17. Pharisaism and Sacrilege (Leviticus 10:1-11)

• Jun, 23 2025

Leviticus 10:1–11 – Pharisaism and Sacrilege Rushdoony examines the deadly sin of Nadab and Abihu, who offered “strange fire” before the Lord—an unauthorized act of worship. Their judgment was swift: fire from the Lord consumed them. Rushdoony defines this as sacrilege—not merely disobedience, but a deeper theft against God's sovereignty, where man assumes authority over what belongs to God. Key Themes and Warnings: 1. Strange Fire = Unauthorized WorshipThe brothers did what God “had not commanded”, not necessarily what He forbade. This distinction matters. Any attempt to “improve” worship or make it more meaningful than God has ordered is rebellion. Rushdoony writes:“Autonomy... only renders us unholy.”Calvin and Wenham are cited to show that even well-meaning religious innovations (perhaps from pagan cults or fertility rites) are condemned.2. Pharisaism Is SacrilegePharisaism is described as the pious attempt to be “more holy than God” by adding human rules or interpretations to divine commands. Rushdoony criticizes allegorical interpretations of Scripture (e.g., a symbolic reading of the Good Samaritan) as man-centered distortions.The intention may be good, but the outcome is idolatrous: “To seek to improve on God is to dishonor Him.”3. Responsibility Grows With CallingAaron and his surviving sons are not allowed to mourn or even leave the tabernacle. Their office and the “anointing oil” separated them for service, not sentiment.“That oil is a restraint as well as an inspiration.” – J. ParkerGod’s demand is total: even grief must be subordinated to His calling. Jesus affirms this in Luke 9:60 – “Let the dead bury their dead…”4. God’s Word, Not Man’s InventionWhether it is theological allegory, temperance laws beyond Scripture, or ceremonial additions, anything beyond God's Word is blasphemy. This extends to sincere religious acts like asceticism, legalism, or liturgical novelties.Example: “Pharisees are sincere people, but this does not absolve them of sin.”5. Sobriety and DiscernmentGod directly speaks to Aaron (rare in Leviticus) to reaffirm his priesthood and command: no intoxicants in the tabernacle (vv. 8–9). The priest’s task is to distinguish between the holy and profane—which cannot be done under altered perception.This also applies to teaching (v. 11): God's priests must be sober-minded to faithfully pass on His statutes.Modern Application:Worship must be God-directed, not experience-driven. Innovation in worship that prioritizes feeling, mysticism, or “relevance” often crosses into Nadab and Abihu’s error.Theology must be anchored in Scripture, not allegory or tradition. Rushdoony warns against both liberal revisionism and conservative legalism, both of which presume to add to God’s law.Sincerity is not safety. Emotional intensity, symbolic meaning, or good intentions cannot shield us from judgment if we transgress God's holiness.

Author

R.J. Rushdoony

Chalcedon Founder

Narrated by

Nathan F. Conkey

Narrator, teacher, missionary