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Unlocking Leviticus: The Life-Changing Holiness Codes Explained | The Deep Dive Bible Study Podcast
How do ancient Old Testament laws apply to your life today? In this episode of The Deep Dive Bible Study Podcast, Pastor Tim Hatch unpacks Leviticus 11 and the Holiness Codes, revealing powerful insights that will transform your faith, choices, and even your well-being. Discover how these “clean” and “unclean” laws are not just about food but about setting your life apart for God’s purpose—living with discernment and joy!
You might think this ancient text has nothing to do with your life, but think again! Leviticus offers timeless lessons about boundaries, discipline, and living as set-apart people in a modern world.
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👉 Timestamps:
- 00:00 – Welcome to The Deep Dive Bible Study with Tim Hatch
- 01:30 – What are the Holiness Codes of Leviticus 11?
- 05:20 – Understanding “clean” and “unclean” animals
- 10:45 – Holiness and Your Everyday Choices
- 17:10 – Living a Set-Apart Life: Boundaries, Discipline, & Identity
- 22:50 – Historical Interpretations of Leviticus 11
- 30:30 – The Symbolic Purity in Dietary Laws
- 38:10 – Practical Application for Modern Christians
- 45:00 – Peter’s Vision and Breaking Free from Old Testament Dietary Laws
- 50:20 – Closing Thoughts: Holiness in Every Aspect of Life
Whether you’re a new believer or a seasoned Christian, this study will enrich your understanding of how God’s call to holiness transforms not only your heart but also the way you live each day. Don’t skip Leviticus—it holds keys to living a life full of God’s peace and purpose.
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Keywords: #BibleStudy #Leviticus #Holiness #ChristianPodcast #FaithGrowth #TimHatch #LivingSetApart #SpiritualDiscipline #CleanAndUnclean #Discernment #ChristianLiving
Leviticus 11
The Life-Giving Diet to Change the World
Israel’s Diet
Leviticus 11:1–2 (ESV) And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.
Leviticus 11:3–4 (ESV) Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. 4 Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you.
Leviticus 11:9–11 (ESV) “These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. 10 But anything in the seas or the rivers that does not have fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. 11 You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses.
Leviticus 11:13–19 (ESV) “And these you shall detest among the birds; they shall not be eaten; they are detestable: the eagle, the bearded vulture, the black vulture, 14 the kite, the falcon of any kind, 15 every raven of any kind, 16 the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind, 17 the little owl, the cormorant, the short-eared owl, 18 the barn owl, the tawny owl, the carrion vulture, 19 the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.
Leviticus 11:39–40 (ESV) “And if any animal which you may eat dies, whoever touches its carcass shall be unclean until the evening, 40 and whoever eats of its carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. And whoever carries the carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening.
Leviticus 11:44–45 (ESV) For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. 45 For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
Leviticus 11:46–47 (ESV) This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten.
Categorical Limitations:
- Land Animals (Leviticus 11:1-8)
Clean animals: Those that have split hooves and chew the cud (e.g., cows, sheep, goats). Unclean animals: Those that do not have both, such as camels, pigs, and rabbits.
- Aquatic Animals (Leviticus 11:9-12)
Clean animals: Those with fins and scales (e.g., most fish).
Unclean animals: Any sea creatures lacking fins and scales (e.g., shellfish, eels).
- Birds (Leviticus 11:13-19)
Unclean birds includes scavengers and birds of prey, such as vultures, ravens, and hawks. By implication, non-scavenging birds like chickens and doves were considered clean.
- Insects (Leviticus 11:20-23)
Clean insects: Locusts, crickets, and grasshoppers.
Unclean insects: All other winged insects that walk on all fours.
- Reptiles and Swarming Creatures (Leviticus 11:29-31)
All creeping or swarming animals are unclean, including lizards, snakes, and mice.
Historical Interpretations:
- Health and Hygiene Theory
- Separation from Pagan Practices
- Symbolic Purity
Pastoral Reasons:
- To keep the Jews as a DISTINCT people
- To keep God’s people CONSCIOUS of the presence/nature of SIN.
- To develop DISCERNMENT in God’s
Key Idea: HOLINESS
Leviticus 11:44 (ESV) For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.
What is “Holiness”? Hebrew: “qadosh”
“That quality of God and of things and persons set apart for God that marks whatever possesses it as “different” and “other” than the ordinary things of creation.”
Key Idea: HOLINESS
Our whole being is involved in HOLINESS.
1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV) Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
Hebrews 9:14 (ESV) how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
WE REPRESENT HIM through HOLINESS
Leviticus 10:3 (ESV) Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’ ” And Aaron held his peace.
All Foods Declared Clean
Mark 7:15–19 (ESV) There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)
Acts 10
Acts 10:3–8 (ESV) About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Acts 10:9–14 (ESV) The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”
Acts 10:15–18 (ESV) And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.
