Should Followers of The Messiah Drink Alcohol?
Alcohol has become customary for most people around the world to consume. It is associated with having a good time, relaxing after a long day of work, letting loose on vacation, and enjoying social gatherings. People will gift a bottle of alcohol for house warming parties, and other gatherings. But, is this showing true brotherly love? The prophet Habakkuk writes,
Habakkuk 2:15: Woe unto him that gives his neighbor drink, that puts your bottle to him, and makes him drunken also, that you may look on their nakedness.
The majority of professed followers of Mashiach think it is ok to consume alcohol. More “conservative followers” may think that hard alcohol is not good, but the occasional glass of wine or a beer or two is ok. Some argue the fact that it is legal, so it must be ok. Marijuana and opioids are also legal through prescription, so does that make these drugs ok to consume as well? This message is primarily about alcohol, but as we dig a little deeper into what the Word of Aluahim says, we will also find our answer about all mind-altering drugs including alcohol.
Before we get started, I want to point out that another common name for alcohol is spirits. This is because alcohol invites the spirits to influence our decisions. This is why someone is considered to be under the influence when drinking alcohol. These spirits is not the Spirit (Ruach) of Aluahim, but rather the spirit of demons.
New Wine
The first Biblical story that professed followers of Mashiach use to excuse themselves for drinking alcohol is the first miracle Yahushua performed when he turned water into wine. This wine was in actuality new wine or what we today call grape juice. This grape juice is called new wine, because it was freshly harvested off the vine. We are told,
Isaiah 65:8: Thus says YAHUAH, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
When speaking in parables Yahushua says,
Mark 2:22: And no man puts new wine into old bottles: else the new wine does burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
This new wine that Yahushua is referring to is freshly harvested grape juice, and the old wine bottles he is referring to were previously used for fermented wine (alcoholic wine). In the process of fermentation gases build up, and the old wine bottles would break because it could not expand under the pressure and thus, “the wine is spilled and the bottles are broken”.
After Yahushua performed this miracle, the guests were amazed because this new wine would have been freshly harvested and it was not harvest season for grapes. They already had access to fermented wine because its shelf life was longer. As a matter of fact, this is what they ran out of at the wedding, was fermented wine. I also want to mention that the fermented wine in those days were not nearly as intoxicating as modern wine. Now, let’s read this account from John.
John 2:9-10: When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, And said unto him, Every man at the beginning does set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but you have kept the good wine until now.
The wine which the governor of the feast referred to as “worse” was fermented old grape juice, and the “good wine” was unfermented freshly squeezed juice. This freshly harvested grape juice (new wine) was not available during the time of the wedding, because the season for grapes was not for another few months. This wedding was some time before the Passover in the early spring or late winter. Being able to produce something that wasn’t even in season was surely a miracle.
During the Last Supper, Yahushua said,
Matthew 26:29: I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.
Yahushua purposely does not use the Greek word for wine, oinos, to describe the grape juice (new wine) that he and he disciples drank during the Last Supper. Instead, he makes sure there are no discrepancies since at that time they used the same Greek word oinos to describe both fermented and unfermented wine (or new wine). Yahushua, being perfect in keeping the whole Torah (Law) of his Father would have never defiled his body with fermented wine nor strong drink. Our brother Paul says this about Yahushua, “For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26).
Also, Yahushua is a king, and as we further read, we will learn that alcohol is not meant for kings nor priests to consume.
There is another passage that many have used to say that Yahushua drank fermented wine or alcohol. Yahushua says,
Luke 7:33-34: For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and you say, he has a devil. The son of man is come eating and drinking; and you say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber (oinopotes), a friend of publicans and sinner!
Yahushua carefully chose the Greek word oinopotes to describe a new wine or grape juice drinker. Remember, the Greeks used the word oinos to describe both fermented wine – alcohol, and freshly squeezed grape juice – new wine. This is Strong’s Concordance number 3630, oinopotes: a wine drinker.
This word differs from the Greek word used by Paul when he describes those who fall under being unrighteous (refer to 1 Corinthians 6:10). That word is Strong’s Concordance number 3183, methusos: a drunkard. Methusos is from the root word methuo (#3184): to be drunken, intoxicated with wine.
