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.
