Lepers are Cleansed

From the Series: Why Miracles

Go tell John … (Luke 7:22)

• The Blind See
• The Lame Walk
• The Lepers are cleansed

What is leprosy?

The modern term for leprosy is “Hansen’s Disease”, a chronic bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae that primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes, and lining of the nose, leading to numbness, skin lesions, and potential nerve damage. 

Leprosy is called Hansen’s disease to honor Norwegian physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen who discovered the causative bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae, in 1873,  

Today, progression of the disease can be stopped by antibiotics, but the damage to tissues is generally permanent.

Prior to antibiotics, there was no cure. Even today, there are leper colonies. People choose to live there to avoid social stigma. The disease may be cured, but the damage is still visible.

In the first century, there was no cure.  As the disease progressed, finger, toe, hand, feet, ears, and nose tissue was lost.  In Israel, they practiced the Law of Leper written by Moses about 1,400 years before that time.

The Law of The Leper – Leviticus 13

Leviticus 13:3  

• Pronounced Unclean
• Diagnosed by the priest

Leviticus 13:45-46

• His clothes shall be rent
• His head shall be bare
• He shall cover his upper lip
• He shall cry out “Unclean, unclean”
• He shall dwell alone
• He shall live outside the camp (city)

Contrast this with the Law for Levites who serve the LORD

• Leviticus 21       He must be clean
• Leviticus 21:5           He shall not make baldness on his head.-
• Leviticus 21:10            He shall not uncover his head
• Leviticus 21:10            He shall not rend his clothes

When you compare the Law of the Levite with the Law of the Leper the contrast is obvious.   The Leper may not approach the LORD with sacrifices of praise and worship.  He may not enter the Temple or be with his people.

The Law of the Leper is unique in that there is a sacrifice associated with being declared clean!  After about 1,400 years, the only recorded time a leper was healed was a Gentile, Naaman, a commander of the Syrian army (2 Kings 5). 

The Law for Cleansing a Leper

This is the first stage,
restoring the leper to the camp (community).

• Leviticus 14:1-9
  Preparation to approach the LORD
• Leviticus 14:2 
  He will show himself to the priest
• Leviticus 14:3-7
  He will offer a sacrifice and be sprinkled with the blood
• Leviticus 14:8 
  He will wash himself, his clothes, and shave his hair
• Leviticus 14:9 
  After seven days he will repeat the bathing and washing

This is the second stage,
restoring the leper to fellowship with the LORD.

• Leviticus 14:10-32
  The sacrifices required to restore fellowship
• On the eighth day, the leper will offer two lambs, flour, and oil.
• One Lamb is the Trespass Offering (Unintentional Sin)
• One Lamb is the Sin Offering
• The anointing of blood and of oil
• Note: If they could not afford a lamb they could offer turtledoves or young pigeons “such as he can get.”

Psalm 51:7

The psalmist refers to the sprinkling the cleansed leper using hyssop in Leviticus 14:4-7.

CLEANSED

Unlike the blind and the lame, the term used in every case in the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) is “cleansed.”

The term καθαρίζω is used in a general sense as washing dishes, but it is the term used for consecration as in the Law of Levites in preparation to approach the LORD.  In the case of Naaman, we are told that his flesh returned as a child (2 Kings 5:14).

The three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record what may be the same event.

Matthew 8:1-4

• Matthew 8:2
  • The leper worships (not because of healing – but before)
  • The leper asks for cleansing (again, not for healing)
• Matthew 8:3
  • Jesus touches the leper
    (should have made Jesus unclean)
  • Jesus says “be thou clean”
    (the clean makes the unclean clean)
• Matthew 8:4
  • Stage 1 – Show yourself to the priest
  • Stage 2 – Offer the gift that Moses commanded

FOR A TESTIMONY UNTO THEM

Once again, did they recognize the sign?

Mark 1:40-44,45

Mark adds that Jesus was “moved with compassion”

He also adds the disobedience of the command to tell no man.

Luke 5:12-16

Luke introduces the narrative with “behold” – indicates and eyewitness account.

Luke provides the medical description: Full of Leprosy.

Luke does not report that the cleansed leper is responsible for spreading the word.

ARE YOU WASHED?

“Wash me and I shall be cleansed.” Psalm 51:7

One commentator makes the observation that you can almost hear the wedding bells as the leper asks,
“Will you?” and the Savior responds, “I will.”

If Jesus is willing to touch a leper, a man diseased and full of sores, there is nothing that would keep Him from touching you and making you clean.  You do not need to bring birds, lambs, flour and oil.  It is the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses from all sin.

We sing the chorus

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Twenty-Six times we read these words in Scripture:
“Come Unto Me.”

The invitation is open.

You may approach the Father through the work on the cross of His Son.

The LORD invites you to COME NEAR!

Will you come and be clean?