Jesus and Lepers

As we read Scripture, we can often gloss over many details. When we read about Jesus cleansing lepers, we often do not understand what leprosy was or how it affected an individual. It was a spiritual affliction which exiled the person. The person was not allowed to live in cities. The person had to dwell alone away from others. Before Jesus, no Israelite afflicted with leprosy was ever healed. Once a person was declared unclean with leprosy by a priest, the person remained that way for the rest of his life. Knowing all this, we can now begin to understand the implications for Jesus and His ability to cleanse a person from leprosy. We begin to understand how a person who was given a life sentence of exile now had hope of re-entering society. 

Many people believe and teach Jesus did not follow Torah, and Jesus did whatever He wanted. However, this is not so. Even Jesus follows Torah and its protocols in regards to leprosy (tzara’at).

Mark 1:40-45
40And a leper *came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and *said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 43And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44and He *said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.


Matthew 8:1-4
1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4And 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.”


Things to note:
1. Jesus told the lepers to go show themselves to the priest. The priest would be the one who would make the declaration of a person being cleansed from tzara’at.

2. Jesus told the lepers to present the offerings Moses commanded. Again, this emphasizes Jesus did not tell people to break the Torah. Instead, Jesus is upholding it.

3. Jesus did not heal the lepers. Many erroneously believe the lepers needed healing. No, they needed cleansing. Why? Because tzara’at was a spiritual affliction. When a person repented and/or renewed their faith with God, they went to a place called a mikvah. They completely submerged themselves into the water. When they came up, it is said they had a new birth. They were born again.


Washing was a requirement for cleansing the leper. In Leviticus 14, we read on the first day and on the seventh day, the person who has been declared free from tzara’at must bathe. Please note, this is not taking a shower; the person is not bathing because he is dirty. It is a ritual washing.

1Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. Now he shall be brought to the priest, 3and the priest shall go out to the outside of the camp. Thus the priest shall look, and if the infection of leprosy has been healed in the leper, 4then the priest shall give orders to take two live clean birds and cedar wood and a scarlet string and hyssop for the one who is to be cleansed. 5The priest shall also give orders to slay the one bird in an earthenware vessel over running water. 6As for the live bird, he shall take it together with the cedar wood and the scarlet string and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was slain over the running water. 7He shall then sprinkle seven times the one who is to be cleansed from the leprosy and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the live bird go free over the open field. 8The one to be cleansed shall then wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe in water and be clean. Now afterward, he may enter the camp, but he shall stay outside his tent for seven days. 9It will be on the seventh day that he shall shave off all his hair: he shall shave his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair. He shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in water and be clean.


Does tzara’at still exist?
The short answer is no. Tzara’at seemed loonily be an affliction which plagued the Israelites (and also Naaman the Syrian). Priests are needed to declare someone unclean with the affliction. However, priests are needed to declare some cleansed from tzara’at. Then, offering must be brought to the Temple. As long as there is no Temple and no priesthood, there can be no tzara’at.

Although there is no tzara’at, that does not mean God does not use other means to punish use for evil speech. We may have financial struggles, car troubles, failed friendships, broken marriages, etc. God can use many things to teach us lessons. Moreover, evil speech is a poison which will create its own punishment. How many times have your own words spoken in secret come back to you? King Solomon warns about this in Ecclesiastes.

21Also, do not take seriously all words which are spoken, so that you will not hear your servant cursing you. 22For you also have realized that you likewise have many times cursed others. (Ecclesiastes 7:21-22)

Furthermore, in your bedchamber do not curse a king, and in your sleeping rooms do not curse a rich man, for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound and the winged creature will make the matter known. (Ecclesiastes 10:20)

Scripture gives us many reprimands about speaking evil about one another.

12A worthless person, a wicked man,
Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth,
13Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet,
Who points with his fingers;
14Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil,
Who spreads strife.
15Therefore his calamity will come suddenly;
Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.
16There are six things which the Lord hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
18A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers. (Proverbs 6:12-19)


We need to strive to speak well of one another. Scripture gives us many verses to meditate on as we try to let love and peace flow from our mouths.

17‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. 18You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:17-18)


23Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
24Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.
25Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
26Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
27Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:23-27)


6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the name of the wicked will rot.
8The wise of heart will receive commands,
But a babbling fool will be ruined.
9He who walks in integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10He who winks the eye causes trouble,
And a babbling fool will be ruined.
11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all transgressions. (Proverbs 10:6-12)


18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19We love, because He first loved us. 20If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. (1 John 4:18-21)


12So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:12-17)