Matthew 8:1-4, Jesus Cleanses a Leper

1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

Comments

Jesus displayed his authority first in wisdom, then in healings and miracles. Great crowds followed him because his message was one of restoration. The leper had been excluded from the congregation of the people because he was unclean. This was the law in Leviticus.

Did Jesus become unclean when he touched the leper? He did not. Instead, he purified and restored him. He brought the outsider in, in essence, undoing the effects of the Fall.

Prayer

The Almighty Lord, who is a strong tower to all who put their trust in him, to whom all things in heaven, on earth, and under

the earth bow and obey: Be now and evermore your defense, and make you know and feel that the only Name under heaven given for health and salvation is the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

(BCP, p. 456)