In previous lessons, we had Jesus delivering demoniac persons, healing Peter’s mother in law of a fever, healing a Gentile woman’s daughter, and a nobleman’s son. The next miracle listed detail in the gospels is the healing of the leper.
We all know about lepers in the Bible. They had to live outside the regular community, call out “Unclean!” to passers-by, wear torn clothes and cover the lower part of their faces (Leviticus 14:35). Contact with a leper made one unclean and unable to attend any religious service. There are of seven lepers named in the Bible. Biblical leprosy is described in Leviticus 13 as a progressive disease that causes scabs and crusts on the skin, leaves white patches on the skin, turns hair white and causes bald spots.
The word “leprosy” comes from the Greek word, lepra, which refers to “scabs” or “peeling.” The Jewish word is tzaraat (or zara’at), which can mean “to have a skin disease.” However, tzaraat also comes from a verb meaning “to smite.” In Jewish tradition, a leper was considered smitten by God.
In the Bible, leprosy was a physical ailment, but it also had a spiritual dimension. Tzara’at was looked upon as a disease inflicted by God upon those who transgressed his laws, a divine visitation for evil thoughts and evil deeds. Most of the lepers mentioned in the Old Testament were afflicted because of some transgression.
The named lepers are the following:
MOSES: Moses objects when God tells him to return to Egypt and confront Pharaoh. God has Moses put his hand into his cloak and, when he pulls it out again, “his hand was covered with scales, like snowflakes.” When Moses again puts his hand in his cloak, it comes out clean (Ex 4: 6-7).
MIRIAM: After Moses’ sister complains against him, God is definitely angry. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses, causing God to descend in a coLukemn of cloud to confront them. “Now the cloud withdrew from the tent, and there was Miriam, stricken with a scaly infection, white as snow” (Nm 12:10).
When Moses and Aaron — who somehow escaped punishment — pleaded with God to heal Miriam, God instead banished her to a tent outside the community for seven days. Only then was Miriam healed.
NAAMAN: This army commander heard about the the God of Israel from his wife’s Hebrew servant girl (2 Kings 5). When Naaman approached Elisha in Samaria, asking to be healed of his leprosy, the prophet did not speak to him directly. This angered Naaman, who grew even more upset when told to “wash seven times in the Jordan.” However, at the urging of his servants, Naaman obeyed and “his flesh became again like the flesh of a little child.”
GEHAZI: While Elisha refused the gifts that Naaman tried to give him, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, became greedy. In 2 Kings 5:20, we see Gehazi go after Naaman to get two silver talents and some “festal garments” for himself. However, God — and thus Elisha — saw Gehazi. Elisha tells his servant: “The leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever. And Gehazi went out, a leper with skin like snow.”
JOAB: Even though no more is told about Gehazi or his family, another family was marked for leprosy because of the bad acts of one of its members. In the Second Book of Samuel, we find Joab, a nephew of King David and a commander in his army. By treachery, Joab murders Abner, who had commanded Saul’s army when it fought against David’s at Gibeon. Joab’s brother had been killed by Abner there, so Joab later took revenge. When David learns of Abner’s murder, he cursed Joab: “May Joab’s family never be without one suffering from a discharge, or one with a skin disease …” (2 Sam 3:29).
UZZIAH: The last person cited by name in the Old Testament as bringing God’s anger upon himself in the form of leprosy is King Uzziah. He was one of David’s descendants and had a long and prosperous reign. However, he eventually grew too proud and one day decided to enter the Temple to offer the incense himself. This was an act which only a priest could do.
Uzziah was confronted by 81 Temple priests and grew angry about it. However, at that very moment, there was an earthquake and “leprosy broke out on (Uzziah’s) forehead.” Uzziah then repented and let the priests expel him “for the Lord had afflicted him.” Uzziah had to turn his kingdom over to his son, Jotham, and lived the rest of his life apart from his people (2Chr 26).
SIMON: One more named leper appears in the Bible, in the New Testament. Simon the Leper (Matthew 26: 1-13 and Mk 14:3-9) lived in Bethany and invited Jesus to a dinner at his house. We will go into further depth about him later.
Healing a leper
Jesus proved to all that it is his will to heal in the story of the unnamed leper.
Matthew:8:1-4 1: When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2: And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.3: And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4: And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Mark:1:40-45 40: And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41: And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42: And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43: And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44: And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 45: But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Luke:5:12-15, 12: And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 13: And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. 14: And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 15: But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
Because the Jews considered the lepers both physically and spiritually unclean, the man wanted to know if it was God’s will for him to be cleansed. He knew that Jesus was able to do it because he had heard of all the healings that had happened to others in the ministry of Jesus. But he felt unworthy to receive because he was a leper, so he questioned whether it would be God’s will to heal a leper. Jesus answered that it was his will to do so. In the gospels, Jesus said over and over that it is his will for the leper to be cleansed. He told the disciples to cleanse the leper when they went out to heal. He specifically add the lepers to healing the sick, because he knew how the leper was regarded.
Matthew:10:8: Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
When John sent disciples to Jesus to ask if he was the Messiah, he replied that he showed it by the miracles he did, including cleansing lepers.