The word methuo and methusos is properly used multiple times throughout the Brit Chadashah to describe someone who drinks alcohol, while the word oinopotes is used in this case to simply describe a person who drinks grape juice or new wine.
Once again, the wine Yahushua drank was new wine (grape juice). Just like Samson and Samuel, John the Baptist did not drink of the vine; either fermented nor unfermented because they were Nazarites from birth. Yahushua did not take the Nazarite vow, so he was not taken serious as a man of Aluahim or better yet the son of Aluahim. This is why the Pharisees mocked him by trying to degrade Mashiach’s character, and even imply that he was a sinner. The drinking that Yahushua was referring to is the consumption of grape products in which a Nazarite did not consume. The eating that Yahushua was referring to is the consumption of meat in which John the Baptist, in whom he referenced, was a vegetarian (refer to Matthew 3:4).
Even when Yahushua was in agony on the cross, he did not drink wine to ease his pain. In the record of Matthew we read,
Matthew 27:34: There they offered Yahushua wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it.
Now we can move on to another Scripture used to back the consumption of alcohol. The Apostle Paul, when writing to Timothy, wrote,
1 timothy 5:23: Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and think often infirmities.
This wine that Paul is referring to, is what the Hebrews called new wine or grape juice. Grape juice promotes gut health and digestion, is a well-known natural laxative, is full of antioxidants, and is very effective in eliminating constipation. Another fun fact about grape juice is that it has the same heart benefits as alcoholic wine. You do not need the bad (alcohol) in order to get the health benefits of the vine.
This very same Apostle Paul also writes,
Romans 14:21: It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak.
We must ask ourselves, why would Paul tell the Romans that drinking wine is not good, but then tell Timothy to drink wine for his stomach’s sake?
We all know that too much wine is harmful for one’s stomach, and not good. This brings up a contradiction, unless we understand that the Greeks used the same word, oinos, to describe both unfermented and fermented wine. Whereas, the Hebrews had two separate words, one for fermented wine and one for new wine (unfermented wine). There is only one place in the Brit Chadashah (wrongfully called the New Testament) where the word new wine is used, but it is improperly translated and should be rendered as, sweet wine. It reads as so,
Acts 2:13: Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine (sweet wine).
This word used for new wine is Strong’s Concordance number 1098, gleukos: sweet new wine (used of the more saccharine and therefore highly inebriating fermented wine).
This is not the same as the Hebrew terminology of new wine or freshly squeezed grape juice, but a sweet type of fermented wine or what we today call dessert wine. If it were grape juice, then the unbelievers during Pentecost (Shabuot) would have not mocked the disciples for speaking in tongues by accusing them of being drunk. Peter stood up to rebuke these men, and firmly said,
Acts 2:14-15: You men of Yahudah, and all you that dwell in Yarushalam, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day (around 9 a.m.).
If we compare Scriptures, and not just read them out of context, then we will come to understand that when Paul was writing to Timothy whom was a devout follower of Mashiach, he was speaking of new wine or grape juice. And when he was writing to the Romans who lived in the city amongst many sinners, and in a country (today referred to as Italy) well-known for the production of fermented wine, he was warning them to refrain from indulging in meat and alcohol. Nothing has changed, for even today people over indulge in meat (primarily blood and fat) and the consumption of alcohol.
Paul also says, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). He is warning us not to indulge in anything. If any substance effects our decision-making ability, or if we become addicted to (brought under the power of) anything, then we must let it go completely. If it stumbles a fellow brother or sister in Mashiach, then we must put it away. If it weakens our household; negatively affects our relationship with our husband, wife, or children, then we must put it away.
I must clarify what indulging means, because people think that it only means over-consuming something. But in reality, it pertains to anything that we desire or lust after. Like the saying goes, “once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic”. Even though the alcoholic makes a vow to be sober and never drink alcohol ever again, it does not mean that he or she has completely rid themselves from the desire for alcohol. This is what it means to overcome. We must overcome all lusts of the flesh, and any physical distraction that leads our minds away from the Law of Aluahim. All things in moderation, or as Paul puts it,
1 Corinthians 9:25: And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things…
We must have the mind of Mashiach in order to grow in Mashiach. We do not want to put ourselves in a situation where we can be tempted, because unlike Yahushua who was tempted in the wilderness yet did not sin, we may not have the strength to not sin.
