“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
—Matthew 15:9
In Leviticus 10, we find Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, had just been ordained as priests.
They had seen God’s power firsthand. They had been given clear instructions. Yet, in a moment of careless worship, they took their censers, put incense in them, and offered “strange fire” before the Lord—something He never commanded.
The response was immediate. Fire came out from the LORD and devoured them on the spot. These weren’t wicked men from a pagan nation. These were priests of God, chosen for service, standing right inside the tabernacle. And yet, because they worshipped in their own way instead of God’s way, they died under God’s judgment.
The same fire that had just fallen in Leviticus 9:24 as a blessing on their obedience now fell as judgment on their disobedience. This wasn’t just about two men making a mistake. This was a warning to every believer: how we approach God matters.
1. Notice the Source of Their Fire
The problem wasn’t just that they burned incense—it was where their fire came from. God had commanded that the fire for incense should come from the altar of burnt offering (Leviticus 16:12). That fire had been started by God Himself when He first accepted the sacrifices. But Nadab and Abihu brought their own fire. They took something man-made and presented it as if it was from God.
This is exactly what Jesus warned about in Matthew 15:9: “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” They replaced God’s commands with their own ideas, and He rejected their worship.
We see this happen in churches today. Instead of preaching the Word of God, people preach their own opinions or experiences. They mix human wisdom as a divine truth and expect God to accept it. But our source of truth must be the Bible.
Paul warned about this in Colossians 2:8:
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”
Even well-meaning preachers, teachers, and parents can fall into this trap. They take good advice and turn it into God’s law, placing burdens on others that God never commanded. But God doesn’t bless man’s fire. He blesses His own.
Good advice is good. But let’s not pretend it’s from God.
2. Notice the Punishment of Fire
It’s no coincidence that fire was both the blessing and the judgment. When the people obeyed in Leviticus 9:24, fire from the LORD consumed the offering in a sign of God’s acceptance. But in Leviticus 10:2, fire from the LORD consumed the disobedient in a sign of God’s rejection.
God judged them with the very thing they misused. This is a warning to anyone who misuses the things of God.
The Bible is one of the greatest gifts God has given us, but it is also the most dangerous weapon in the hands of the wrong people. Many throughout history have used the Bible to manipulate, control, and even harm others. False teachers twist Scripture to suit their own desires (2 Peter 3:16), just like Nadab and Abihu tried to bring their own fire.
Paul warned Timothy about this in 2 Timothy 4:3-4:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
God will not let this go unchecked. Just because someone holds a Bible in their hand doesn’t mean they speak for God. And just because someone claims to worship God doesn’t mean He accepts it.
3. Notice the Command After the Fire
Right after Nadab and Abihu are struck dead, God gives a surprising command:
“Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations.”
—Leviticus 10:9
Why would God say this immediately after their death? Many believe this is a hint that Nadab and Abihu were drunk when they offered their strange fire. Maybe they got careless. Maybe they lost their fear of God. Maybe they thought a little compromise wouldn’t matter.
The lesson is clear: Never approach God under the influence of anything besides Him.
Paul echoes this in Ephesians 5:18:
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
This isn’t just about alcohol. It’s about anything that clouds our judgment, dulls our conviction, or takes control of us when we should be fully submitted to God. Some people are intoxicated by power, success, entertainment, or even their own wisdom. But when we come before God, we need to come with a clear mind, a humble heart, and full submission to His Spirit.
Conclusion: The Fire is Still Falling
God’s fire still falls today—but how it affects us depends on how we approach Him.
• If we come in obedience, we experience His fire of blessing.
• If we come in disobedience, we face His fire of judgment.
The same Word of God that saves is the same Word that will judge. Jesus said in John 12:48, “The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
Nadab and Abihu remind us that God is not interested in worship done our way—He wants worship done His way. The question is, are we bringing the right fire?
