| We have here not only Jehovah’s instructions to Israel “to make a difference between the unclean and the clean … the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten,” but also “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.” The clean animal “parteth the hoof … and cheweth the cud.” Both things must be true. If the animal had one of the characteristics but not the other, it was unclean. The foot and the mouth must both be right. It is not enough to say that we know and love the Lord; our daily walk must demonstrate it. Nor is it sufficient to try to walk uprightly, without confessing the Lord Jesus with our mouth. “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.” “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” God calls His own to “walk in newness of life,” and also that “your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” He tells us to “speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” and to “make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” |
