Deuteronomy 14-16  These chapters are reminders about what it meant for Israel to be "sons of the Lord your God.."  He calls them "a holy people." ... a chosen people.. "a people for His own possession.. "  Therefore their lives would be set apart from the nations by what they ate; what they tithed; what they did;  and what they celebrated. 

Chapter 14 gives the details about what was clean or unclean in God's sight regarding meat. God's commands were meant for Israel's good.  We may not understand them or practice them.. but they were vital to God's people for His purposes.  This chapter also touches on tithing from the grain, wine, and oil, the first-born cattle and sheep.. "in order that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always."  Obeying God's commands would bring rejoicing to His people.. all the people, rich and poor alike ... for this would provide for "the Levite.. the alien, the orphan, and the widow" so that all would be "satisfied".  

Chapter 15 reminded the people of keeping the sabbath year.. when debts were to be forgiven  and kinsman would release their brothers from service. It was a time to be generous and not prideful or greedy. 

Chapter 16 restated the laws for the feasts of Passover, Weeks, and Booths.  They were to "remember all the days of your life the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.."  The Lord didn't want Israel to forget that they had been slaves and that He had brought them out to this Promised Land and blessed them with all that He provided.  The harvest was because of His grace. The work of their hands that brought about produce..was because of God's blessing.  God wanted and still wants His people to remember Him.. He holds everything in His hands and without Him.. we can do nothing.  Come and rejoice in the goodness of God!

The Words that Jesus spoke echo these words from the ancient message to Israel.. "Remember! " All that we have is from the hand of our Father in heaven,  He has brought us out of slavery to sin.. out of darkness.. out of hopelessness.. and blessed us with all that we need.  We are reminded that we are also a chosen people.. holy to the Lord, His own possession, because of the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins.  He reminds us that we need to distinguish between what is clean and what is unclean.. not so much in what we eat.. but in all that we take into our minds and hearts and lives.  He reminds us to practice forgiveness and generosity towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.  He reminds us to rejoice in the Lord for His many blessings - with sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. He also reminds us to practice justice and righteous judgement (16:19-20)  These things were commandments for Israel in their new land and they are important for our walk with Jesus in the land where we dwell.

 May we keep our eyes on Jesus and walk in His ways by the power of His Sprit who lives in us. Help us Father we pray.. In Jesus' name. Amen.