God’s Law on Wool and Linen Explained: Lessons on Distinction
A common tactic used to discredit God’s law is to highlight what seem like minor or obscure commands. One of the most frequent examples is the instruction in Deuteronomy 22:11: “You shall not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together.” Critics often argue something like, “You don’t strictly observe this law, so how can you claim the Sabbath or other commands still matter?” From there, many conclude that because Jesus “fulfilled the law,” the entire law—including the Sabbath and other commands—can be considered obsolete.
At first glance, that argument might sound reasonable—after all, few Christians today are checking fabric labels before getting dressed. But this reasoning is selective. Most people who make this claim don’t reject all of God’s law; they still affirm commands against murder, lying, or theft. What they tend to dismiss are the laws that challenge modern practice—like the Sabbath, clean and unclean foods, or the biblical holy days—labeling them “legalistic.” Ironically, in doing so, they miss the deeper purpose of the very command they use as an example. The instruction against mixing wool and linen was given to teach distinction and purity, not to be used as a pretext for blurring the lines God Himself established.
God’s Distinctions
From the beginning, God established order through separation. In creation, He divided light from darkness, waters from land, and day from night. He created plants and animals to reproduce “after their kind.” In Leviticus and Deuteronomy, this same principle of distinction is applied to Israel’s daily life. They were not to mix seeds in a field, yoke an ox and a donkey together, or weave wool and linen into one garment.
Why? Because God’s physical laws reflected spiritual lessons. The laws of distinction reminded Israel that God is holy—set apart—and that His people were to remain distinct in how they lived, worshiped, and thought. These outward separations illustrated inward truths about purity, integrity, and faithfulness. To blur those lines—mixing what God had made separate—was to ignore His order and erase the meaning behind it.
Using the Law Against Itself
Critics often say, “Well, do you wear mixed fabrics? If so, or if you’re unaware of this command altogether, then you’re a hypocrite.” The assumption is that failing to follow one command makes someone hypocritical about others. But notice the irony: most people who make this argument aren’t rejecting all of God’s law—they still uphold moral commands like prohibitions against murder, lying, or theft. The “hypocrisy” claim is really a selective critique, applied only to the commands they find inconvenient.
God never gave all laws for the same purpose. Each had specific applications, and none were arbitrary. Ceremonial law pointed forward to Jesus—His role as high priest and all that entails, and what His sacrifice accomplished, something the animal sacrifices could never fully achieve—while moral law, like the Ten Commandments, expresses His eternal moral character. Flattening these distinctions into one indistinguishable mass, and then dismissing them all together, is to mix what God kept separate. It’s a blending not of fabrics, but of truth and error—of God’s categories and human reasoning.
Faith Misunderstood
This same error appears in how many approach faith today. In an attempt to defend “faith alone,” some redefine faith as something opposed to obedience. But biblical faith means trusting God enough to follow His instruction.
When “faith” is used to discard obedience, the meaning of both becomes distorted. The concepts are blended with modern understanding: faith is often seen as belief without works, and law is treated as a rigid code rather than God’s righteous and loving instruction. The same principle applies: what God designed to be in harmony, humans confuse by blending in ways He never intended.
The command about wool and linen becomes a metaphor for spiritual clarity. God’s people are called to keep the lines clear between what is holy and common, pure and profane, truth and error. Distinction is not division—it is order. When we blur those lines, we lose sight of the Creator’s intent.
The Deeper Lesson
The instruction about mixed fabrics wasn’t about style or ceremony—it was about reverence for the Creator’s order. The fabric you wore, the seed you planted, the animal you yoked—all were reminders that God’s design carries meaning and purpose.
So when someone uses this verse to argue against keeping any part of God’s law, they’re missing its point. They are taking a law meant to teach distinction and using it to destroy distinction. They are, in effect, weaving wool and linen together—combining divine truth with human reasoning to produce confusion.
The principle remains relevant: God still calls His people to understand and preserve the distinctions He established—between good and evil, truth and error, His commands and man’s opinions.
Final Thoughts
The command not to mix wool and linen was never simply about fabric. It was about faithfulness. It taught that God’s order should be respected, His distinctions honored, and His instructions understood according to their purpose.
To mock or misuse this command to undermine the rest of His law is to prove its wisdom true. God set boundaries to reveal His holiness and to teach His people to discern between the sacred and the profane. Rather than blur those lines, we should strive to understand them, because within those distinctions lies the beauty of God’s design and the integrity of His Word.
