Though every creature of God be good and pure in itself, as appears from Genesis 1:31 Matthew 15:11 Romans 14:14; yet it pleased God to make a difference between clean and unclean, and to restrain the use of them, which he did in general and in part before the flood, Genesis 7:2; but more fully and particularly here for many reasons, as,
1. To assert his own sovereignty over man, and over all the creatures, which men may not use but with God's leave, and to inure that stiff-necked people to obedience.
2. To keep up the wall of partition between the Jews and other nations, which was very useful and necessary for many great and wise purposes.
3. That by bridling their appetite in things in themselves lawful, and some of them very desirable and delightful for food, they might be better prepared and enabled to deny themselves in things simply and grossly sinful.
4. For the preservation of their health, some of the creatures forbidden being, though used by the neigbbouring nations, of unwholesome nourishment, especially to the Jews, who were very obnoxious to leprosies, which some of these meats are apt to produce and foment.
5. For moral signification, to teach them to abhor that filthiness and all those ill qualities for which some of these creatures are noted.