Holy Nation
It is very important for us to understand what happened after Yahushua’s death and resurrection. Before the perfect lamb of Aluahim came into the world, the Hebrews would sacrifice lambs, rams, and bulls, and offer cakes and gift offerings to YAHUAH. The temple or sanctuary was an actual physical place where the priests or Levites would go in order to offer up a sacrifice for the sins of Yasharal. During this holy work, the priests were not allowed to be under the influence of alcohol. YAHUAH commanded Moses to give Aaron some very specific rules pertaining to this holy work. He says,
Leviticus 10:9-10: Do not drink wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the Tabernacle of the congregation, lest you die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations: and that you may put a difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.
After the coming of Mashiach, the physical tabernacle was no longer necessary. Our individual body became the tabernacle. Peter writes,
2 Peter 1:14: knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Aluahim Yahushua HaMashiach has showed me.
And Paul writes,
1 Corinthians 3:16-17: know you not that you are the temple of Aluahim, and that the Spirit of Aluahim dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of Aluahim, him shall Aluahim destroy; for the temple of Aluahim is holy, which temple you are.
Remember, YAHUAH told us to “put a difference between holy and unholy”. “Because it is written, Be you Holy; for I am holy” (1 peter 1:16). We are commanded not to drink wine nor strong drink when we go into the tabernacle. Well, we are the tabernacle, and we are always in it. “For we are laborers together with Aluahim: you are Aluahim’s husbandry, you are Aluahim’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9).
YAHUAH tells us through Proverb, that anyone who consumes excess alcohol and meat will be spiritually destroyed.
Proverbs 23:20-21: Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty (yarash): and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Take note, that the word used for poverty is Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance number 3423. Yarash or Yaresh; cast out, consume, destroy, disinherit, dispossess, drive out, expel.
This lifestyle leads to spiritual poverty. We will eventually be destroyed and disinherit the Kingdom of Aluahim. Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 makes it very clear whom will not inherit the Kingdom of Aluahim. He begins with, “Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of Aluahim?” Then he warns us, “Be not deceived”. Before finishing this passage by our brother Paul, we should contemplate why he said, “Be not deceived”.
The world will make us think it is ok to do or be a part of this list that Paul is about to write in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Not only the world, but Satan and his angels will whisper one of the most dangerous lies that many professed followers of Mashiach adhere to. That is, “thou shalt not surely die”. Along with this, they will convince themselves that, “it’s ok to just do a little”, or “it’s ok, because I’m not harming anyone”. “It’s ok” puts us in the category of “luke-warm”. And what does Yahushua say about the last church on earth, “Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16).
Wise king Solomon warns us by writing,
Proverbs 20:1: Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Now, let’s continue reading the verse written to the Corinthians,
1 Corinthians 6:9-1: Know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of Aluahim? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of Aluahim. And such were some of you: but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of Yahushua, and by the Spirit of our Aluahim.
The last part of this verse is my favorite. It shows how unselfish a true disciple of Mashiach must be. It shows how we must put sin away, and no longer follow the lust of the flesh, but chase after righteousness. In order to be one with Aluahim, we must truly convert. Paul finishes by writing, “And such were some of you: but you are washed (baptized), but you are sanctified (set apart), but you are justified (righteous in keeping the Torah) in the name of Yahushua, and by the Spirit of our Aluahim”. This means that these people chose to stop living in the flesh, and start living in the spirit – living for the Kingdom of Aluahim. This shows that it is possible to stop drinking alcohol, stop being a homosexual, stop being a fornicator, stop being a verbal abuser, and so-on.
By not inheriting the Kingdom of Aluahim, means breaking His covenant. Which means to break His Torah (Law) – His ten commandments (Exodus 20), appointed times (Leviticus 23), and ordinances (pertaining to sex, diet, modesty, cleanliness, etc. listed in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy). YAHUAH tells us,
Exodus 19:5-6: Now therefore, if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be unto Me a Kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.