Acts 10:19–23 (ESV) And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
Acts 10:24–29 (ESV) And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”
Acts 10:44–47 (ESV) While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
JONAH
Jonah 1:1–3 (ESV) Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
Jonah 4:2–3 (ESV) And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
What is the Text Teaching?
The holiness of God’s people was intended to attract others into the fold.
Attractional Holiness:
Deuteronomy 4:5–8 (ESV) See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?
1 Peter 2:11–12 (ESV) Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
Avoid Legalism
Colossians 2:20–23 (ESV) If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
Application:
- We are to be holy – like our
- We are to be disciplined – not
- We are to be trained in
- We are to be noticeably different from
- We are not called to be
Devotion: God’s Life-Giving Diet – Living a Set-Apart Life
Scripture Reading:
- Leviticus 11:44-45 (ESV):
“For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves… For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” - 1 Peter 2:11-12 (ESV):
“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”
Reflection:
In Leviticus 11, God lays down specific dietary laws for the people of Israel, distinguishing between clean and unclean animals. While these laws may seem irrelevant to us today, they carry a deeper spiritual meaning. They weren’t just about food—they were about calling God’s people to live distinct, holy lives, separated from the surrounding nations’ sinful practices.
Just as the Israelites were called to make distinctions between clean and unclean, we too are called to live discerning lives. Holiness is not merely a set of external rules, but an inner transformation that reflects God’s purity, love, and goodness to the world.
In the New Testament, Jesus declares all foods clean (Mark 7:15-19), emphasizing that it’s not what enters our bodies that defiles us, but what comes out of our hearts. Our call to holiness remains, but now it’s a matter of living in a way that reveals God’s character through our actions, words, and choices.
Application:
- Be Holy in All You Do: God’s call to be holy (Leviticus 11:44) isn’t a suggestion—it’s a command. But holiness isn’t just about moral behavior; it’s about reflecting God’s love, mercy, and righteousness. Ask yourself: Am I living in a way that reflects God’s holiness to the world around me?
- Practice Discernment: Just as Israel had to distinguish between clean and unclean, we must learn to discern what aligns with God’s will in our daily lives. Are there habits, influences, or relationships that are hindering your walk with God? Take inventory of what you allow into your heart and mind.
- Set Yourself Apart: We are called to be “in the world but not of it” (John 17:14-15). Like Peter in Acts 10, God calls us to reach the lost and live as witnesses to His grace. Is your life distinct enough that people can see the difference Christ has made? Live in such a way that your actions draw others toward God’s love.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for calling me to live a life set apart for Your glory. Help me to be discerning in my actions, choices, and relationships. Cleanse my heart and mind from anything that is unclean or displeasing to You. May Your holiness be reflected in my life so that others may be drawn to You. Empower me by Your Spirit to walk in wisdom, purity, and love, bringing honor to Your name in all I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thought of the Day:
Holiness is not about rigid rules but about living a life that reflects God’s character to the world. Every choice we make is an opportunity to showcase His love, grace, and righteousness.
Engage:
Take time today to reflect on areas in your life where you may need to apply more discernment. Are there influences you’ve allowed in that don’t reflect God’s holiness? Share with someone you trust and ask them to pray with you as you seek to live more fully set apart for God.
Call to Action:
- Live Distinctly: Reflect on Leviticus 11:44, which calls us to be holy because God is holy. Commit to making choices today that set you apart from the world and align with God’s will.
- Practice Discernment: As we see in 1 Peter 2:11-12, our conduct among non-believers should be honorable, bringing glory to God. Take time to evaluate areas in your life where you need to practice more discernment, whether in relationships, entertainment, or daily habits.
- Reach Out with Holiness: In Acts 10, Peter learns that no one should be considered unclean and that God’s salvation is for all. Seek opportunities this week to share God’s love and holiness through acts of kindness, prayer, or sharing your faith with someone far from God.
- Pursue Holiness in Every Area: Hebrews 9:14 reminds us that Christ purifies our conscience so we can serve the living God. Spend time in prayer asking God to cleanse areas of your heart and life that need to reflect His holiness more fully.
- Be a Light to Others: Deuteronomy 4:5-8 teaches that our lives should reflect God’s wisdom and understanding to others. Think about how your lifestyle and choices are impacting those around you. Ask God for guidance on how you can be a better witness through your actions.
Questions/Journal Prompts:
- In what areas of your life do you struggle to be “set apart” from the world?
- How can you practice greater discernment in your choices, relationships, and media consumption?
- What does it mean to you personally to live a holy life, and how can you apply that in practical ways this week?
- Are there influences in your life that need to change in order to better reflect God’s holiness? Write them down and pray over them.
- How can you live in such a way that others are drawn to Christ by your actions and attitudes?
Use these questions to journal your thoughts and reflections, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you toward deeper holiness and discernment.
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