Food laws
Food laws are biblical regulations about what God’s people could and could not eat, especially under the Mosaic covenant. In the New Testament, these laws are no longer binding as covenant markers for God’s people in Christ.
At a Glance
Food laws are biblical regulations about what God’s people could and could not eat, especially under the Mosaic covenant. In the New Testament, these laws are no longer binding as covenant markers for God’s people in Christ.
Description
Food laws are the dietary commands given chiefly to Israel under the Mosaic covenant, especially in passages that distinguish clean and unclean animals. These regulations marked Israel as a holy people set apart to the Lord and formed part of the covenant life God gave that nation. In the New Testament, Jesus teaches that defilement is not ultimately a matter of food, and the apostles make clear that Gentile believers are not required to keep the Mosaic dietary laws as covenant obligations. Christians should therefore not regard food laws as a basis of righteousness or fellowship before God, while also recognizing that Scripture may still call believers to act with love, wisdom, and sensitivity in matters of conscience and table fellowship.