What About Drinking Alcohol?

For the Christian, drinking alcohol is only permitted as a medication, and then only when necessary.

Jesus did not drink, Timothy did not drink, and we are not to drink either.

How do we know Jesus did not drink? The Bible says so.

First, remember who Jesus is: He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Our Great High Priest, Prince of Peace, The Holy One, Mighty God, The God-Man, and The Pure Lamb of God.

Jesus is perfect – always was, always will be.

As the King of Kings, and Prince of Peace Jesus was bound by:

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:” Proverbs 31:4

As the Mighty God – Man, Jesus was bound by:

“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:” Isaiah 5:22

As the All Wise God, Jesus was bound by:

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1

As our Great High Priest, Jesus was bound by:

“And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, 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 10:8-9

As the Holy One and the Pure Lamb of God:

“And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.” Leviticus 10:10-11

Look how Jesus is described in this office of Great High Priest from Hebrews:

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” Hebrews 7:24-26

As our Great High Priest, Jesus would also be bound by:

“Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.”
Ezekiel 44:21

Why?

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23

Jesus is not the only bound by the Leviticus law for the priests. We are a priesthood of believers:

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter 2:9

We are commanded to be holy.

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (behavior); Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

As a Priest in the Kingdom of God we are required to abstain from all alcoholic beverages. Timothy understood this requirement. Timothy did not drink alcohol. No wine. No mingled wine. No strong drink.

Timothy even refused to drink wine when there was a medical necessity. That is why Paul had to tell him:

“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.” 1 Timothy 5:23

Paul told him to use wine, but only permitted its use for medicinal purposes. Is there a reason Paul did not open the issue any further than he did? Yes. Paul did not support recreational drinking.

Here are further instructions:

"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." Proverbs 23:29-30

That was the observation – Here’s the command:

"Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright." Proverbs 23: 31

The command is don’t even look at wine with desire. Why?

"At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again." Proverbs 23:32-35

Are Christians permitted to drink socially or recreationally? No.

The miracle at Cana, Jesus being called a wine-bibber, and the fact that the general population of Israel drank intoxicating drinks can not change the facts presented above.

Since Scripture does not contradict itself, those events must be understood in light of these laws and not in ignorance of them.

Don’t Drink. Until Next Time: Keep Studying the Scriptures.