Matthew 8
Matthew 8: 1-4
I am only doing four verses today. I have discovered a lot
in these four verses that I was previously unaware of.
Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
8:1-2 (1) When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.
(2) A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and
said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
What we know about leprosy is that it was
an incurable disease during Jesus time. It was also against the ‘law to touch a
leper. The leper did not exactly ask for healing he was asking for cleansing.
To me he wanted salvation of his soul. He also stated if you are willing”. I do
not know if he expected to be physically healed. If that true wouldn't
the question from the leper would be more like can you cure me or heal me?
From Guzik Commentary: In addition, this is the
first place in the gospel where Jesus is called Lord; a term that was
particularly meaningful in light of the fact that the word Lord was used
to translate the Hebrew word Yahweh.
I thought this was an interesting insight.
Mat 8:3 Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him,
saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Jesus touched the Leper. A leper was consider ceremonial
unclean by the priests and were to be banished to a leper colony. The fact that
Jesus touched him shows the compassion that he felt. By Jesus saying “I am willing; be cleansed” he bought the ministry
to new level. The leper was healed, it was done in front of all the people that
were following him and they knew the law about lepers. Just imaging you were
right next to Jesus and he was about to touch an incurable leper. What would
you have said or done? Then you see a leper become healed totally. Personally I
would have bowed down to worship Jesus. Something of this nature had never
happened before and you just witnessed it.
Mat 8:4 And Jesus
said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go,
show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a
testimony to them."
Jesus healed this man but there was a purpose for it. Show yourself to the priest. If you can remember the
priests were ultimately the ones who would have Jesus crucified. Jesus was
making his claim to be Lord to the priest loud and clear.
He also asked the leper to make the offering that Moses
commanded. You can read that in Leviticus 14:1-57. To say that the offering was
difficult is an understatement.
Agape
Dave
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