11 Baptism Typified in the Old Testament
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The
Typology of Jewish Food Laws
Additions of Moses
1Why did Moses say, you can’t eat swine, eagles, hawks, crows, or fish that don’t have fins and scales? 2These animals symbolically represent three concepts. Moses said in Deuteronomy;
“I will give my ordinances to this people.”
Based on Deuteronomy 4:1
4Didn’t God command the Israelites not to eat these things? Yes He did, but Moses was allowed to add to the Covenant to teach spiritual truths.
What the Forbidden Animals Typify
5Swine are animals that come when they are called only if they are hungry. If they are full, they ignore their master. They represent men who come to God when in a crisis but have no time for God when they are content. We should avoid men like this. 6The eagle, hawk, kite, and crow are animals that don’t hunt and kill their own food but steal it from other birds. They are forbidden foods because they represent laziness[k] and coveting, resulting in sins like robbery and rape. 7The lamprey, polypus, and cuttlefish are animals that swim at the bottom of the deep, never coming to the surface. These teach us not to consort with, nor become like, men who are ungodly, those already condemned to death. 8The hare is an animal that multiplies rapidly and with every conception it has a different mate.[l] They represent chambering [living together without lawful marriage], adultery, polygamy [either many wives at the same time or though divorce and remarriage], incest, and fornication in general. 9The hyena is an animal that may look male or female depending on its age. They represent homosexuality [sodomy], bisexuality, and pedophilia. Don’t even resemble such people [in cross-dressing or in mannerisms, etc.]. 10The weasel is an animal that begins its mating ritual with its mouth. It spiritually signifies people who perform oral sex. Avoid all such people, both men and women.
The Misunderstanding
11When Moses spoke of eating these foods, he was actually conveying a typological prophecy based on the principle of the Three-Fold Witness, but the Jews never understood this, assuming they were only for health reasons.
King David
12King David demonstrated that he understood the principle of the Three-Fold Witness when he said,
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly” Based on Psalm 1:1
14These are like the fishes that go in darkness to the depths of the sea.
“Nor stand in the way of sinners” Psalm 1:1
16Those who pretend to fear the Lord yet sin like swine;
“Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” Psalm 1:1
18Scoffers are like those birds that sit and watch for those they can devour. 19Make sure you fully grasp this spiritual teaching of the Jewish food laws.
What the Clean Animals Typify
20On the positive side, what did Moses mean when he said you should eat animals that have cloven hooves and chew their cud? 21An animal that chews its cud receives food from its master and is always glad to see him, meaning we should fellowship with men who are glad to constantly study God’s word in order to fully understand and obey all it contains. 22An animal that is cloven hoofed represents the righteous who walks in this world but is not a part of it, because he constantly looks forward to the Rapture.
The Holy Spirit Is Required To Understand
23See how well Moses legislated. 24Was it possible for the Jews to understand what these food laws were really for? 25We truly understand these commandments only because the Lord has circumcised our ears and hearts with the Holy Spirit.
Commentary
This chapter gives us the information that even though the Jewish food laws may have been partly given to the Jews for health reasons, they were also typological prophecies about how God expects us to live our lives, morally.
Since we see Barnabas in Galatians 2 standing for Jewish food laws with Peter, and then corrected by the Apostle Paul, it makes perfect sense that this chapter be included in his work.
There are numerous examples of God allowing Moses to add laws of his own making to govern the Jews. Some were even used to teach typological prophecy. At one time Moses was supposed to strike a rock (symbolizing Christ smitten for our sins); and the second time, in Numbers 20:8, Moses was supposed to speak to the rock, but he hit it again (this would symbolize Jesus begin crucified twice, which is not possible). Because Moses broke the pattern of a typological prophecy, God punished him by not allowing him to enter the Promised Land. The same thing happened with Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10:1-2, where they offered strange fire to the Lord. This would symbolize a way to God would be possible apart from Christ. Since this could not be taught, Nadab and Abihu were killed.
The first century church decided Jewish food laws and circumcision were not necessary for Gentile Christians, according to Acts 15. After praying for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in that situation they declared…
“It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.” Acts 15:28-29 KJV
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