Leviticus 10

CHAPTER 10THEME: Incident concerning Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron; instructions coming out of the incident; injunctions concerning the offerings in connection with the incidentThe Book of Leviticus has very little narrative, but is filled with instructions, rituals, regulations, and laws. This chapter offers a change of pace in the reading for it is a narrative. However, the interest is almost obliterated because it is a horrible tragedy which is recorded here. This is another blot on man’s long and sordid history of sin and willfulness. It is the record of the rebellion and disobedience of the two sons of Aaron. It follows the glorious day of dedication recorded in the preceding chapter. So often we find this happening. After a flush of victory, there is defeatas in the Book of Joshua, the victory of Jericho is followed by the ignoble defeat of Ai. The presumption of Nadab and Abihu is frightening in the light of the clear teaching which God gave at Sinai. “And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them” (Exo_19:22). In Exo_30:34-38 God gave to Moses the formula for the incense to be used in the tabernacle and said, “As for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the LORD. Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people” (Exo_30:37-38). The holiness of God is set forth at the beginning of the age of law by this incident. The holiness of God is set forth at the beginning of the age of grace by the incident concerning Ananias and Sapphira. Death was the drastic penalty in both cases. Our God is holy, and He deals with His children on that level. “For our God is a consuming fire” (Heb_12:29) is something we all need to learn today. “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men …” (2Co_5:11). This is something we need to recognize today. There is a warning in Heb_12:25: “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven.” This is one of the great sins of the hour. People are not hearing what God has to say in His Word.

Leviticus 10:1

INCIDENT CONCERNING NADAB AND ABIHU, SONS OF AARONIt may be argued that the penalty of death was too severe for the transgression committed. But notice particularly what God says here, “Which he commanded them not.” This reveals something of the enormity for the crime, and therefore the penalty is just. This was willful and deliberate disobedience to the expressed command of God. Precisely what did they do which brought down such severe judgment upon them? This act has been called “will-worship” and that is what it is. What did they do wrong? I’d like to make three suggestions:

1. They probably did not light the censer of incense from coals from off the altar, which was the fire which had come down from heaven. It apparently was understood that this must be done. This was the practice on the great Day of Atonement as is clearly stated in Lev_16:12: “And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil.” This was the same ritual followed at the time of the rebellion of Korah (Num_16:46). It must be assumed that this method was the only correct one. The ritual they followed was contrary to God’s way.
2. Their timing was out of step with the God-given ritual. The ritual for the day had been completed. They should have consulted Aaron in this matter. Apparently, they wanted to repeat the marvelous display of the preceding chapter. Isn’t this a problem today, when with our will-worship we try to duplicate what God has done? There are many who try to duplicate the experience of the day of Pentecost. God is sovereign! His will must be followed even as to the timing. The Spirit of God will move according to His own will. We should simply make ourselves available and obedient to Him.
3. Others have supposed that they intruded beyond the veil which was expressly forbidden. There is justification for their viewpoint as stated in Lev_16:1-2: “And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; and the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.” It would seem that this prohibition came out of the incident of Nadab and Abihu. They were wrong as to the place they should come. God had commanded them as to the manner, the time, and the place. They were wrong in all three. Some may still think that God surely uses extreme surgery. It does reveal that our God is a jealous God. He is sovereign in all His dealings, and those who come to Him must come on His terms. It is still true that to obey is better than sacrifice. God will not accept worship in our own will, no matter how sincere. We need to note here, too, that the high position of these men offered them no immunity. The sudden execution of judgment here is startling. There is no escaping the statement that the fire was from the Lord. Let us recognize that judgment is not foreign to the age of grace. It may not always be this sudden. “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep” (1Co_11:30). In the case of Ananias and Sapphira it was just as sudden and sure. This does not mean that the believer in Christ can lose his salvation! Nadab and Abihu, and Ananias and Sapphira did not lose their salvation. Neither did the believers in the Corinthian congregation. This is made very clear. “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world” (1Co_11:31-32). Physical death is oftentimes a judgment for the child of God. There is a sin unto death (1Jn_5:16) but it is physical death. The child of God is not condemned with the world. These judgments in both the Old and New Testaments are examples to believers that will-worship is detestable to God. The believer must come to God in God’s way. The believing sinner must worship God’s way. Heb_10:19-22 tells us very definitely that we are to come to God with boldness, but that it must be by the blood of Jesus. We come because we have a High Priest over the house of God. We are to come “…with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” God makes a difference! “And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean” (Lev_10:10). Don’t get the idea that God can’t move in with judgment today. Let me get very personal. A friend of mine, who knows me very well, said, “McGee, since you have had cancer and you know you still have cancer in your body now, did it ever occur to you that maybe it is a judgment from God?” I told this brother, “You know, I have waked up in the stillness and darkness of the night and I’ve thought just that, and I have cried out to God.” May I say to you, I don’t exclude myself. If we don’t judge ourselves, God will judge us, so that we are not condemned with the world! God does all things well! When I say these things to you, remember that I am going through it. This fellow knows what he is talking about. What an illustration this is that sometimes Jesus will come in fiery judgment upon the lost world. Enoch preached this! Enoch prophesied, “…Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him” (Jud_1:14-15). Peter said the same thing. “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1Pe_4:18).