Matthew:11:5: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Luke :7:22: Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
Paul tells us that the word cleanses. This is the same word the leper used when he asked if it was Jesus’ will to cleanse him. This again shows the way to be cleansed is by washing of the water of the word. When God’ speaks it cleans, not only of sin, but also of sicknesses.
Ephesians:5:26: That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
This restates the understanding that the leper was not only unclean with a illness but was also unclean because of sin. This also shows us that some sicknesses are because of sin. If you have not been healed yet, and have prayed for healing, it may be you need to repent of a sin. Ask God to reveal to you whether you need to confess a sin to him.
1John:1:7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1John:1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
When the leper was cleansed, Jesus told him not to broadcast it, but to go to the priests and do what Moses told him to do. There were specific steps that a leper was to take to prove he had been cleansed from leprosy.
Law for cleansed leper.
Leviticus:14:1-12 1: And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2: This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: 3: And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 4: Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5: And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: 6: As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: 7: And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. 8: And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days. 9: But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. 10: And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenth deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil. 11: And the priest that maketh him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: 12: And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:
Notice the importance of washing with water. This reminds us again of Ephesians 5, and the word washing with water. The sacrifice is washed, his body is washed, his clothes are washed. All his hair is to be shaved including his eyebrows. In verse 12 we are told that leprosy was considered a result of sin. Therefore a forgiveness of sin had to be included.
Apparently this leper did not do any of the offerings that Jesus asked him to do. Matthew and Luke tell us that the people crowded Jesus because of the cleansing, but Mark tells us that he went out to tell everyone.
Mark 1:45: But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
This action of the leper brought publicity to Jesus among the crowds in so much he had to leave the city. Jesus asked the man to go to the priests but he went to the people. Jesus was telling the man to go by the rules God had placed in the Old Testament for several reasons. First, in doing so, he would be obeying God, and would open the door for further blessings. Secondly, with him not going to the priests, it put a wedge between Jesus and the priests. They would resent the fact Jesus did not do the healing the appropriate way, and this would cause them to begin to persecute Jesus. We see this in the next healing Jesus did, when he healed the paralyzed man the Pharisees rebuked him. We will not go into detail about that miracle, because we will study that in the next lesson.
So this is a good example to us in healing. We need to put God first when we are healed. It is far more important to have a thankful heart then to give a testimony. We need to be thankful when God heals us. Always put him first, by thanking him for what he has done for you.
Another story about lepers healed by Jesus, stresses this heart of thankfulness.
The ten lepers
Luke:17:11-19 11: And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12: And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14: And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15: And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16: And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17: And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18: There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19: And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
The lepers call out to Jesus from a distance, to “have mercy on us!” Their call for mercy indicates a desire to be healed. And since the lepers call out to Jesus by name, they have some previous knowledge of him. They also call him “Master” (epistata), a word that occurs only in Luke’s Gospel and, except for this passage, is used only by Jesus’ disciples. This calling after Jesus indicates their faith.
When Jesus sees them, he sends them to the priests, who will determine according to the law of Moses, in Leviticus 14, whether they have been healed of leprosy. The lepers immediately demonstrate their faith by following Jesus’ instruction even though they still have their disease. Only as they are on their way, do we find out that “they were made clean.” Jesus responds to their cries for mercy by drawing from them an act of faith that results in their physical healing.
But only the Samaritan turns back to praise God and (literally translated) “fell before his feet” and thanks Jesus. Jesus asks rhetorically, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this stranger?” This shows that Jesus expected that all of them would return, but only the non-Jew, or foreigner returned.
Jesus then addresses the healed Samaritan: “Get up and go; your faith has made you whole.” But was not the Samaritan already well even before he came back praising God and giving thanks to Jesus? Jesus had healed him as well as the nine others who had leprosy. It was only the Samaritan who returned to thank Jesus for his healing. The nine were cleansed but this one was made whole. Because of his thankfulness, this man received more. Leprosy takes portions of skin, fingers, hands, toes, noses, and feet. This man was made whole. He received the greater miracle because of his faith and his thankfulness. He was made whole.
The Samaritan recognizes that mercy has come from Jesus, and returns to thank Jesus for the mercy of God that has been made manifest. The Samaritan’s thankfulness for his physical healing shows evidence of a deeper, spiritual healing, or his salvation. He is no longer a mere Samaritan now, but also a believer in Jesus.
Simon the Leper
Matthew:26:6-13 6: Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, 7: There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. 8: But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?9: For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. 10: When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. 11: For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 12: For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 13: Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
Mark:14:3-9 3: And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. 4: And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? 5: For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. 6: And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. 7: For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. 8: She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. 9: Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
John:12:1-8 1: Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. 2: There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. 3: Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 4: Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5: Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6: This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7: Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8: For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
This shows us that even though Simon was called a leper, he must have been one that had been cleansed. Also it shows us that Simon was related to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus…probably their father.
This final story shows us that one who has been forgiven and healed of something as great as leprosy, has a very thankful heart. This is also shown in the fact that Mary gave so much. This again shows a thankful heart. Simon invited Jesus to his house because of his thankfulness. Lazarus was there because of his thankfulness to be alive, and Mary gave her dowry because of her thankfulness.
We are to be thankful to God also and show it to him by our praise, and our giving.
Philippians:4:6: Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Colossians:1:12: Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Colossians:2:7: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Colossians3:15: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Colossians3:17: And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians4:2: Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Goode Christian: learning how to be a good Christian in today's world. 