In chapter 10 Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron,
offer strange fire to the Lord. They offered this fire
in self-will, without seeking or obeying God’s directive
in the matter. Their deaths were warnings against
treating God’s ordinances lightly and distorting His
commandments concerning offerings. The seriousness of
the sin is emphasized not only by the sudden death of
the guilty, but by the command not to mourn for them.

God does not allow disobedience to His commands
without punishment for that disobedience. When we, as
children of God, continually disobey Him, we must be
chastised. Nadab and Abihu were priests, yet God judged
them for their disobedience. The severity of His
judgment should be a lesson to every child of God.

Leviticus, as a manual of holiness, now sets
forth the truth that holiness is required of God’s
redeemed people. The preflood distinction between clean
and unclean animals (Genesis 7:2), included in the
Mosaic Law, was based partly on reasons of physical
health and religious principles, and was designed to
mark Israel’s separation from other people. God said,
“Be ye holy; for I am holy.” We are told in Romans 12:1,
to “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Why? Because our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost
(1 Corinthians 6:19), and it is God’s desire that we not
only be separated, but that we be vessels, clean and
meet for the Master’s use.