Holiness and Honesty

Introduction

Good morning! Church, Today, we’re diving into God’s Word through a Jewish tradition called the parshat, a weekly Torah reading aligned with the Jewish calendar. Shemini, the 26th parshat of this Jewish year, 5785, is named for its opening word and paired with a Haftarah, a prophetic passage that echoes its theme, like 2 Samuel 6, deepening our grasp of God’s holy Word.

Church, let me ask you something: Have you ever tried to impress someone by acting a little holier than you really are? Maybe you raised your hands in worship but your heart was somewhere else. I’ve been there! Shemini, meaning “eighth” in Hebrew, tells of the Tabernacle’s grand opening, the heartbreaking deaths of two priests, Nadab and Abihu, and the laws of kashrut—kosher eating. Like many Tanakh passages, parshat portions aren’t labeled by chapter and verse, which came later, but by their first significant word, rooting us in God’s truth. This naming convention applies to scriptures like Psalm 22, known by its opening, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When Jesus cried those words on the cross, He wasn’t saying God abandoned Him, as skeptics, like our Muslim friends, might claim, asking, “How can God reject God?” No, Jesus used this Jewish convention, quoting Psalm 22’s opening to fulfill Tanakh prophecy as the suffering Messiah. It’s a bold answer to doubt, showing Yeshua’s victory!

Shemini’s call to honor God’s holiness speaks to us today. As we explore the Jewish roots of our faith, we see how Yeshua, our Jewish Messiah, brings the Torah to life. Some folks, like our Messianic Jewish brothers and sisters, pair each parshat with a New Testament passage. For Shemini, they often pick Acts 5:1–5, 11, the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Both hit the same note: God demands reverence and honesty in His presence. So, Saints, we’re gonna unpack these stories, let the Ruach HaKodesh stir our hearts, and discover how to live authentic lives for Jesus, embracing the Jewishness of the Gospel. Are you ready? Let’s get into it!

Parshat Shemini

Leviticus 10:1–3 TLV

Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own censer, put fire in it, laid incense over it, and offered unauthorized fire before Adonai—which He had not commanded them. So fire came out from the presence of Adonai and consumed them. So they died before Adonai. Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what Adonai spoke of, saying: To those who are near Me I will show myself holy. Upon the faces of all the people I will be glorified.” Then Aaron kept silent.

Imagine the scene: Israel’s camped in the desert, and the Tabernacle is finally ready—a tent glowing with The Lord’s glory. The priests, including Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu, are leading the people in worship, offering sacrifices to draw near to God. It’s a holy moment, like the best worship service you’ve ever been to. But then, Nadab and Abihu make a fatal mistake. They offer what the Torah calls “unauthorized fire” before The Lord, and fire from His presence consumes them on the spot. Moses tells Aaron, “God says, ‘To those near Me, I will show myself holy.’” Aaron stands silent, his heart heavy with grief.

Three Lessons from Shemini

God’s holiness demands reverence.

Irreverence has consequences.

Aaron’s silence shows trust.

Let’s unpack three lessons from this. First, God’s holiness demands reverence. Now, Nadab and Abihu weren’t out to cause trouble. Maybe they were excited, thinking, “Let’s add some flair to this worship!” Maybe they figured their good intentions would cover them. But The Lord had given crystal-clear instructions: “Use this fire, this offering, this way.” No willy-nilly experiments allowed! Why so strict? Because when the Israelites went off-script, things got messy. Think back to Exodus 32, when they made that golden calf. They thought they were worshiping Adonai, but their homemade idol was a twisted rebellion. Nadab and Abihu’s unauthorized fire was like that—good intentions, bad execution. It dishonored God’s holiness, and His judgment shouted, “I’m holy, and you come to Me My way!” Saints, it’s like trying to impress The Lord with a flashy prayer while ignoring His Word—God’s not impressed.

Second, irreverence has consequences. Nadab and Abihu were priests, chosen to serve close to God. That’s a huge honor, like leading worship or preaching. But privilege means responsibility—they couldn’t just wing it. Their deaths hit Israel hard: when you’re near The Lord, you obey His way, not yours. How many of you know God takes His holiness seriously?

Third, Aaron’s silence shows trust. Can you imagine Aaron’s pain, losing his sons in a flash? Yet he doesn’t lash out or curse The Lord. He stands, quietly trusting God’s justice even in tragedy. It’s a faith that says, “God, I don’t understand, but I’m Yours.” That’s the kind of heart The Lord honors.

Haftarah

Now, let’s look at the Haftarah for Shemini, 2 Samuel 6:6–7, a prophetic reading paired with the Torah to echo its theme of holiness.

2 Samuel 6:6–7 TLV

But when they reached the threshing floor of Nahon, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and grasped it, for the oxen had stumbled. Then the anger of Adonai was kindled against Uzzah. God struck him down there for his irreverence, so that he died there beside the ark of God.

Picture David bringing the holy Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, a sacred moment like the Tabernacle’s dedication. But when the cart wobbles, Uzzah reaches out to steady the Ark and is struck dead for touching God’s holy Ark. Like Nadab and Abihu, Uzzah likely meant well—maybe he thought he was saving the day! And look! There’s that word - irreverence! But his unauthorized act broke God’s clear rules about handling the sacred. The Lord’s judgment hits hard: no matter your intentions, His holiness demands obedience. Saints, it’s a sobering reminder that God’s way isn’t a suggestion—it’s the only way.

There is a beautiful synchronicity in the Scriptures that speak loudly of a God who is wholly in love with His people and He is serious about His holiness because He keeps warning us about approaching Him correctly. But pastor, we live under grace! To that I say, are you super sure about what that means? Because there is one more piece to this puzzle that we have yet to explore. Uzzah’s story sets the stage for the early church, where God’s holiness still demands truth, as we’ll see next.

