Sermon Tone Analysis

Luke 5:12–16 (ESV)

12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy.

And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

Lepers were outcasts from society, and most nonlepers would not have wanted to touch them, even had Jewish law permitted it

13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.”

And immediately the leprosy left him.

The healing of a leper is called a cleansing, following OT terminology, and hence the incident will have been seen in the church as a symbol of the spiritual cleansing from sin which can be effected by Jesus, and to which there is implicit reference in both the preceding and the following incidents.

14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

New Testament (5:12–16—Cleansing a Leper)

The Bible had prescribed particular sacrifices if someone’s leprosy were cured (Lev 14:1–32).

By complying with these regulations, Jesus does nothing to violate the law or to offend the priests.

15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.

16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.