The subject of this study involves whether or not we, as followers of Yahushua the Messiah, are still required to observe the dietary food laws found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. Let's start with a popular teaching amongst those who say that we are no longer required to keep the the dietary food law...they teach that people are now 'allowed' to eat anything...

Let's first go to Paul...

1Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which Elohim created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of YHWH is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; *

Now, most Christian teachers stop here and say, "See, if you teach that you can't eat anything you want, you are deceiving the people". But let's not stop there, let's continue with verse 5...

1Timothy 4:5 - For it is set apart by the word of YHWH and prayer.

Question: What was Paul referring to as the Word of YHWH? Was it the new testament? No, the 'new testament' did not yet exist at that time.

2Timothy 3:15 - And that from a child thou hast known the set apart scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Yahushua the Messiah.

Paul is speaking of what is now called "the old testament".

So, Paul is saying that we are permitted to eat all food that has been proclaimed as clean by the Word of YHWH. The dietary food law of YHWH can be found in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14. Has this dietary food law been done away with? Before answering that question, let's take a look at another favorite verse often quoted by the "you can eat anything" crowd. Yahushua said...

Matthew 15:11 - Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Was Yahushua here saying that it is ok to eat pork? Let's put the preceding verse into context...

Matthew 15:1 - Then came to Yahushua scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread."

Fact: It was a tradition amongst the Pharisees of Yahushua's day, as it is amongst the Orthodox Jews of today, that you must wash your hands often before you eat. It was not a law, but only a tradition. What Yahushua was saying, in Matthew 15:11, is that you are not sinning if you eat without washing your hands first...he was not saying that it is ok to eat pork or any other thing that is forbidden in the law of YHWH. He was pointing out the fact that it is not a sin to eat without first washing your hands.

There is also a teaching that says that there is a difference between the law of YHWH, found in the book of Genesis, and the law of Moses, found in the next 4 books. The reasoning goes something like this... "If it is a commandment found in the book of Genesis, such as the prohibition about the eating of blood or the commandment to remember the Sabbath day, then it applies to followers of Yahushua today. However, they reason, if it is not found in the book of Genesis, but is only found in the books of Exodus thru Deuteronomy, then it is considered to be the law of Moses, and therefore, it is not binding on us today" (They do not say that this applies to the Ten Commandments). They apply this reasoning to the dietary food law. It is a fact that Noah was aware of the difference between clean and unclean animals before the flood...

Genesis 7:1 And YHWH said unto Noah, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female."

The reason that this was known before man was allowed to eat meat, was for the offerings made to YHWH. 

Genesis 8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto YHWH; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

Noah was also aware of the difference between clean and unclean fowl. YHWH tells Noah in Genesis 9:3, that he was, from that time on, permitted to eat meat...

Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

Because it said "every moving thing" in the preceding verse, there are those who say that Noah had the right, at that time, to eat all creatures, clean and unclean. However, are we to accept this premise, and believe that YHWH's people had the right, from the time immediately following the flood, all the way until the time Moses received the dietary food law on Mt. Sinai? To put this into perspective, notice how Adam and Chawah (Eve) were permitted to eat seed bearing herbs and fruit bearing trees...

Genesis 1:29 And Elohim said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food."

If we were to take that at face value, we would assume that "all" herbs that bear seeds, and "every" tree that bears fruit would be "ok" to eat. The problem with this reasoning is the "fact" that there are herbs and fruits, that if eaten, will kill you because they are poisonous! An opportunity to rightly divide the word of truth can be found in Genesis 9:3. We must recognize it as a general statement about YHWH providing animals for food, just as He provided plants for food. Yahushua quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, when he said...

Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YHWH.'" 

Another favorite scriptural quotation of the anti-law teachers, is found in Acts 10, where Kefa (Peter) saw a vision...where a large sheet was being let down containing all kinds of 4 footed animals as well as reptiles and birds...verses 11-12. Then in verse 13...

Acts 10:13 - And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Kefa; kill, and eat."

Then in verse 14...

Acts 10:14 - But Kefa said, "Not so, my master; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean." 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, "What YHWH hath cleansed, that call not thou common."

For an explanation of what this vision meant, we must go to verse 28 of the same chapter...

Acts 10:28 - And he (Kefa) said unto them, "Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but YHWH hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean."

If the purpose of the vision was not to do away with YHWH's dietary food law, then why did Kefa receive this vision in such a confusing way? If all foods were not made clean, it almost seems like it was put that way in order to cause confusion. Is that possible? 

2Thessalonians 2:8 - And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom Yahushua shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2:9 - Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2:10 - And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2:11 - And for this cause YHWH shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.

This prophesy is fulfilled in many ways today, within the churches. The delusion that people are now allowed to "eat anything" is one example. Another prophesy concerning this subject, is found in Isaiah...

Isaiah 65:3 - A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 4 - Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels:

Isaiah 66:17 - "They that set themselves apart, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together," saith YHWH.

That is a warning that should be taken seriously! We need to pray to the Father, that He open our eyes so that we can see...

Psalm 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

*There are also those who teach required vegetarianism, which is another false doctrine.