Exodus 22:31

And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.

The command belongs to the teachings given on the mount in Exodus 19-24, written in a book with the statutes and judgments found in Exodus 21-23. It was given by Christ Himself as Mediator on Mount Sinai, the same Teacher who later spoke in human flesh, ordained in the hand of a Mediator through whose power hearts can be brought into harmony with its principles. It does not belong to a Christless dispensation and is not of lower order than present requirements. It is to be strictly obeyed, studied and presented before the people, and its instruction is needed now just as verily as it was needed by Israel in the days of Moses.

Its laws guard against doing injustice and guide dealings with one another. They guard the interests of the people, give direction with impartiality toward the poor, and are exalted in their requirements. They were given for good and not as arbitrary commands.

The call to be holy men unto God means belonging to God and being worthy of recognition by a holy God. It means being brought into harmony with the principles of the law through His power. The law given on Sinai is the enunciation of the principle of love and a revelation to earth of the law of heaven.

This holiness comes through faith by becoming partakers of the righteousness of Christ. Only holy men can keep the Sabbath holy. Only thus can the Sabbath distinguish them as worshipers of God, as a token of separation from idolatry and connection with the true God.

Upon settlement in Canaan, animal food was permitted only under careful restrictions that tended to lessen its harmful results. Only animals in good condition could be used for food. No flesh torn of beasts, no creature that had died of itself, and nothing from which the blood had not been carefully drained was allowed to be eaten.

The prohibition stands with the prohibition of swine's flesh and of other unclean animals, birds and fish. It stands with the strict forbidding of eating fat and blood from permitted meats.

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