We now come to some very interesting instructions given to the children of Israel as to what animals, birds, and creeping things they could eat. Some were to be considered clean, while others were unclean and abominable to them. God would impress upon them how exceedingly holy He is, and how utterly unfit man is, in his natural state, to be in His presence. They were so surrounded by all that was unclean and abominable, as well as being sinful and defiled in themselves, that this should have stripped them of any thought of self-righteousness. How could they measure up to what God required? And how could they find enough animals to atone for all their sins? Surely their case was a hopeless one, and indeed it was apart from the one perfect sacrifice which the Lord Jesus was to accomplish on Calvary’s cross.
The Good Samaritan
If anyone reading these lines thinks that he can measure up to God’s standards under the law, let him carefully consider all that God has written in the book of Leviticus alone. Then let him remember that the Scripture says, “Verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matthew 5:1818For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18)). The law can never do anything for man in his natural state but curse him and leave him in his helplessness. It is like the Levite who saw the poor wounded man in the ditch and passed by on the other side. He was unable to do anything for him (Luke 10:3232And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. (Luke 10:32)). It took the good Samaritan to come where he was and lift him up and take him to an inn.
And so in the face of all these laws and ordinances of Judaism, which should convict anyone of their sin before God, how good to be able to turn to the Lord Jesus, the true Good Samaritan, who has fully met all our need. How blessed to look at that cross by faith, and see nailed to it all “the handwriting of ordinances that was against us” (Colossians 2:1414Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Colossians 2:14)) and to know that in those three dark hours all our guilty sins were placed upon His blessed holy head, while He became the Sin-bearer for all those who believe in Him. What gratitude should fill our hearts as we hear those glorious words, “it is finished” from His blessed lips, for now we know that God has been fully glorified about the question of sin. All our need, too, has been met “once for all” in His atoning death. May each one of us who have accepted Christ as our precious Saviour realize in a deeper measure what it cost Him to take our place on Calvary, for we can see by reading these chapters in Leviticus just how enormous the debt was.
A Law of Liberty
Before speaking of these clean animals and other things which the Israelites were allowed to eat, we will remind our readers once again that for us they are only “shadow[s] of good things to come.” We have been delivered from the law, not to live a lawless life, but that the will of God might become the law of liberty to our hearts, and so these chapters have much precious instruction for us in our spiritual life. Our new man now finds its delight in pleasing the Lord, and when walking in the enjoyment of His love in our souls, we feel that “His commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:33For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:3)). The enemy of our souls may tell us that it is a hard path, but those who have walked in it have found that “her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace” (Proverbs 3:1717Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (Proverbs 3:17)).
For Further Meditation
1. What do the laws and ordinances of Judaism do?
2. The Samaritan came “where he was” to rescue the man who had fallen among thieves. Why didn’t he just call the man from the ditch to come over to his donkey and get a ride? How does this apply to us?
3. If you’ve enjoyed the story of the good Samaritan for yourself, you may want to share it with others. There are many good gospel tracts to hand to others you meet. At least one is available entitled The Good Samaritan.