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The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Leper (Part Two)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

The leper, in his plea to Jesus Christ, truthfully acknowledges his uncleanness, as leprosy is considered in the biblical context. He does not minimize the severity of his condition but openly confesses it, asking to be cleansed rather than merely healed, recognizing the deeper significance of cleansing. Christ Himself distinguishes between cleansing and healing when He instructs the apostles to heal the sick and cleanse the lepers. The leper's request for cleansing reflects an understanding that only Christ can remove the filthiness associated with his state, demonstrating his awareness of the profound need for purification beyond physical healing.

The Gift of a Leper

Article by Staff

Under Old Testament law, a leper was completely defiled in his uncleanness, required to live alone and warn others of possible contamination. Uncleanness, as seen in the case of leprosy, represents the profound effect of sin on an individual and a community, progressing slowly and deeply rooted in the bones and joints, eventually leading to visible decay and death. Ordinarily, uncleanness transfers among men, but holiness does not, making the cleansing of a leper a divine act of reconciliation through the work of our Savior. Jesus Christ, as the Eternal-Who-Heals, commands the leper to be cleansed, demonstrating God's power to restore purity and holiness. The leper's uncleanness does not transfer to Jesus initially, though later the penalty for sin is borne by Him, showing that a price must be paid for such cleansing. Clean has a sense of purity and holiness, and to be cleansed is to be made pure, a state no one can achieve on their own. The effects of sin, mirrored by leprosy, prevent a true keeping of God's commandments, leading to spiritual dismemberment and death. Only through Jesus Christ, who cleanses through the washing of water by the word, can one be restored, as no one can heal themselves or change their nature without His intervention. After God acts to restore, there remains an increasing responsibility to cleanse oneself from all filthiness in cooperation with Him, preparing for complete reconciliation and fellowship with the Father through Christ's shed blood.

What Is an Abomination?

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

God regards uncleanness as an abomination, a state or action that is detestable and impure in His sight. The Hebrew word *piggul*, used in contexts of impurity, relates to uncleanness and signifies a foul thing or refuse, highlighting God's disdain for such conditions. Another term, *sheqets*, often refers to unclean things that must not be touched, eaten, or worshipped, marking them as detestable. These abominations, including uncleanness, are not merely physical but carry a spiritual weight, representing a rejection of God's standards and a turning away from His ways.

The Miracles of Jesus Christ: Healing a Leper (Part One)

Bible Study by Martin G. Collins

Leprosy, as depicted in Scripture, carries profound significance beyond its physical manifestation. It vividly illustrates sin and its consequences, mirroring the effects of sin on the mind through the disease's impact on the body. Leprosy represents God's view of sin as detestable, deforming, and unclean. Both leprosy and sin begin small, then grow relentlessly until they infect the whole person, causing heartrending social problems, as seen in the quarantine laws that often split families and led to lepers suffering ostracism from society. In the end, both destroy their victims' lives. In biblical accounts, a man full of this dreadful disease, as described by Luke the physician, was on the brink of death and living apart from others, forced to wear a cloth over his mouth and cry, "Unclean, unclean," as mandated in Leviticus 13:45. In such hopeless situations, Christ's miracles of healing leprosy demonstrated that only God could provide deliverance, affirming His divine authority and power. Nationally, the condition of the leper parallels the spiritual state of a sinful society, reminiscent of ancient Israel as described by Isaiah the prophet. The pervasive corruption and immorality reflect a leprous condition, marked by spiritual sickness and the loss of blessings, as nations reap the curses they sow.

Abomination

Sermonette by Martin G. Collins

The common synonyms for abomination include loathing, hateful, abhorrence, evil anathema, repugnance, and disgusting. It is something which ignites hatred.

Urgency to Get Closer to God

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Kim Myers

The time when the offspring of Jacob are going to pay the piper is rapidly closing in. We must cultivate a sense of urgency in our relationship with God.

Maintaining Good Health (Part 2)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The cleanliness laws in Leviticus, prescribing cleansing and quarantine, apply to the spiritual dimension as well. God will not tolerate uncleanness.

Right? Wrong?

'Prophecy Watch' by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

A look at medicine, politics and religion shows that America has lost its moral and ethical foundation, unable to distinguish between right and wrong.

The Beatitudes, Part 6: The Pure in Heart

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh

Purity before God is far more than just being clean. To Jesus, being pure in heart, described in the Beatitudes, touches on the very holiness of God.

Guard Against Being an Abomination to God

Sermon by Kim Myers

An abomination is anything God hates, including idolatry, diverse weights, uncleanness, sorcery, a proud look, a lying tongue, and the shedding of innocent blood.

Psalm 51 (Part Three): Psalm 51:5-12

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

As physical filth repulses the senses, sin ought to repulse the spirit. David's repentance depicts total immersion in sin and the critical need for God's cleansing.

Cleansing God's People

'Prophecy Watch' by David C. Grabbe

Haggai received the last two prophecies on the same day. Haggai 2:10 and 20 identify that day as the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, called Kislev.

Preparing to Rule (1993)

Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Sanctification is both a state and a process—a time period between justification and glorification during which overcoming, purification, and holiness takes place.