And the LORD spoke to Aaron, saying, “Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them by Moses.”
The above passage needs to be read in the context of what proceeded it, regarding the priest. Notice the first couple over verses of this chapter:
Leviticus 10:1-2 (ESV)
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
This must have sent shock waves throughout the camp in general and certainly among Moses and Aaron and the family of priest specifically. This story is the equivalent of the story of the early church, when this happened:
Acts 5:1-5 (ESV)
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.
In both of these stories we are talking about the holiness of God. We don’t know what caused Nadab and Abihu to offer strange fire before the Lord. We don’t know exactly what Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, were thinking when they lied to say they sold their land for more than they offered. But in both cases it caused them to perish. They did not offer their offering in holiness. Regarding Nadab and Aibhu, it might have been that they had consumed so much wine that in impaired their act of service, hence soliciting the above command from God to their farther, Aaron. We know there are plenty of places in the Bible where wine was okay. We know there are several places in the Bible where wine is not okay. Here is an example of one of the later. Because God wanted the priest and their duties to be sanctified (made holy) God didn’t want the priest to be intoxicated or impaired in their offering duties. Again, we don’t know if this was the case for Aaron’s son’s death, but never-the-less the context certainly means that God knows that wine and drink can hinder service. This is the reason for the command. God’s reason is not for social normative, nor for health reasons. Rather His command is based upon holiness. The priest were to offer before God the sacrifices of the people. Their holiness was imperative to those tasks. When we consider the choices in this world it might be wise to consider what brings and produces holiness in our lives. It might not be a wrong thing to do this thing or that thing, but it might not be the thing that produces holiness before the Father and that is a real thing.
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
1 Corinthians 6:12 (ESV)
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.
Hebrews 12:28 (ESV)
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
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