Sermon Tone Analysis

Experiencing Jesus -

a man with leprosy.

Matthew’s first story is about a leper who was healed by Jesus (cf.

Mark 1:40–44; Luke 5:12–14).

Lepers were social and religious outcasts in biblical times.

Leprosy in the Bible can refer to a variety of skin problems and should not be equated with the dreaded modern malady known as leprosy (Hansen’s disease).

Even garments could become “leprous” (Lev 13:47–59).

In all these cases, the priests were responsible to make official rulings on the ritual status of the questionable individual, impurity or uncleanness versus purity or cleanness.

They were to quarantine questionable individuals until their status became clear.

Lepers were not permitted any social contact with other Israelites but were to shout warnings of their impurity to those who might come near them (Lev 13:45–46).

As such, this leper was rather audacious even to approach Jesus (contrast Luke 17:12) and to request cleansing, although his posture, his calling Jesus “Lord” (See the discussion under Christology in the Major Themes section of the Introduction.),

and his confidence in Jesus’ power indicate his great respect for Jesus (8:2).

Although this leper’s faith is striking, the next story involves even greater faith.

(For the OT background on leprosy see Lev 13–14; Num 12:10–15; 2 Kgs 5 [cf.

Luke 4:27]; 2 Chr 26.

In the Gospels see Matt 8:2–3; 10:8; 11:5; 26:6; Mark 1:40–42; 14:3; Luke 4:27; 5:12–13; 7:22; 17:12.

See also m.

Negai’m.)

8:1 When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.

In 5:1 we read that Jesus “saw the crowds … [and] went up on a mountainside” in order to teach them.

After finishing his “Sermon on the Mount” (recorded in chapters 5–7), Jesus came down from the mountainside.

Whenever we see Jesus, we usually see large crowds following him.

The people were astonished at Jesus’ authority in his teaching (7:28–29); it captivated them, so they followed him to see and hear more.

8:2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Leprosy, like AIDS today, was a terrifying disease because there was no known cure.

In Jesus’ day, the Greek word for “leprosy” was used for a variety of similar skin diseases, and some forms were contagious.

If a person contracted the contagious type, a priest declared him a leper and banished him from his home and city.

This also excluded him from participating in any social or religious activities (according to the law in Leviticus 13–14).

The leper went to live in a community with other lepers until he either got better or died.

This was the only way the people knew to contain the spread of the contagious forms of leprosy.

This man took a great risk when he came and knelt before Jesus.

The word for “knelt” can also mean “worshiped.”

His kneeling reveals his desperation, humility, and recognition of Jesus’ authority.

His words to Jesus reveal his faith.

If his disease were to disappear, a priest could declare him clean (or cured), but only Jesus could make him clean.

The words “if you are willing” reveal the man’s faith in Jesus’ authority in this matter of healing; Jesus’ ability was never in question.

This man wanted to be clean—a huge request.

The man wanted to become a person again, to be reunited with his family and community.

He knew Jesus could do it.

He apparently had heard of Jesus’ healing power (see 4:24).

The question was, would Jesus heal him?

POINT OF NEED

The leper’s actions and words expressed his complete reliance upon Christ.

This leper was a broken person.

He may not have fully understood who Jesus was, but he regarded Jesus as his source of hope.

Perhaps the leper had just stood at a distance, straining to listen to parts of the Sermon on the Mount.

He must have thought that surely a man with such powerful words from God might also wield God’s power to heal.

The leper wanted so badly to be clean.

This desperate man had a point of need; a part of his life was clearly beyond his control.

God often uses our point of need as the place in which to make himself known.

Until we honestly cry, “Help,” any knowledge we have about God will be incomplete.

Our point of need may be physical illness, loneliness, or the defeat of recurring sin.

God can use that need to make us aware of our deeper need for him.

Has God used your need to draw your attention to himself?

Have you turned to him?

Let your trust in God deepen as you honestly confess your need to him.

8:3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

“I am willing,” he said.

“Be clean!” Jesus’ love and power work together.

Matthew revealed Jesus’ heart of compassion.

All people shunned lepers, but Jesus reached out his hand and touched this man covered with a dreaded, contagious disease.

That Jesus’ touch precedes his pronouncement of healing indicates his sovereignty over the Jewish law not to touch a leper (Leviticus 5:3; 13:1–46; Numbers 5:2).

In touching the leper, Jesus became “unclean.”

He did not worry about becoming ritually unclean when there was a genuine need.

When Jesus answered the man, I am willing, he showed his willingness and ability to meet this social outcast’s most basic need.

With the words “Be clean,” the leprosy immediately disappeared.

The words and the touch were simple but effective, revealing Jesus’ divine authority over sickness.

Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.

When Jesus spoke the words, the leper was cured immediately.

We do not know the stage of this man’s leprosy—he may have already lost portions of his body to the disease.

But when Jesus spoke, the man’s health was restored completely and instantly.

The man had his life back; he could return to his community, to his family, and to the synagogue.

TELL AND SHOW

Jesus’ touch communicated both to the leper and to the watching people.

What communicates with people?

What gets through?

What cracks the crust and reaches a person beneath the surface?

If all we do is speak (preach or witness), many people will wonder if our words carry much weight.

Having words without work seems cheap.

Most people prefer the words of someone whose life they trust, and trust requires a tangible demonstration of a person’s values.

If all we do is work (touch people with good deeds), many will wonder what all the effort means.

Works accomplished but never celebrated may add health or comfort to a person’s life (and this is important), but in the end, for what higher purpose?

Jesus speaks and touches, and so should we.

In your actions, you show the love of God.

In your words, you celebrate God by answering the how and the why questions connected with your service.

For Jesus’ sake, tell others about him, and show others how much you care.

8:4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

N Jesus healed the man, but also gave him two warnings: First, see that you say nothing to anyone.

The warning was an earnest and forceful admonition—words that Jesus commanded the man to obey.

But why would Jesus ask this man not to tell anyone about his healing?

Wouldn’t this have been great advertising for Jesus, bringing more people to hear his message?

While we might think so, Jesus knew better (John 2:24–25).

Jesus’ mission was to preach the Good News of the kingdom of God.

He did not want the crowds descending on him to see miracles or to benefit from his power.

Such people would not be receptive to hear and to respond to the gospel.

Jesus did not want to be a miracle worker in a sideshow; he wanted to be the Savior of their souls.

This verse and others in Matthew (9:30; 12:16; 16:20; 17:9) have been referred to as the “messianic secret,” meaning that Jesus wished to keep his full messiahship hidden until after the Resurrection.

Different reasons have been given, such as that Jesus did not want to arouse political messianic expectations or that Jesus wouldn’t accept the full acclamation until he finished his saving work on the cross.

Most likely, there were several and different reasons for each situation.

Here perhaps the obvious meaning is that the cleansed man would not be distracted by talking to people until he followed the law and went to the priest.