Daily Devotion | Leviticus 10:8–20 | February 2, 2026

Title: Daily Devotion

Leviticus 10:8–20 · February 2, 2026

Dear brothers and sisters, peace to you. We thank God for His grace as we come to a new day to study our daily spiritual nourishment. The passage we are studying today is Leviticus chapter 10, verses 8 through 20. Let us pray.

O God, You know how weak our hearts are, and how greatly we need Your mercy. Lord, in this early morning You still show mercy to us, shining Your light into our hearts, so that we may know how we ought to walk in the coming week. Lord, we ask that You would help us, that we may live a life that is acceptable before You. Have mercy on us, in the name of Christ. Amen.

Let us now continue in Leviticus chapter 10.

Earlier, we spoke about Nadab and Abihu. They attempted to manipulate God. They offered unauthorized fire, and as a result, they were struck down by God before the sanctuary. This was an extremely serious event. Through this incident, we see the holiness of God. God absolutely does not allow manipulation. He does not permit any violation of His commandments.

When matters of the law occur among His people, especially among those who serve in the priestly office, God’s requirements are even higher.

Thanks be to the Lord, this incident also reminds us that in the present age, because the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ covers and atones for us, we no longer experience such immediate death. That death has already been borne by Jesus Christ Himself. Nevertheless, we are still called to obey God’s statutes and ordinances with all our heart, so that God may receive the glory that He deserves through us.

Now let us come to verses 8 through 10, and verse 11. What is happening here? Although God struck down the two priests, God’s commands did not stop. His instructions did not stop. The sacrificial system did not stop.

This was a solemn and significant moment. It was a major festival period. The people of Israel were being cleansed, the sanctuary was being put into use, and the high priest was making atonement for the people. This was an extremely important time.

Furthermore, God still had many statutes and ordinances to proclaim. Therefore, the ritual continued, and the word of the LORD continued to be spoken.

Here, God speaks—not to Moses—but directly to Aaron. Verses 8 through 11 contain words spoken directly to Aaron. Some scholars point out that this is the only passage in Scripture where God speaks to Aaron alone. Usually, God speaks either to Moses, or to Moses and Aaron together. But here, He speaks directly to Aaron.

God commands Aaron that when he and his sons enter the tent of meeting, they must not drink wine or strong drink, lest they die.

Why must they not drink wine? Because when a person drinks wine, their judgment is impaired. The priestly office requires extremely clear judgment, sharp discernment, and absolute clarity of mind.

Every regulation concerning the sacrifices must be carried out without error. If an error is made, the entire ritual becomes invalid, the people’s sins are not atoned for, and the priest himself faces the danger of death.

Therefore, the priests must keep their minds completely sober at all times. They must clearly distinguish between what is holy and what is common, between what is clean and what is unclean. They must know what may be done and what must not be done.

The priesthood requires a long period of training. A priest must continually learn from the previous generation. Nothing can be done incorrectly. Through constant practice and instruction, the priest becomes familiar with the service.

Only at around the age of thirty does a priest begin serving in the sanctuary, and his service ends around the age of fifty. This results in approximately twenty years of service, corresponding to the most mature period of a man’s life, when his strength is at its peak, his emotions are most stable, and his experience is richest.

This is necessary because service in the sanctuary involves heavy labor and great responsibility. But most importantly, it requires discernment—the ability to distinguish between the holy and the common, the clean and the unclean.

Therefore, verses 8 through 11 are God’s direct reminder to Aaron. The regulations may have been spoken to Moses for recording, but in terms of execution, Aaron must not be careless.

You and your descendants must remain clear-minded. You must clearly distinguish what is holy and what is common. You must not turn what is common into holy, or what is holy into common. You must not turn what is clean into unclean, or what is unclean into clean.

This is your responsibility. If you fail to distinguish properly, you will bear the consequences. This is God’s solemn warning to Aaron.

I believe this applies directly to us as Christians. We too must have this kind of discernment. We must be sensitive to sin. We must ask ourselves: Is this something God wants me to do? Is this permissible?

That is why we must be deeply familiar with God’s law. We repeatedly emphasize the Westminster Larger Catechism, questions 90 through 150. These must be read again and again, carefully examined, and continually practiced, until they take root in our hearts.

Through continual practice, we become trained. We learn clearly: this may be done, and this must not be done. Our minds remain clear. We must not be deceived by the world, which constantly tells us, “This doesn’t matter,” or “That doesn’t matter.”

In reality, these things defile us and harm us. Therefore, we too must remain sober.

Next, Moses speaks to Aaron and his two remaining sons. What does Moses say to Aaron and his two remaining sons? He instructs them regarding how the grain offering is to be eaten. The grain offering is to be eaten beside the altar, without leaven, because it is most holy.

He also explains that the fire offerings are to be eaten in the sanctuary. However, the breast that is waved and the thigh that is lifted may be eaten, and they are to be eaten by you and your children together. This refers to the peace offering. The waved breast and the lifted thigh of the peace offering are given to the priest’s descendants to eat.

