Are we not allowed to wear clothing made of different types of fabric?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Old Testament Mosaic Law includes civil and ceremonial requirements that seem odd to modern readers. One such command prohibited God's people from wearing clothing made with two different types of fabric. The practical purpose of this command isn't completely clear, but its spiritual purpose may have been to emphasize Israel's uniqueness from pagan nations as a set-apart people of God (Leviticus 20:26). It may also have been meant to highlight God's holiness (Leviticus 11:44, 19:3, 4, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 24, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37) as opposed to humankind's unholiness. Human beings could never perfectly keep the Law and, thus, be saved through it, which pointed to the need for a Savior (Galatians 3:24; Hebrews 10:1-4, 11). In Christ, that law has been fulfilled, meaning believers are no longer bound by these restrictions. However, the call to be God’s people has not changed—believers are still meant to live set-apart lives, not through external rules but through inward transformation by Christ and the Holy Spirit.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Mosaic laws God gave to the nation of Israel included civil and ceremonial components, such as prohibitions against breeding two different types of cattle, sowing two different kinds of seed in one field, and wearing clothing made of different fabrics (Leviticus 19:19; cf. Deuteronomy 22:11). Believers today are no longer obligated to those civil and ceremonial components of the law (Jeremiah 31:31-33). (God's moral law still applies, though; the only one not repeated in the New Testament is Sabbath-keeping).
• Though the practical reason for such distinctions is not completely clear, some believe those prohibitions are additional examples of the Mosaic Law's emphasis on separating holy and unholy. For instance, Israel, as the chosen people of the true God, were to be set apart from pagan nations (Leviticus 20:26).
• Such distinctions as those about wearing clothing of two different materials may also have been meant to emphasize God's holiness as opposed to humankind's unholiness.
• God commanded the Israelites to "be holy, for I am holy" (Leviticus 11:44).  Fifteen times in Leviticus 19, God ends His Laws with "I am the Lord" or some version of that (Leviticus 19:3, 4, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 24, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37). No human being could keep the law perfectly—i.e., be holy—-and failure to do so pointed to the need for a Savior.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Old Testament laws were fulfilled by and in Jesus Christ (Romans 10:4), so believers today do not need to follow the the civil and ceremonial laws, such as those about wearing clothes made from two different fabrics.
• The Mosaic Law revealed humankind's sin since no one could perfectly keep the law; in that way, the Law was believers' "guardian until Christ" (Galatians 3:24; cf. Hebrews 4:15). Those who are in Christ today are no longer obligated to follow such laws because we are justified by Christ, not through our works. Romans 3:20 says, "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin."
• Believers are still set apart as God's people (Romans 6:14; Colossians 2:16-17). The apostle Peter refers to believers as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession" (1 Peter 2:9). This is one reason Paul warns believers against being "unequally yoked" to unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). The separation, though, is achieved through faith in Christ and sanctification of the Holy Spirit, not through the Law.
• The writer of Hebrews makes it clear that the Mosaic Law was not sufficient to remove sin; sacrifices had to be repeated (Hebrews 10:1-4, 11). But Christ "offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins . . . For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified" (Hebrews 10:12, 14).  Believers today are made righteous through faith in Christ, not through works of the Law (Ephesians 2:8-9).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Orange juice and toothpaste, vacations and work email, studying while babysitting toddlers—-some things just don't mix well. Clothing made of both linen and wool would be one of these, according to Old Testament Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 22:11). Though we aren't sure of the practical reason God prohibited that combination in clothes, the spiritual reason may have been to distinguish between holy and holy.

Believers today can wear clothing made of linen, wool, polyester, and any other fabric. That's because we aren't under the civil and ceremonial parts of the Mosaic Law. Even so, we are still to be set apart spiritually from the world, and that should show up in lives (John 15:18–19; Romans 12:2; James 4:4). That Oscar-winning movie everybody is raving about may not be on our list of "must-sees" because it celebrates behavior God finds unacceptable. We might not pick up extra shifts at work because it would mean cutting down on the opportunity to worship with other believers. God's people should be distinct from the world—being in it but not of it.

UNDERSTAND

• Old Testament Mosaic Law included civil and ceremonial elements, such as not wearing clothing made from two fabrics (Leviticus 19:19).
• The Old Testament law regarding mixed fabrics does not pertain to believers today.
• Christians are still to be set-apart from the world but through faith in Christ, not the law.

REFLECT

• How do you distinguish in your own thinking between what God commands and what was specific to Israel under the Mosaic Law?
• In what areas of your life might you be tempted to focus on outward rules rather than inward transformation by Christ?
• What are some ways that your life testifies to being set apart for Christ?

ENGAGE

• How should Christians respond when unbelievers try to undermine the Bible by mocking certain parts of the Mosaic Law, such as those found in Leviticus 19:19?
• How should believers explain the difference between ceremonial laws and God’s ongoing moral call to holiness?
• What does it practically look like for believers to live “in the world but not of it” together?