irections to the priest to judge concerning leprosy. (1-17)
Further directions. (18-44) How the leper must be disposed of.
(45,46) The leprosy in garments. (47-59)
Verses 1-17: The plague of leprosy was an uncleanness, rather than a
disease. Christ is said to cleanse lepers, not to cure them.
Common as the leprosy was among the Hebrews, during and after
their residence in Egypt, we have no reason to believe that it
was known among them before. Their distressed state and
employment in that land must have rendered them liable to
disease. But it was a plague often inflicted immediately by the
hand of God. Miriam's leprosy, and Gehazi's, and king Uzziah's,
were punishments of particular sins; no marvel there was care
taken to distinguish it from a common distemper. The judgment of
it was referred to the priests. And it was a figure of the moral
pollutions of men's minds by sin, which is the leprosy of the
soul, defiling to the conscience, and from which Christ alone
can cleanse. The priest could only convict the leper, (by the
law is the knowledge of sin,) but Christ can cure the sinner, he
can take away sin. It is a work of great importance, but of
great difficulty, to judge of our spiritual state. We all have
cause to suspect ourselves, being conscious of sores and spots;
but whether clean or unclean is the question. As there were
certain marks by which to know it was leprosy, so there are
marks of such as are in the gall of bitterness. The priest must
take time in making his judgment. This teaches all, both
ministers and people, not to be hasty in censures, nor to judge
anything before the time. If some men's sins go before unto
judgment, the sins of others follow after, and so do men's good
works. If the person suspected were found to be clean, yet he
must wash his clothes, because there had been ground for the
suspicion. We have need to be washed in the blood of Christ from
our spots, though not leprosy spots; for who can say, I am pure
from sin?
Verses 18-44: The priest is told what judgment to make, if there were
any appearance of a leprosy in old sores; and such is the danger
of those who having escaped the pollutions of the world are
again entangled therein. Or, in a burn by accident, ver. (24).
The burning of strife and contention often occasions the rising
and breaking out of that corruption, which proves that men are
unclean. Human life lies exposed to many grievances. With what
troops of diseases are we beset on every side; and thy all
entered by sin! If the constitution be healthy, and the body
lively and easy, we are bound to glorify God with our bodies.
Particular note was taken of the leprosy, if in the head. If the
leprosy of sin has seized the head; if the judgment be
corrupted, and wicked principles, which support wicked
practices, are embraced, it is utter uncleanness, from which few
are cleansed. Soundness in the faith keeps leprosy from the
head.
Verse 45,46: When the priest had pronounced the leper unclean, it put
a stop to his business in the world, cut him off from his
friends and relations, and ruined all the comfort he could have
in the world. He must humble himself under the mighty hand of
God, not insisting upon his cleanness, when the priest had
pronounced him unclean, but accepting the punishment. Thus must
we take to ourselves the shame that belongs to us, and with
broken hearts call ourselves "Unclean, unclean;" heart unclean,
life unclean; unclean by original corruption, unclean by actual
transgression; unclean, therefore deserving to be for ever shut
out from communion with God, and all hope of happiness in him;
unclean, therefore undone, if infinite mercy do not interpose.
The leper must warn others to take heed of coming near him. He
must then be shut out of the camp, and afterward, when they came
to Canaan, be shut out of the city, town, or village where he
lived, and dwell with none but those that were lepers like
himself. This typified the purity which ought to be in the
gospel church.
Verses 47-59: The garment suspected to be tainted with leprosy was not
to be burned immediately. If, upon search, it was found that
there was a leprous spot, it must be burned, or at least that
part of it. If it proved to be free, it must be washed, and then
might be used. This also sets forth the great evil there is in
sin. It not only defiles the sinner's conscience, but it brings
a stain upon all he has and all that he does. And those who make
their clothes servants to their pride and lust, may see them
thereby tainted with leprosy. But the robes of righteousness
never fret, nor are moth-eaten.
irections to the priest to judge concerning leprosy. (1-17)
Further directions. (18-44) How the leper must be disposed of.
(45,46) The leprosy in garments. (47-59)