This does not mean that everything must be eaten in the sanctuary. Some things must be eaten only in the sanctuary. For example, the remainder of the grain offering from the fire offering must be eaten beside the altar, without leaven, because it is most holy. That can only be eaten in the tent of meeting.

But the waved breast and the lifted thigh from the peace offering may be taken outside. The tent of meeting is most holy, and the people cannot enter it. Only the priests serve and eat there. But some portions may be taken outside. For example, the peace offering—the waved breast and the lifted thigh—may be given to the priest’s children to eat. This is a regulation.

Therefore, when we speak of the three offerings—the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering—we see that the peace brought by the peace offering has a wider scope. This peace is not given only to the priest himself, but also to God’s children. It even extends to the priest’s descendants. The peace brought by the peace offering is a blessing that reaches beyond the individual and extends to future generations.

However, there are certain things that may not be done. For example, the grain offering offered at this time may not be taken outside to be eaten by one’s children. It must be eaten beside the altar. Likewise, the flesh of certain sin offerings may not be taken outside. These distinctions are important.

Then an incident occurs. Earlier we mentioned that the sin offering of the bull had to be burned because its blood was brought into the tent of meeting. However, among the sin offerings offered by the people, there was also a male goat.

Looking back to chapter 9, verse 3, Moses instructed the Israelites to take a male goat for a sin offering, along with a bull and a calf and a lamb for a burnt offering, and a bull and a ram for a peace offering. This was the offering brought by the people.

Among these, the people’s sin offering included a male goat. Because the blood of this goat was not brought into the Most Holy Place, Aaron and his descendants were permitted—and required—to eat its flesh.

But this goat could not be found. Only the fat had been burned. Where had the rest of the body gone? It had been burned as well. When Moses discovered this, he became angry.

Why was Moses angry? Because he said that the procedure had been done incorrectly. The sin offering was meant for the priests to eat, because they were to bear the guilt of the congregation.

This shows us how serious the sacrificial system is. How does the sin offering function? When the priests eat the flesh of the sin offering, it signifies that they are bearing the sins of Israel. That is what it means.

So what kind of office is the priesthood? It is an office that bears guilt. Even though the priests serve in the sanctuary, they must first make atonement for themselves. Then, by eating the flesh of the sin offering, they symbolically bear the guilt of the people.

Afterward, they continually offer sacrifices to transfer that guilt onto the sacrificial animal. This is the work of the priests.

Therefore, the priestly office teaches us what kind of responsibility it carries—it is an office that bears the sins of the people. And this points us to Jesus Christ.

We know that it is because Jesus Christ, the perfect and ultimate High Priest, bore our sins, that complete salvation has been accomplished. That is the meaning of this system.

Moses was very angry and said, in reference to verses 18 and 19, that the blood of the sacrifice had not been brought into the sanctuary. Therefore, according to the command, they were required to eat the flesh of the sin offering in the sanctuary.

He rebuked them, saying, “You did not eat it—what then happens to the guilt?” Moses was angry and said, “The law has just been proclaimed, and already you have violated it.”

Was it because you did not understand? Was it because you did not know that this offering could be eaten? Not all sin offerings are to be burned. As we mentioned earlier, there are two kinds of sin offerings.

One kind has its blood brought into the sanctuary, and that offering must be burned completely. The other kind has its blood sprinkled on the horns of the altar but not brought into the sanctuary. The flesh of that offering may—and must—be eaten by the priests, in order to bear the guilt of the people.

Then, in verse 19, Aaron explains himself. Aaron says that on that very day, the sin offering and the burnt offering had been offered, and yet his two sons had died that day.

If he had eaten the flesh of the sin offering under those circumstances, it would not have been pleasing in the sight of the LORD. Therefore, he willingly gave up his right to eat the flesh of the sin offering and instead burned it outside the camp.

He did this so that the name of God would not be dishonored, and so that it would demonstrate true repentance.

When Moses heard this explanation, he was satisfied. He said, “Very good.” They had not misunderstood the law. They were not ignorant. Rather, they deliberately chose this course of action.

And what was their purpose? Their purpose was to express sincere repentance before God. They said, “We will not eat the flesh. We will follow God. We will cleanse ourselves.”

Moses saw that this was good, and he said nothing further. This also indicates that God said nothing further. God knew all that had happened, and He accepted the repentance of Aaron and his two remaining sons.

This incident teaches us that as priests, one must be careful and precise. But when sin occurs, what should be done? This story teaches us that we must truly repent.

Repentance is not merely something spoken with the mouth. Repentance must be demonstrated through action.

What was the action of Aaron and his two sons? They did not eat the cooked flesh. They offered it up and burned it. This showed that their repentance was genuine.

This causes us to reflect on ourselves as Christians. What does repentance look like for us? Repentance involves distinguishing between unintentional sin and deliberate sin.

We spoke earlier about unintentional sin. It is not sin committed deliberately, but sin committed out of weakness. However, unintentional sin has a defining characteristic—it is not continuous.

Continuous sin is deliberate sin. If a person sins from the beginning and continues without interruption, with no repentance at all, that is deliberate sin.

