Matthew 8 :1 - 4 The Cleansing of the Leper

Mat 8:1  Upon descending from the hill country He was followed by immense crowds.

Mat 8:2  And [look], a leper came to Him, and throwing himself at His feet, said, "Sir, if only you are willing you are able to cleanse me."

Mat 8:3  So Jesus put out His hand and touched him, and said, "I am willing: be cleansed." Instantly he was cleansed from his leprosy;

Mat 8:4  and Jesus said to him, "Be careful to tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses appointed as evidence for them."

See also Mark 1: 40 - 45; and Luke 5: 12  16 for this account.

Notes

Mat 8:1  Upon descending from the hill country He was followed by immense crowds.

It is clear that this healing happened after the Sermon on the Mount when a Great Crowd followed Jesus.

Barnes Notes His discourse had attracted great attention, and the fame of it drew together great multitudes, who were convinced that he had come from God. Then follows, in this chapter and the chapter succeeding, a succession of “miracles” not less remarkable than his teaching was; miracles that tended to confirm beyond a doubt the impression made by his sermon that he was sent from God.

Mat 8:2  And [look], a leper came to Him, and throwing himself at His feet, said, "Sir, if only you are willing you are able to clean.

The Lion like face of a Leper

http://year9diseases.wikispaces.com/Leprosy

Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. This bacteria grows very slowly and mainly affects the nerves, and mucous membranes. AFter a person is affected by the bacteria the bacteria begins to multiply inside the body and the symptoms of the bacteria don't show until 3 - 5 years within contact. Even when its a very strong case damage is only done to the hands, the feet and the peripheral nerves.

This bacteria spread around, quite easily simply by coughing or sneezing. A few of the first signs that a person has Leprosy is when they have a patch on skin and when you have a loss of feeling.

Symptoms

There are quite a few symptoms of this disease. Leprosy also has different stages, and also has different types of Leprosy. They are different levels in which that are dangerous and some that are not so dangerous.

• Severe pain
• Muscle weakness, especially in the hands and feet
• Skin stiffness and dryness
• Loss of fingers and toes
• Eye problems, which lead to blindness
• Enlarged nerves, especially those around the elbow (ulnar nerve) and knee (peroneal nerve).
• Face

v. 2.b.throwing himself at His feet, said, "Sir, if only you are willing you are able to make me clean.

Worshipped him - Bowed down before him, to show him respect.

If you are willing - This was an exhibition of great faith, and also an acknowledgment of his dependence on the will of Jesus, in order to be healed. So every sinner must come. He must feel that Jesus “can” save him. He must also feel that he has no claim on him; that it depends on his sovereign will; and must cast himself at his feet with the feelings of the leper:

“I can but perish if I go;

I am resolved to try;

For if I stay away, I know

I shall forever die”

Happily, no one ever came to Jesus with this feeling who was not received and pardoned.

Make me clean - Heal me. The leprosy was regarded as an unclean and disgusting disease. To be “healed,” therefore, was expressed by being “cleansed” from it.

Notice here the Compassion and Power of Jesus to heal and to cleanse

Mat 8:3  So Jesus put out His hand and touched him, and said, "I am willing: be cleansed." Instantly he was cleansed from his leprosy;

So Jesus put out His hand and touched him

Nobody would touch a Leper. To touch a Leper was thought to bring uncleanness and guilt Lev 5:3. There was a GREAT Fear of contracting the disease.

Jesus answer

said, "I am willing: be cleansed." Instantly he was cleansed from his leprosy;

Jesus answered with just Two words in the Greek meaning I am willing be cleansed.

θέλω  /  ἐθέλω thelō  /  ethelō Thayer Definition:

1) to will, have in mind, intend

1a) to be resolved or determined, to purpose

1b) to desire, to wish

1c) to love

To cleanse G2511 καθαρίζω katharizō Thayer Definition:

1) to make clean, cleanse 1a) from physical stains and dirt 1a1) utensils, food

1a2) a leper, to cleanse by curing

These two words from Jesus were all that were necessary to say.. The first clears up the matter of Jesus Willingness . The second removed the Leprosy from the suffering man. He was cleansed. His skin returned to normal and was renewed.  This was a Word of Power.; a command for the man to be cleansed. The cure was Immediate and the man was made CLEAN. Notes from L. Morris p.189

Mat 8:4  and Jesus said to him, "Be careful to tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses appointed as evidence for them."

Notes.

Now Jesus follows the procedure that was necessary to restore the man to Society.

Be careful to tell no one, but go and show yourself to the priest,

This command is to be understood as extending only to the time until he had made the proper representation to the priest. It was his duty to hasten to him immediately Lev_14:2; not to delay by talking about it, but, as the first thing, to obey the laws of God, and make proper acknowledgments to him by an offering. The place where this cure was performed was in Galilee, a distance of 40 or 50 miles from Jerusalem; and it was his duty to make haste to the residence of the priest, and obtain his sanction to the reality of the cure. Perhaps, also, Christ was apprehensive that the report would go “before” the man if he delayed, and the priest, through opposition to Jesus, might pronounce it an imposition. Barnes Notes

and offer the gift which Moses appointed as evidence for them."

That Moses directed to be offered by a leper when he was cured. That gift consisted of “two birds alive and clean, cedar-wood, scarlet, and hyssop,” Lev_14:4.

For a testimony unto them - Not to the priest, but to the people. Show thyself to the priest, and get his testimony to the reality of the cure, as a proof to the people that the healing is genuine. It was necessary that he should have that testimony before he could be received to the congregation or allowed to mingle with the people. Having this, he would be, of course, restored to the privileges of social and religious life, and the proof of the miracle, to the people, would be put beyond a doubt.