The command to be holy is given both in the Old and New Testaments. Holiness requires separation from sin. The neighbors of the Israelites were in great sin. Their pagan rituals included idolatry, sacrificing their babies in the fire, orgies, homosexuality, drunkenness, and debauchery. They ate all sorts of “unclean” foods. To develop separation from them, God gave the Israelites dietary laws and regulations that prohibited them from eating the kinds of foods the pagans ate.
The ceremonial eating of certain foods and not others was an outward expression of what God was trying to do in the hearts of the Israelites. He desired that they be separated from sin, and used food as an object lesson. He wanted ceremonial holiness to carry over into heart holiness. Later, in Deuteronomy 10:16 and 30:6, He would instruct the Israelites to circumcise their hearts, meaning to cut away the sin that surrounded their hearts. Paul also referred to the cutting away of sin from the heart in Romans 2:28-29, and said this must be done by the Holy Spirit of God.
In the New Testament, God declared all foods to be acceptable, if eaten for the glory of God, Acts 10:9-15; 1 Corinthians 10:31. In this way, God again used food as an object lesson, but this time to break down the barrier between Jew and Gentile and form one body, the Church.
“Whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.” Being holy begins in the heart and then radiates out into the life. The Holy Spirit has joined with our hearts to make them stronger and guide us into all holiness.