Unintentional sin, however, is followed by repentance. One stops. One may fall again, but it is not continuous. There is interruption. “I stop. I repent.” Perhaps later, weakness returns, and one falls again—but again, one stops.

This distinction between continuous and non-continuous sin is very important. Non-continuity shows a desire to repent, even if the strength to overcome is still lacking.

For Christians, this means we must be extremely careful. We must take every sin in our lives seriously. We must deal earnestly with every sin in our lives.

This is exactly what today’s passage teaches us. We must remain clear-minded. We must know what is holy and what is common. And we must practice repentance in our daily lives.

We must repent well, so that our lives may become increasingly holy. Leviticus teaches the people of Israel how to live a holy life. And as we study Leviticus, we learn how we ourselves are to live a holy life.

This story tells us that repentance must be real repentance, not merely repentance spoken with the mouth. There is something here that is somewhat similar to the idea of restitution—of making amends. It is as if Aaron says, “I will give up what is rightfully mine. I will not eat it. I will offer it to God instead,” thereby showing genuine repentance.

Now let us look at the middle section, verses 12 through 15. What does this section show us? It shows us God’s mercy toward the priestly family.

The flesh of the peace offering may be taken outside. Not all sacrificial meat must be eaten only in the sanctuary. God also has regard for the priest’s descendants. Their children may also eat from the altar’s offerings.

Therefore, what does the peace offering express? It expresses that God grants peace to His people. God grants grace. God grants mercy.

So in Leviticus, we do not only see how God demands holiness from His people; we also see God’s mercy toward His people. God is actually willing to care for us.

When we are willing to live a holy life, when we truly offer ourselves up for God, God also takes care of our needs. God is not harsh or unreasonable.

It is not the case that Leviticus says, “You may only do this, and if you do anything else, it is wrong.” No. The peace offering may be shared with your children. Not every offering must be eaten in the sanctuary.

It is not the case that the children may only eat the grain offering. The peace offering may be taken outside, and God’s children may share in that peace. This shows that God’s blessing, God’s mercy, and God’s grace remain among His people.

Therefore, everyone must firmly remember the order of the three offerings. First, the sin offering, which points to Jesus Christ bearing our sin.

Second, the burnt offering, which shows that we must offer ourselves up completely, allowing our lives to be consumed in every aspect.

Third, the peace offering. In the interaction between God and His people, God brings down the peace that He grants. This peace is given not only to us, but also to our children. From this we see that God is truly a God who delights in blessing.

As we said earlier when discussing the three offerings, we made it very clear that each offering ultimately points to Christ. The sin offering is Christ. The burnt offering is Christ. The peace offering is also Christ.

But within these three offerings, we can also see that at each level there are different emphases regarding what God does and what man does.

In the sin offering, it is the active work of Jesus Christ that comes first.

In the burnt offering, it is our response that follows.

In the third, the peace offering, peace is granted.

This order tells us something very important. If you want to enter into what the peace offering represents, you must go through the process of the burnt offering. Do not ignore the importance of this order.

What does this order mean? It does not mean that once you offer the sin offering, peace immediately follows. It is not that the sin offering is followed directly by the peace offering.

After the sin offering, there must be the burnt offering. Only after the burnt offering does the peace offering come.

This theological order tells us that only when we offer ourselves up by faith, glorifying the Lord’s name in every aspect of our daily lives, will God’s peace and God’s blessing come upon us.

You cannot say, “The blood of Jesus Christ covers me, therefore I already have peace.” I mentioned this very point yesterday as well.

After believing in Jesus, we have not received a license to sin. Rather, we must strive with all our strength to live for the Lord.

And in the process of obeying God’s law, we gain true freedom, and we gain true peace. This is the order. Everyone must not misunderstand this order.

At the same time, you also cannot say, “I will skip the sin offering, directly offer the burnt offering, and then receive peace.” That also will not work.

It is not about what we as human beings can do. We are incapable of accomplishing anything on our own. God’s blood must cover us first.

Then we offer ourselves up. And only then, in the third step, does God grant peace.

I believe that the order of these three offerings serves as a reminder to us all. It is a reminder for our spiritual experience. It clearly teaches us how we are to walk in God’s will.

Jesus Christ covers us with His blood. What is the purpose of this? It is so that we may live a burnt-offering kind of life.

It is so that we may place every aspect of our lives into His hands, so that every part of our lives may be consumed—burned—in obedience to His statutes and ordinances. This is the meaning of the burnt offering.

Then comes the peace offering. In this process, God grants peace. There is the waved breast and the lifted thigh—these good gifts.

God desires to give these things to us.

Therefore, for us as Christians, each and every one of us must seek to obtain true peace in God.

This peace is found only when we are obeying God’s law. God does not bless outside of His law, because the law reflects God’s own character.

You cannot have none of God’s character and yet expect God to bless you.

But when we are willing to offer ourselves up under the redemption of Jesus Christ, the peace that God grants will come upon us.

This is true peace.

This concludes our sharing for today. Thank you, everyone.