Judeans sought to end kosher food practices in 168 BCE. The Jews such as Mattathias Maccabee killed some of those Jews, before scattering into the hills. Meanwhile the Jews who wanted to do away with kosher rules and were in charge in Jerusalem sought help from the ruling Seleukids to deal with the Maccabees, who were Jews keen on the Law. The Seluekids sent increasingly larger military units into Judea, each time defeated by the Maccabees who gained valuable swords and armor from each victory.

Early in the rebellion though, the Maccabees did suffer a setback when they were attacked on the Sabbath. So, out of necessity, a proclamation was made that people could “defend themselves” as an exception to the Sabbath. Ironic?

Philo and Paul speak of athletic events in such detail that it seems obvious that they went to some of these athletic events, and would have eaten foods sacrificed to idols, including pork. They both considered themselves devout (how can I stress that? very, devout devout?) Judeans.

James, the brother of Jesus is the only first century written, first century lived, example of someone who pushed for circumcision, and when his goons approached Peter in Antioch, Peter wavered on kosher foods (Galatians 2). Perhaps James was bent of kosher as well.

Clearly SOME people were bent on kosher, circumcision, and Sabbaths, or the NT writers would not be defending their stance on the issue. However, it is not clear that the NT testament writers were the only Jews who were not keeping these laws. It seems there is a long history of challenging the legitimacy of strict legalism, perhaps even from the time the first laws were written.

PS Ezekiel calls some laws evil.