Leviticus 10:10 - Exposition

Wine and other intoxicating liquors ( שֵׁכר , whence the Greek word σίκερα , Luke 1:13 , was made from dates, or barley, or honey) are forbidden to the priests during their ministrations, that they may pat a difference between holy and unholy ; that is, that their minds may not be confused, but be capable of distinguishing between right and wrong, what ought and what ought not to be done. Nadab and Abihu, on the contrary, had not distinguished between the sacred and profane fire, or between God's commands and their own unregulated impulses. If they had partaken too freely of the wine provided for the drink offerings, their sin would be similar to that of the Corinthians in their abuse of the Lord's Supper. As to the use of wine by the minister of God under the New Testament, see 1 Timothy 3:2 , 1 Timothy 3:8 ; 1 Timothy 5:23 . The spiritual emotion, which, in the service of God, shows itself in pouring out the feelings in "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs," is contrasted, in Ephesians 5:18 , Ephesians 5:19 , with the physical excitement caused by wine, the former being commended and the latter forbidden.