14:26
How do we reconcile this text with the first part of the chapter, regarding what we shall eat and drink?
C. C. L. The first part of Deuteronomy 14, down to verse 21, is very specific regarding what we may eat and what we may not eat. A general statement does not overthrow special demands. The children of Israel certainly would not understand that the instructions given in verse 26 set aside the very specific instructions given in the first part of the chapter. The things that their soul desired would not be outside of God's express prohibitions. This is very evident in the laws of modern governments. There are laws which, taken by themselves, would seem to allow all kinds of liberty and license; but there are specific expressions which greatly modify the general law. Verse 26 is a general permission which God gave to His children when they came up to the great feasts; but they clearly understood that it did not imply the transgression of the specific laws which God had Himself given.