The Old Testament had strict dietary laws generally based on inherent animal characterises — fish with fins and scales, “clean”, fins without scales, “unclean”. Animals chewing the “cud” and parting the hoof were ok to eat but those having one without the other, no good!
It all seems so arbitrary and many have tried to explain it by saying there are, perhaps, special heath benefits. But the Bible indicates why — and it had nothing to do with health.
“And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nations which I cast out before you … I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from other people … Ye shall therefore put a difference between clean beasts and unclean” — Leviticus 20:23-25
The “therefore” of this verse specifically links dietary law to the kinds of people God was replacing.
Old Testament dietary law was an object lesson teaching there were “clean” and “unclean” people based on their inherent actions.
In the New Testament God, again, links dietary laws with people groups, but with a twist — something happened with the advent of Christ!
Follow a telling story from the biblical book of Acts:
The apostle, Peter, has a vision of unclean animals on a sheet and is commanded to eat. He refuses, as any good Jew would, because they were “unclean”. Then the vision’s voice says,
“What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” — Acts 10:15
Just then three (3) gentiles show up at the door wanting to hear about Jesus, and a light goes on in Peter’s head!
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 10:34-35
Before Christ, people rarely changed — they were forever as they were born. Not so in Christ! Jesus is in the life changing business! The symbolical dietary law has been superseded by Christ who changes the human heart making the unclean forgiven and holy! As the Apostle Paul wrote to those who come to Christ from the world,
“[S]uch were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” — 1st Corinthians 6:11
— fritz@langgang.com
The story is told of a man complaining to his psychiatrist about continuous nightmares, first of being an indian Tee-Pee then of being a pup tent over and over, driving him crazy. “Relax”, said the doctor, “You’re just two tents (too tense)”.
Patrikin - Kinship through The Father 