: An Explicit Connection
Interestingly, the command "You shall be holy to Me, for I, the Lord, am holy" is directly linked to the Biblical Dietary Laws in Leviticus 20:25-26: "You are therefore to distinguish between the clean and the unclean animals and birds... I have set these apart as unclean for you. And you shall be holy to Me, for I, the Lord, am holy." This connection is also prominent in Leviticus chapter 11, which details the clean and unclean animals.
This demonstrates that distinguishing between clean and unclean foods is presented in the Torah as an integral part of being set apart for God. Unclean animals were not designed for human consumption; they often serve as nature's scavengers or predators. Choosing to abstain from these is an act of obedience and a physical expression of being set apart from the nations who did not follow God's instructions.
Download a FREE infographic displaying the main animals that are edible and are not according to the Biblical Dietary Laws here.
Addressing Common Misinterpretations
Many believers today are taught that the Biblical Dietary Laws are no longer applicable. Let's examine some common New Testament passages often used to support this claim, viewing them through the lens provided in the Torah and the historical context.
1. Mark 7: "Nothing that enters a man can defile him"
Yeshua states, "There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of a man, those are the things that defile him." (Mark 7:14-15). Upon first glance, this might seem to abolish dietary Laws. However, reading the surrounding verses "Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” (Mark 7:3), Yeshua's response is "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” (Mark 7:8). Yeshua is clearly addressing the traditions of the elders (halakha), specifically the ritual washing of hands and vessels, which they had elevated above God's commandments, "He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition." (Mark 7:9). He was confronting man-made rules that created division and burdened the people, not overturning the dietary Laws found in the Torah. Yehshua reinforces his point by saying "...making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” (Mark 7:13).
2. Romans 14: "All Food is Clean"
Paul writes, "I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean." (Romans 14:14). The Greek word translated as "unclean" here is koinos, which means "common" or "defiled" by ritual or tradition. This is distinct from the word akathartos, used in the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) and elsewhere to describe animals explicitly forbidden as food in the Torah (Leviticus 11). Paul is addressing the issue of food that might have been considered "common" or ritually impure by some believers (perhaps touched by Gentiles or sold in the market after being offered to idols), not declaring animals forbidden by the Torah as now clean for food. He is advocating for unity and not causing a brother to stumble over matters of tradition, while still upholding the principles of God's Law.
3. Acts 10: Peter's Vision
Peter sees a sheet descending from heaven filled with all kinds of animals, and a voice tells him, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." When Peter protests that he has never eaten anything "common or unclean," the voice replies, "What God has cleansed you must not call common." (Acts 10:13-15). The interpretation of this vision is given later in the same chapter (Acts 10:28) and again in Acts 11:1-18. God was showing Peter that he should not call any person common or unclean, preparing him to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. The vision was a metaphor for accepting people from all nations into the Kingdom, not a declaration that all animals were now permissible to eat. The Holy Spirit falling on the Gentiles confirmed this interpretation.
These passages, when read in context and with an understanding of the cultural and linguistic nuances, do not abolish the Biblical Dietary Laws. Instead, they address issues related to man-made traditions and the inclusion of Gentiles into the faith.
The Enduring Value of Torah
The Scriptures consistently affirm the value and enduring nature of God's Law. Psalm 119 describes the Law as perfect, bringing light, freedom, and wisdom. James 1:25 calls it the "Perfect Law of Liberty," promising blessings to those who look into it and are doers of the word. Revelation 14:12 identifies the saints as those "who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus [Yeshua]." Turning away from the Law is even described in Proverbs 28:9 as making one's prayer an abomination.
Does Proverbs 28:9 still stand? According to the Word, yes! Here are three scriptures speaking of a future tense that refer to unclean animals, proving the relevance that the Dietary Laws still stand in a time yet to be fulfilled.
1. God's Final Judgments Against the Wicked:
“Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves, To go to the gardens After an idol in the midst, Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse, Shall be consumed together,” says the LORD. (Isaiah 66:17).
2. The Fall of Babylon the Great
"And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast." (Revelation 18:2)
3 Ezekiel Vision of Idolatry in the Temple:
"So I went in and saw, and there—every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls." (Ezekiel 8:10).
(Ezekiel is referencing the current events but prophetically is this referencing our body as the temple as Paul states "Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple", or even modern day churches having idols and permitting pork in there buildings for Sunday lunch. As we know prophecy from God often has dualistic meaning and ripples throughout time. Having pork in our church or our body is forbidden according to the Word.)
The Torah is not a burden but a blueprint for living a set-apart life in relationship with a Holy God. While we cannot perfectly keep every commandment (some were specific to priests, kings, or certain circumstances in the land), we are called to obey God's commandments to the best of our ability with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, including the Dietary Laws.
Beyond Food: Avoiding Pagan Practices
The call to holiness extends beyond just what we eat daily. It also involves being mindful of the festivals and practices we participate in. The Bible highlights the significance of covenantal meals – from the Garden of Eden to the Last Supper and the future Wedding Supper of the Lamb. Eating together is an act of intimacy and covenant.
Participating in festivals rooted in paganism, even if seemingly innocent today (like Easter eggs or Christmas dinners), involves partaking in meals and celebrations dedicated to other gods or traditions of men, not the appointed times of Yah. Jeremiah 10:2 warns against learning the ways of the nations. While navigating family traditions requires grace and wisdom, our primary allegiance is to God and His ways. This often provides opportunities to share our faith and invite others to learn about God's biblical feasts.
Living Set Apart in a Hostile World
Living according to God's commandments and being set apart may lead to misunderstanding and even opposition. Like Paul, who was accused of being in a "cult" for following "the Way" and believing the Torah and the Prophets (Acts 24:14), we may face similar accusations. Our response should mirror Paul's: we worship the God of our ancestors and firmly believe in His Word.
Yeshua Himself warned that following Him would bring division, even within families (Matthew 10:34-37). This is not an excuse to be unloving or ungracious, but a recognition that the "sword" of God's Word divides between truth and falsehood, even among those closest to us.
To truly pursue holiness and obey God's Law, we must die to our old selves, our ego, and our fleshly desires (Galatians 5:24, Romans 12:1). Offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, is our spiritual service of worship. It is only "after the death" of the old self that we can truly become the "holy ones" God has called us to be.
We are God's special treasure, called to be set apart. Let us not throw away this calling or be deceived by doctrines that diminish the importance of God's instructions. Let us embrace the Torah as the Law of Liberty and pursue holiness in all aspects of our lives, including our dietary choices and the festivals we observe.
May we, like the saints in Revelation, be found keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Yeshua. Amen.
From our house to your house, shalom.
Watch the full teaching:
Audio Bible for this weeks Torah Portion: