The gospel of Matthew places great emphasis on the facts that Jesus has fulfilled the Old Testament predictions. There are many miracles that Jesus performs. He is able to heal diseases, cast out demons and control the power of nature. In this passage we have a person who is in need of a miracle. Jesus will heal a leper. There is no sickness that He cannot heal.

1 – The misery of this leper (vs. 1-2)

Jesus came down from the mountain top and there are a multitude of people still following Jesus. In one of the cities, Jesus meets with a leper.

• His condition (vs. 2). He is a leper. Nobody came near someone who had leprosy. This leper was excommunicated from social and religious life. He was quarantined. This disease was very slow moving. It would typically last 9-10 years. It would eventually cover the whole body into one great big sore. A stench would announce his arrival. It was not a greatly painful disease. Parts of the fingers and toes would drop off until the person died. Leprosy is a picture of sin. It starts small on the inside and works its way to the outside to consume the whole body. We need to deal with sin. Sin will thrill and then it will kill. Sin is leprosy to the soul. You need to deal with it from the inside out. You need a new nature.
• His confidence (vs. 2). The very fact that he came to Jesus showed that he had confidence.
• His reverence (vs. 2). He came on his face and worshipped Jesus.
• His humility (vs. 2). “If you will”. He is expectant but not demanding. He does not presume he deserves God’s blessing.
• His faith (vs. 2). “You can heal me”. This leper knows what God can do. It is important to come to God in faith.

2 – The mercy of the Lord (vs. 3)

Jesus heals this man with a touch. Jesus was moved with compassion. See Hebrews 4:15. Jesus was touched by the man’s blight and he touches him. The man is healed in an instant by the Great Physician. He was to go to the priest to verify that he was now clean. Jesus speaks it and it happens. It was the same at the creation of the universe. If you have spiritual leprosy, Jesus can take it away in an instant.

3 – The ministry of the law (vs. 4)

The leper was not supposed to tell everyone. He tells everybody he met! He is to offer himself to the law. See Leviticus 14. He was to bring a gift of two birds. One was to be killed and the other dipped in the blood and released. It was a picture that he was cleaned by the shedding of blood. It is the only way a sinner can be made clean. There is power in the blood of Jesus Christ. It can make me whole again! This man was glad that Jesus touched Him.

Categories: Matthew