Right Away
Unclean! Unclean!
SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 8:2 CSB - Right away a man with leprosy came up and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
OBSERVATION:
Jesus had just finished His sermon on the mount when He encountered a man with leprosy. Today, leprosy is scarcely encountered and considered almost nonexistent. However, during Jesus's time, it was incurable, with only sporadic recoveries.
The disease is highly destructive—starting with nerve damage, leading to the loss of limbs, and ultimately resulting in death. Barclay describes it as a slow, painful death that can last from twenty to thirty years, where a person 'dies by inches.'
Jewish law and customs mandated that a leper must keep a distance of 6 feet from others. If the wind was blowing, this distance increased to 150 feet. Touching a leper was considered worse than touching a dead body.
Matthew 8:2 CSB - Right away a man with leprosy came up and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
OBSERVATION:
Jesus had just finished His sermon on the mount when He encountered a man with leprosy. Today, leprosy is scarcely encountered and considered almost nonexistent. However, during Jesus's time, it was incurable, with only sporadic recoveries.
The disease is highly destructive—starting with nerve damage, leading to the loss of limbs, and ultimately resulting in death. Barclay describes it as a slow, painful death that can last from twenty to thirty years, where a person 'dies by inches.'
Jewish law and customs mandated that a leper must keep a distance of 6 feet from others. If the wind was blowing, this distance increased to 150 feet. Touching a leper was considered worse than touching a dead body.
“In the Middle Ages, if a man became a leper, the priest donned his stole and took his crucifix, and brought the man into the church, and read the burial service over him. For all human purposes, the man was dead.” – William Barclay.
“For all these reasons, the condition of leprosy is a model of sin and its effects. It is a contagious, debilitating disease that corrupts its victim and makes him essentially dead while alive; and it followed that almost universally, society and religious people scorned lepers. Rabbis especially despised lepers and saw them as people under the special judgment of God, deserving no pity or mercy.” – David Guzik.
“For all these reasons, the condition of leprosy is a model of sin and its effects. It is a contagious, debilitating disease that corrupts its victim and makes him essentially dead while alive; and it followed that almost universally, society and religious people scorned lepers. Rabbis especially despised lepers and saw them as people under the special judgment of God, deserving no pity or mercy.” – David Guzik.
But Jesus reached out and touched him. Imagine what the crowds might have thought. Were the disciples across the street, filled with awe? Did the leper shout, as was customary, “unclean, unclean”? What might have been going through the leper’s mind as Jesus approached? We know the answer!
"Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
It remains the same answer today!
APPLICATION:
I want to highlight two reactions: Jesus's and the leper's.
Matthew 8:3 CSB - Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, "I am willing; be made clean." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
First, Jesus did not see this man as a leper, unlike those around Him. How do I know this? He TOUCHED HIM. If Jesus regarded him as a leper, He wouldn't have touched him. The same logic applies to us: if Jesus viewed us as filthy sinners, why would He touch us? He sees us as lost, separated, and nearing death. Like the leper, we have a worsening condition—sin, which is equally or more destructive than leprosy. Yet, Jesus still chose to TOUCH you and me!
Jesus could have said NO! Father, let them pay for their sin. But instead, He chose to take our sin upon Himself. In a sense, He touched us!
Matthew 8:17 CSB - So that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: He himself took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.
Second, the man did what you and I need to do. Come to Jesus. Don’t just come, but come immediately, confessing our need for cleansing and confessing that we are terminal without His touch!
Then, we must accept the forgiveness and healing that Jesus provides. One of the biggest struggles you and I face is forgiving ourselves. Instead of viewing ourselves as sinners (like lepers), we should see ourselves as sinners saved by grace. There is a clear difference! Live in the freedom of forgiveness rather than in the guilt of past actions.
Finally, “Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” You and I have been forgiven. It happened instantly and completely! COME, RIGHT AWAY! What are you waiting for?
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for your willingness to touch someone like me! My sin has always been more serious than leprosy. Yet, Your grace covers all. I am grateful for the cross, where forgiveness and mercy are found. Help me share the hope of the gospel with sinners (lepers), so they, too, can experience and know Your grace and forgiveness, which come instantly from You.
"Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
It remains the same answer today!
APPLICATION:
I want to highlight two reactions: Jesus's and the leper's.
Matthew 8:3 CSB - Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, "I am willing; be made clean." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
First, Jesus did not see this man as a leper, unlike those around Him. How do I know this? He TOUCHED HIM. If Jesus regarded him as a leper, He wouldn't have touched him. The same logic applies to us: if Jesus viewed us as filthy sinners, why would He touch us? He sees us as lost, separated, and nearing death. Like the leper, we have a worsening condition—sin, which is equally or more destructive than leprosy. Yet, Jesus still chose to TOUCH you and me!
Jesus could have said NO! Father, let them pay for their sin. But instead, He chose to take our sin upon Himself. In a sense, He touched us!
Matthew 8:17 CSB - So that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: He himself took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.
Second, the man did what you and I need to do. Come to Jesus. Don’t just come, but come immediately, confessing our need for cleansing and confessing that we are terminal without His touch!
Then, we must accept the forgiveness and healing that Jesus provides. One of the biggest struggles you and I face is forgiving ourselves. Instead of viewing ourselves as sinners (like lepers), we should see ourselves as sinners saved by grace. There is a clear difference! Live in the freedom of forgiveness rather than in the guilt of past actions.
Finally, “Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” You and I have been forgiven. It happened instantly and completely! COME, RIGHT AWAY! What are you waiting for?
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, for your willingness to touch someone like me! My sin has always been more serious than leprosy. Yet, Your grace covers all. I am grateful for the cross, where forgiveness and mercy are found. Help me share the hope of the gospel with sinners (lepers), so they, too, can experience and know Your grace and forgiveness, which come instantly from You.
The cure for sin is found through the cross, and His name is Jesus.
Posted in Matthew