I. The sin of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram was this: they were discontented with the arrangement made for public worship by the choosing out of Aaron and his family to be priests. The argument they used was a very plausible one, because it depended upon the great truth of the Lord's being with all His people, consecrating and sanctifying them all, making them all in a certain sense holy to the Lord, in a certain sense priests.
It also flattered the vanity of the people, and strengthened them in the notion that they were oppressed by their rulers.
II. The answer to this argument was that Moses and Aaron had not lifted themselves up at all; the Lord had lifted them up. This was the answer which was ultimately given, with very terrible emphasis, by the swallowing up of Korah and his company. Korah and his company had laid great stress on the fact that all the congregation of the Lord were holy. Moses and Aaron might very well have replied, that they for their part by no means questioned the fact. Moses had never represented the choice of Aaron and his family as a declaration that they only of the people were holy. Nothing could be a greater mistake on the part of the people than to take this view of the priestly consecration.
III. Between our own priesthood and that of the Israelites there is still the great common ground of ministry before God in behalf of others which must be at the basis of every religion. Hence both priest and people may learn a lesson. The priest may learn that his office does not imply that he is holier or better than his brethren, but that it does imply greater responsibility, greater opportunities of good, greater sin if he does evil. And the people may learn to be gentle and considerate to those who are over them in the Lord, not to be ready to find fault and condemn, but rather to be charitable, and forbearing, and gentle.
Bishop Harvey Goodwin, Parish Sermons,5th series, p. 124.
References: Numbers 16:8. Preacher's Monthly,vol. vii., p. 241, Numbers 16:10. C. P. Reichel, The Lord's Prayer,p. 271.Numbers 16:23; Numbers 16:24. I. Williams, Characters of the Old Testament,p. 114.Numbers 16:32-35. C. Kingsley, The Gospel of the Pentateuch,p. 191.Numbers 16:35. Parker, vol. iv., p. 56. Numbers 16:38. Ibid.Numbers 16:47; Numbers 16:48. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. vi., No. 341; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. viii., p. 209. Numbers 16:48. F. W. Farrar, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xiii., p. 353; Preacher's Monthly,vol. v., p.-225; Parker, vol. iii., p. 249. Numbers 16; Numbers 17. W. M. Taylor, Moses the Lawgiver,p. 339. Numbers 17:12; Numbers 17:13. C. J. Vaughan, Sunday Magazine,1866, p. 457. Numbers 17:13. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. x., p. 154.Numbers 18:20. Parker, vol. iv., p. 57. Numbers 18:27. Ibid.,p. 58. Numbers 19:2; Numbers 19:3. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. ix., p. 527. Numbers 20:1-12. J. Hamilton, Works,vol. v., p. 270. Numbers 20:1-14. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iv., p. 205.Numbers 20:1-29. W. M. Taylor, Moses the Lawgiver,p. 358.