Should Christians Drink Alcohol? — Jeremiah 35:1–19

The recording, chapter markers and searchable transcript appear here once the Sunday video is available.

In this message

The heart-level question behind “Can I drink?” is “Who has authority over my life?”
God honors wholehearted obedience and exposes selective submission.
Pre-decided convictions are often what keep obedience steady when pressure hits.
Christian liberty must be shaped by lordship, or it becomes license.
Christians do not obey to earn salvation; Christians obey because they belong to Christ.

The passage

The verses Lee stops on. Read Jeremiah 35 in full.

Jeremiah 35:1

1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord during the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

The Rechabites’ code of conduct resembled that of the Nazarites, who took a special vow of dedication to God (Numbers 6). For 200 years, they had obeyed their ancestors’ vow to abstain from wine. While the rest of the nation was breaking its covenant with God, these people were steadfast in their commitment. God wanted the rest of his people to remain as committed to their covenant with him as the Rechabites were to their vow.

Jeremiah 35:2

2“Go to the Rekabite family and invite them to come to one of the side rooms of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.”

One of the side rooms of the house of the Lord – The temple was surrounded by an outside construction on three sides – a building that had three slight stories alongside three of the walls of the temple. The lower story was similar to the rooms that flanked certain temples in Egypt and Mesopotamia. This building was under the jurisdiction of the Levitical priests (1 Chronicles 23:27-28). These chambers were living and working quarters for priests who were responsible for different functions within the temple. Give them wine. We can surmise that Jeremiah takes the Rechabites to the room of the sons of Hanan (v. 4) because that is where they store the wine.

Jeremiah 35:3

3So I went to get Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons—the whole family of the Rekabites.

Jaazaniah means – “The Lord hears.” It was a common name in Jeremiah’s time.

Jeremiah 35 teaches us that the real issue is not alcohol — it is authority and obedience.

What is Jeremiah 35 mainly about—alcohol or something else?

Jeremiah 35 is mainly about authority and obedience, not alcohol itself. The Rechabites refused wine because they had already committed to obey their forefather’s command, not because wine was inherently sinful. God uses their steady obedience to expose Judah’s selective submission. The chapter forces the question beneath the cup: “Who is Lord?”

Why did God tell Jeremiah to set wine in front of the Rechabites?

God set wine before the Rechabites as a public demonstration of obedience, not as a sinful temptation. James 1:13 is cited to make the point that God does not tempt people to sin. Jeremiah didn’t command them to drink; he simply offered it in a high-pressure setting. Their immediate refusal showed a settled conviction rather than a negotiated moment.

Who were the Rechabites, and why did they refuse to drink wine?

The Rechabites were a small clan who traced their roots back to the Kenites connected to Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law. Their forefather Jonadab instructed them not to drink wine, not to build houses, not to plant vineyards, and to live as nomads in tents. They kept that command for over 200 years. Their refusal mattered because obedience mattered more than preference.

What is the contrast between the Rechabites and Judah in Jeremiah 35?

Jeremiah 35 contrasts the Rechabites’ obedience to a fallible human leader with Judah’s disobedience to an infallible God. Jonadab spoke once, while God spoke repeatedly through prophets, yet Judah still resisted. The Rechabites obeyed in temporal matters, while Judah disobeyed in eternal matters, and the pattern lasted for centuries. The passage holds out reward for obedience and judgement for rebellion.

Does the Bible permit Christians to drink alcohol?

The Bible permits drinking, while also warning strongly against drunkenness and its destructive fruit. The message notes biblical examples and warnings to show a balanced view: liberty exists, but drunkenness leads to destruction. That means the better questions are not just what is technically allowed, but whether it masters you, dulls your witness, weakens someone else, and honors Christ. Liberty without lordship becomes license.

How should a Christian decide whether to abstain or drink moderately?

A Christian should approach either abstaining or partaking moderately as something done “unto the Lord.” Romans 14:22–23 is cited to press the role of conscience and faith: what is not from faith is sin. The call is to avoid condemning yourself by what you approve and to refuse acting out of doubt. The underlying aim is not legalism but obedience shaped by Christ’s lordship.

What does it mean to have a “pre-decided conviction”?

A pre-decided conviction is a settled decision made before pressure hits, so obedience doesn’t get negotiated in the moment. The Rechabites didn’t debate, delay, or rationalize because they had already decided. The message connects this to integrity in business: if integrity isn’t pre-decided, it gets bargained away under pressure. The pattern warned about is that allowances become patterns, patterns become habits, and habits become bondage.

What is “selective submission,” and why is it a problem?

Selective submission is outward religious activity paired with private resistance to God’s authority in daily life. Judah still went to the temple, sang songs, and brought offerings, yet ignored God’s voice. The issue wasn’t lack of information but lack of submission. God is not looking for selective submission; God is looking for wholehearted obedience.

Does Jeremiah 35 teach that abstaining from alcohol is healthier or more spiritual?

Jeremiah 35 presents the Rechabites as honored because of conviction and obedience, not because of chemistry. The message acknowledges wisdom in restraint and notes that heavy alcohol use shortens lifespan, increases disease risk, and destroys families. It also insists longevity is not the highest goal—faithfulness is. The point is lordship expressed in obedience, not a claim that abstinence earns spiritual standing.

How does Jeremiah 35 connect obedience to salvation and Jesus’ lordship?

Christians do not obey to earn salvation; Christians obey because they belong to Christ. The message says Christ died and rose again not merely to forgive sin, but to be Lord. That lordship reaches appetites, liberties, habits, and “hidden negotiations.” The core question becomes not “Can I?” but “Who is Lord?”

Where else scripture speaks

Every passage Lee reaches for. The ones he teaches from open here; the rest link out.

Passages picked up elsewhere in the series:

James 1:13 — Misguided Worship, The Cost of Standing Firm

Take this with you

This passage shows us the power of a pre-decided conviction.