To recap, our bodies are individual tabernacles, and now we just read that we are all considered to be priests. Once again, the priests were told by YAHUAH to not drink wine nor strong drink while performing priestly duties, or “service” as Paul puts it.
Romans 12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of Aluahim, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Aluahim, which is reasonable service.
Our body is a tabernacle, we are to act as priests, and are told to be holy. Aluahim’s Ruach (Spirit) will only fill the tabernacle if: it is cleansed with the atoning blood of a spotless lamb (that being Mashiach), if the priest is sober, and if the priest has also atoned for his sins (that being repentance).
Before Mashiach, this work was done daily by a priest in a man-made Tabernacle. After Mashiach, this work is also done daily. Paul explains,
Hebrews 9:11-12: But Mashiach being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Everyday Yahushua HaMashiach is ministering in the most holy place, and therefore we too must minister in the tabernacle (our flesh). If we expect to reign with Yahushua our king, then we must keep YAHUAH’S Covenant Law; His ten commandments, His appointed times, and His ordinances. John writes,
Revelation 20:6: Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of Aluahim and of Mashiach, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Any substance; alcohol or drug that effects our thinking and decision-making, should be put away. For what good is one of YAHUAH’S kings or priests under the influence of another spirit?
If we belong to Mashiach then it is said, He “has made us kings and priests unto his Aluahim and Father” (Revelation 1:6). And what does wise king Solomon say about this matter,
Proverbs 31:4-5: It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the commandments, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
Furthermore, the Prophet Isaiah writes,
Isaiah 28:7: But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.
If we desire to better know our Creator then we are told not to consume any alcoholic beverage. We are given the example from the forty years the Hebrews spent in the wilderness. They were given a clean diet, abstained from alcohol, practiced keeping the Law, and exercised faith in their Savior.
When speaking to the children of Yasharal right before they crossed the Jordan river into the land of Canaan, YAHUAH tells Moses to say,
Deuteronomy 29:6: You have not eaten bread, nor have you drunk wine or other strong drink, in order that you might know that I am YAHUAH your Aluahim.
We must ask ourselves this question. If a man or woman who takes the Nazarite vow (refer to Numbers 6:1-21) in order to separate themselves to YAHUAH is told to stay away from all alcoholic drinks, even vinegar, and along with grapes which can easily begin to ferment while still attached to the vine, then do you think it is ok for a devout follower of Mashiach whom desires to be closer to YAHUAH to drink any form of alcohol? The answer is a straight forward, NO!
Firstly, the Nazarite vow has not been done away with. Our brother Paul took this vow, and anyone who desires to fully submit themselves to YAHUAH is welcomed to take the Nazarite vow for however long the Ruach HaQodash moves them to do so. But whether we take this vow or not, we are advised to,
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
Don’t get caught up in what the world does or says about this topic. And especially, don’t let an evil spirit entice you with sweet words such as, “it’s ok”, or “it’s only one drink”. Once we partake of any mind-altering substance, we are no longer in control of our thinking and decision-making as kings and priests to YAHUAH, but rather under the influence of demonic spirits.
The Law (Torah) of Aluahim is meant to keep us from pain and suffering, and identify us as YAHUAH’S children. And the Bible tells us that alcohol brings nothing but sorrow, distress, and troubles. This means that the consumption of alcohol goes directly against Aluahim’s Law of liberty and righteousness. The Prophet records the Word of YAHUAH beginning with a strong “WOE”, when speaking about alcohol. We read,
Isaiah 5:11: Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
Isaiah 5:22: Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.
If overcoming the desire to drink alcohol is a challenge for you, then take it to YAHUAH in prayer, join a support group, or see a counselor, and keep looking forward towards the glorious hope. We can do nothing on our own (refer to John 15:5), “but with Aluahim all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). We have to take one day at a time. As Paul puts it, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31). Remember,
Galatians 2:20: I live; yet not I, but Mashiach lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of Aluahim.