Leviticus 10:3

When the news spread throughout the hosts of Israel, the people must have gathered about the tabernacle to view the dead bodies of these young men. Moses quoted the words of the Lord to give them an explanation for the judgment. “And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them” (Exo_19:22). Those who have been brought into a particular nearness to God must exercise a sharp insight into the holiness and the righteous demands of God. “You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amo_3:2). As God judged His people Israel, so God judges His saints today in order that the world may know He is a holy God. Aaron’s attitude and conduct are noticeable. He maintains a demeanor of silence. There is no cry of disappointment, grief, or resentment toward God. He bows in heartbroken submission to the will of God. His grief must have been deep, but he can say nothing against the sovereign will of God. You notice God says, “I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me.” Moses called upon two of the priests who were cousins of the slain men to remove the dead bodies from before the sanctuary. As the people looked on in awe, they were carried out of the camp.

Leviticus 10:6

INSTRUCTIONS COMING OUT OF THE INCIDENTA restriction is placed on Aaron and his two remaining sons. They were not to mourn outwardly. There is a twofold reason for this. The first is clearly stated, “the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you.” They were set aside to represent the people before God, and they were God’s representatives before the people. They were to continue in their office that there might be a mediator between God and man, lest wrath should come upon the people and the judgment of death be upon them. In the second place, they were not to show the outward signs of mourning which would contradict the action of God in judging their loved ones.

It must be added that they must have gone about their office with sad hearts. They were serving God and there must be no evidence of rebellion against Him.

Leviticus 10:8

It would appear from this instruction that Nadab and Abihu had acted under the influence of alcohol. This is one of the finest examples in Scripture against the use and abuse of alcohol or drugs. The priest is to serve the Lord with a clear, steady, and sober mind. Today we have the advocates of the use of drugs in religion. My friend, God despises such an approach to Him. This is the same thing that Paul meant when he said, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Eph_5:18). The believer is to draw his dynamic and his zeal from the Spirit of the Lord and not from frail and human props. What a lesson this is against drugs and alcohol for us today.

Leviticus 10:10

The use of wine dulls the senses so that a sharp distinction cannot be made between the holy and the unholy. True values are distorted and there is a breakdown in morals as a result of the use and abuse of alcohol. The priest must keep the statutes of the Lord so that he can teach them to the people. It is the filling of the Holy Spirit that is needed for the study and the teaching of the Word of God.

Leviticus 10:12

INJUNCTIONS CONCERNING THE OFFERINGSMoses repeats the commandments which concern both the meal offering and the peace offering. A portion of the offering was to be eaten by them in the holy place. This evidently is the outer court beside the burnt altar. It is holy because it was set aside for the service of God. The wave breast and the heave shoulder should be eaten in a clean place. Apparently they could take this to eat in their homes which would be ceremonially clean.

Leviticus 10:16

Now here is another tragic incident with action contrary to the will of God. We find failure on the part of the two other sons of Aaron, but here it is a sin of omission. It was not a deliberate and willful sin, as was that of the two dead sons. The sin offering was to be eaten in the holy place and that had not been done. Although the blood had been offered, the portion that belonged to the priests had not been eaten. They had omitted doing this, possibly not realizing the importance of it.

Leviticus 10:19

Aaron assumed responsibility for his sons. Apparently the tragic incident had caused not only a loss of appetite but also a feeling of unworthiness in continuing to serve before God. Moses was satisfied with the explanation. I think at this point old Aaron felt like resigning. There is tremendous truth for us to draw from this incident. These men came to God on their own. They were willful and this was blasphemy. God judged them. People today ask me whether it is wrong for them to belong to a church which denies the deity of Christ. Friends, do you think anyone can come to God in such a place, apart from God’s will and God’s terms?

If God struck today as He struck Nadab and Abihu, I think half the church members would be dead. The liberals would be struck for denying the deity of Christ and the forgiveness of His sacrifice for us. Many fundamental church members would be struck down like Ananias and Sapphira for their hypocrisy, their lying to the Holy Spirit. God is dealing in mercy today, giving time for repentance and for men to come to the knowledge of the truth. Otherwise many people would be struck dead. There is a wonderful lesson for you and for me. When we come to God, we must come on His terms. This is not an arrangement which we can make. We are not making the rules. God is the One who saves and He is the One who says how we shall be saved. Jesus Christ says that no man comes to the Father but by Him.