Brit Chadashah

Now, let’s jump to Brit Chadashah (the New Testament), Acts 5:1–5, 11

Acts 5:1–5 TLV

On the other hand, a man named Ananias together with his wife, Sapphira, sold a property. He kept back some of the proceeds, with his wife’s full knowledge, and brought part of it and set it at the feet of the emissaries. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has satan filled your heart to lie to the Ruach ha-Kodesh and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, it was your own, wasn’t it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? How did this deed get into your heart? You haven’t lied to men but to God.” As soon as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and died. Great fear came upon all who heard about it.

Acts 5:11 TLV

And great fear came over the whole community and all who heard these things.

Picture the early church in Jerusalem, alive with the Ruach HaKodesh. Believers are sharing everything—food, money, homes—living all-in for Yeshua. It’s like a revival breaking out! Ananias and Sapphira, a married couple, sell some property and bring an offering to the emissaries. Sounds awesome, right? But here’s the catch: they lie, saying they gave every penny when they secretly kept some back. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronts them: “You lied to the Ruach HaKodesh—to God!” Ananias drops dead, Sapphira follows hours later, and “great fear” grips the whole community.

New Testament Takeaways

The Lord’s holiness rules in the New Covenant.

Hypocrisy is irreverence.

Fear and awe wakes us up

Here’s three lessons. First, The Lord’s holiness rules in the New Covenant. Nadab and Abihu got judged for ignoring God’s rules, and Ananias and Sapphira find out the Ruach HaKodesh is just as serious. Their deaths prove that The Lord’s holiness doesn’t take a break, even with Jesus’ grace. The Spirit’s moving, but He demands truth. It’s like thinking you can fake your way through a Spirit-filled service—God sees it all. Can you feel the weight of His presence?

Second, hypocrisy is irreverence. Ananias and Sapphira didn’t have to give everything—nobody twisted their arm. Their sin was the lie, acting like super-saints while hiding greed. It’s the same vibe as Nadab and Abihu’s unauthorized fire or that golden calf disaster—trying to pull one over on The Lord. They wanted the church’s applause without the cost, like posting a holy selfie online but living a double life. Saints, hypocrisy’s just saying, “I’ll do it my way,” and God shuts that down.

Third, fear and awe wake us up. That “great fear” wasn’t about running scared—it was the church snapping to attention, realizing, “God’s not playing!” Like Aaron’s silence, it called them to get real with The Lord, no faking allowed. It’s the kind of holy shiver you feel when the Holy Spirit moves in worship, and you know God’s right here.

What ties these stories together? God’s holiness demands we come His way, not ours—then and now. Grace through Yeshua keeps His plan alive, calling us to live holy and true.

Living with Reverence and Integrity

Saints, these stories aren’t dusty history—they’re a mirror for us today. We’re a Spirit-filled body of believers, but Shemini and Acts 5 are calling us to live holy and honest. Let me give you three ways to do that, and I hope you’ll see how important it is to live these out.

Check your heart.

Stand on God’s Promises.

Lean on your fellow believers

First, check your heart. Are you offering “unauthorized fire” in your life? Not on purpose, maybe, but are you putting on a holy act—singing loud in church but grumbling at home? Nadab and Abihu and Ananias and Sapphira thought they could slide by, but The Lord wants your heart, not a performance. I remember a time I was leading worship, all smiles, but inside I was mad at someone. The Ruach HaKodesh convicted me: “Henry, get real!” I want you to pray this week, “God, show me where I’m faking it, and make my heart true.”

Second, stand on God’s promises. The Torah shows us God’s standard—what He expects from us—and it’s high, higher than we can reach on our own. But thank The Lord for His promises! The Torah tells us God is faithful, and Jesus fulfills those promises, His blood washing away our mess-ups. When you’re tempted to act one way here and another at work, stand on God’s promise to guide you. John 16:13 says the Ruach HaKodesh leads us into all truth. How many of you know the Holy Spirit’s got the power to keep you real?

Third, lean on your brothers and sisters. The early church didn’t just shake in fear—they rallied to live holy together. As a member of the body of Messiah, we’re family, not solo acts. I want you to find a friend or small group this week and share one area where you want to be more real with God. Maybe it’s being honest about a struggle or giving without holding back. Let’s hold each other up to shine for Yeshua. Who better to help you stay true than the family of God?

Here’s the good news, Saints: God’s judgment in these stories isn’t to push you away—it’s to pull you close. He wants you in His presence, and Jesus’ grace makes it possible. The Holy Spirit is moving amongst us right now, calling us to live with hearts wide open. Can you feel Him stirring you to live holy?

A Call to Holy Living

Child of God, Parshat Shemini and Acts 5 are shouting loud and clear: The Lord’s holiness demands reverence and honesty. Nadab and Abihu and Ananias and Sapphira tried it their way, but Adonai says, “My way leads to life!” Thank God for Yeshua, our Jewish Messiah, who fulfills the Torah, covers our failures, and fills us with His Ruach HaKodesh to live authentic, Spirit-filled lives.

Let’s pray.

Saints, here’s your challenge: This week, pick one area where you can be more real with The Lord. Maybe it’s your worship, your giving, or your words. Share it with a friend, and let’s grow together as a Spirit-filled family.

Let me send you out with a blessing from the Torah,

Numbers 6:24–26 TLV

‘Adonai bless you and keep you! Adonai make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you! Adonai turn His face toward you and grant you shalom!’