A reader puzzles about Old Testament Kosher and Purity Laws

She writes:

I read your column http://www.ncregister.com/blog/mark-shea/saved-by-christ-not-by-rules just after hearing this Sunday’s Gospel from Mark, which brought up a question I’ve had for a while. As I understand it, in this passage and others Jesus basically says that the old rules of the Torah (all the dietary rules, purification, etc.) no longer apply. And of course going forward, Christians put this into practice by no longer keeping kosher, etc.

But then my question is, why did God institute all of those rules in the first place? Were they an arbitrary test to see if the Jews would do whatever He told them? Thanks for your help on this,

Here’s a some stuff I wrote on this a while back:

http://www.mark-shea.com/pollution1.html

http://www.mark-shea.com/pollution2.html

http://www.mark-shea.com/phar.html

http://www.mark-shea.com/pure.html

Bottom line, as Jesus says, everything in the Law and the Prophets (including the kosher laws) is a sign pointing to him.  The purity regulations were signs pointing to spiritual impurity and its effects, as well as to our need for cleansing and healing in Christ through the power of the Spirit in the sacraments.  They were shadows and signs.  When the reality arrives, the shadows and signs pass away just as when you get to your destination, you no longer need the map.