Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Leviticus
Book: Leviticus
Chapter: 14
Overview:
Of declaring the leper to be
Clean.
(1-9) The sacrifices to be
offered
By him.
(10-32) The
Leprosy in a
House.
(33-53) Summary
of the
Law concerning
Leprosy.
(54-57)
1-9 The priests could not cleanse the lepers; but when the
Lord
removed the
Plague, various rules were to be observed in
admitting them again to the ordinances of
God, and the society
of his people. They represent many duties and exercises of truly
repenting sinners, and the duties of ministers respecting them.
If we apply this to the spiritual
Leprosy of
Sin, it intimates
that when we withdraw from those who walk disorderly, we must
not count them as enemies, but admonish them as brethren. And
also that when
God By his
Grace has brought to
Repentance, they
ought with tenderness and joy, and sincere
Affection, to be
received again. Care should always be taken that sinners may not
be encouraged, nor penitents discouraged. If it were found that
the
Leprosy was healed, the
Priest must declare it with the
particular solemnities here described. The two birds, one
killed, and the other dipped in the
Blood of the
Bird that was
killed, and then let loose, may signify
Christ shedding his
Blood for sinners, and rising and ascending into
Heaven. The
Priest having pronounced the leper
Clean from the disease, he
must make himself
Clean from all remains of it. Thus those who
have comfort of the remission of their sins, must with care and
caution cleanse themselves from sins; for every one that has
this
Hope in him, will be concerned to purify himself.
10-32 The cleansed leper was to be presented to the
Lord, with
his offerings. When
God has restored us to enjoy public
Worship
again, after sickness, distance, or otherwise, we should testify
our thanksgiving
By our diligent use of the liberty. And both we
and our offerings must be presented before the
Lord,
By the
Priest that made us
Clean, even our
Lord Jesus. Beside the usual
rites of the trespass-
Offering, some of the
Blood, and some of
the
Oil, was to be
Put upon him that was to be cleansed.
Wherever the
Blood of
Christ is applied for
Justification, the
Oil of the
Spirit is applied for
Sanctification; these two
cannot be separated. We have here the gracious provision the
Law
made for
Poor lepers. The
Poor are as welcome to
God's
Altar as
the rich. But though a meaner
Sacrifice was accepted from the
Poor, yet the same ceremony was used for the rich; their souls
are as precious, and
Christ and his
Gospel are the same to both.
Even for the
Poor one
Lamb was necessary.
No sinner could be
saved, had it not been for the
Lamb that was slain, and hath
redeemed us to
God with his
Blood.
33-53 The
Leprosy in a
House is unaccountable to us, as
Well as
the
Leprosy in a garment; but now
Sin, where that reigns in a
House, is a
Plague there, as it is in a
Heart. Masters of
families should be aware, and afraid of the first appearance of
Sin in their families, and
Put it away, whatever it is. If the
Leprosy is got into the
House, the infected part must be taken
out. If it remain in the
House, the whole must be pulled down.
The owner had better be without a dwelling, than live in one
that was infected. The
Leprosy of
Sin ruins families and
churches. Thus
Sin is
So interwoven with the human body, that it
must be taken down
By Death.
54-57 When that
God who is rich in
Mercy, for his great
Love
wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us
By his
Grace, Eph 2:4,5, we shall manifest the
change
By repenting, and forsaking former sins. Let us follow
after
Holiness, and let us compassionate other
Poor lepers, and
desire, seek, and pray for their cleansing.