We are in chapter eleven of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. סְנַפִּ֨יר וְקַשְׂקֶ֜שֶׂת fins and scales. It is used 5 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in our chapter. Our phrase is part of the list of unclean animals that God instructed his people at that time not to eat. Let’s look at the three uses in our chapter which is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Leviticus 11:1-2, 9-12 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying … These you may eat, of all that are in the waters. Everything in the waters that has סְנַפִּ֨יר וְקַשְׂקֶ֜שֶׂת fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers, you may eat. But anything in the seas or the rivers that does not have סְנַפִּ֣יר וְקַשְׂקֶ֗שֶׂת fins and scales, of the swarming creatures in the waters and of the living creatures that are in the waters, is detestable to you. You shall regard them as detestable; you shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall detest their carcasses. Everything in the waters that does not have סְנַפִּ֥יר וְקַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂת fins and scales is detestable to you. Our next use is also used in the same context of unclean food. Deuteronomy 14:3, 9-10 You shall not eat any abomination … Of all that are in the waters you may eat these: whatever has סְנַפִּ֥יר וְקַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂת fins and scales you may eat. And whatever does not have סְנַפִּ֥יר וְקַשְׂקֶ֖שֶׂת fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean for you. Did you notice the strong language associated with why God’s people of that time were not to eat these? Here in Deuteronomy they are called an abomination and in our chapter in Leviticus they are called detestable. These are two of the strongest words used in the Bible so it is no wonder why Peter had such a hard time letting God change his perspective on what he was now doing through the church. As we have already looked at Jesus made it clear to His disciples that all foods were clean. Let’s look at how God taught this lesson again to Peter before He sent him to minister to the “unclean” Gentiles. I’ll close with this great section from God’s word. Acts 10:9–16 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. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
