Lepers gotta love ‘em! – Matthew 8:1-4
Lepers gotta love ‘em! – Matthew 8:1-4
By Pastor Lee Hemen
June 30, 2019
There are folks in our lives that are just tough to love. You know what I mean; those who have nothing good to say about anyone else, those who are constantly jealous over others and what they have or do, or those folks who constantly gripe about almost everyone and anything. Then there are those folks who just have to gain attention by constantly gripping over their latest ailment, sickness, or hypochondria. It can be difficult to be around such folks in life and they can become or be seen as the “lepers” of our day and age.
In Jesus’ day there were skin ailments that were often seen as leprosy but actually were not, however, I believe that Jesus and his followers knew the difference between minor skin diseases and actual leprosy. After Jesus was finished speaking to the crowds he heads back down the hillside and meets up with a man who is a leper. How Jesus interacts with and has compassion on him displays for us just how even in our day and age, lepers gotta love them! Let’s see what Jesus teaches us…
READ: Matthew 8:1-4
How we handle those folks who rub us the wrong way says a lot about our compassion. I readily admit I have to work on this constantly in my life; I’m not as compassionate as I should be. However there is hope for a person like me and Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life…
I. Our attitude needs to be willing! (Vv.1-2)
When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
1. We notice that Jesus’ teaching that day must have had a huge impact because not only are his words recorded here, Luke makes mention of them, and we see that “When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.” In fact this would be the case pretty much from now on in Jesus’ ministry. Wherever he went from then on large crowds would follow him to the point he has a tough time finding any solitude: “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ (Mark 6:31 NIV)” but “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. (Mark 6:34 NIV)” We do not know for sure however perhaps the leprous man had heard the words of Jesus far off from the sidelines and waited patiently for Jesus to finish because as a leper he would not have been welcome in the crowd. But now we find that he “came and knelt before” Jesus. His humility was evident and he certainly had nothing to lose as an outcast - the lowest in the social order and commanded to stay away from anyone else under penalty of death! Maybe he got there late, we simply do not know but whatever occurred we find him with the courage to come to Jesus with a request: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Now isn’t this interesting. Evidently the man had heard enough to know that Jesus had cured others or he was affected by the Master’s words to the crowd and he was given the courage to confront the only one who had the power to cure his disease. When the lepers of our lives come to us no matter why, how is our attitude? When they enter our lives aren’t they in effecting asking us “if you are willing”. The man recognizes Jesus’ lordship, his mastery over disease, pain, and suffering but more than that he evidently saw that Jesus would stop, listen to his request, and respond. Who else could a leper come to be made clean? When life gives us lepers we need to be ready to respond. Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life our attitude needs to be willing!
EXAMPLE: Willingness does not mean we have to like the person nor do we have to like having to respond but we have to be willing. The disciples would have an ingrown revulsion to anyone who had leprosy. It was a horrible disease that would not have a cure until recent times. Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a bacterial disease that can cause skin lesions, disfiguration, damage to the nerves and eyes, and other problems. Fortunately, the disease is treatable with medication and those with leprosy can live normal lives and be cured! Jesus’ disciples did not know that this would happen they only knew what they experienced and what they were told. Yet like us they needed an attitude change and here Jesus teaches us that our attitude needs to be willing!
Like little disobedient children who do not want to do something we can drag our feet, take our time to respond, and grip about how we don’t have the time, can’t do it, or simply we don’t want to do it! However, here in Matthew Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life…
II. We need to act immediately! (v. 3)
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
1. We see the compassionate nature of Jesus in the gospel narratives that describe his life for us. We discover it when he heals Peter’s mother-in-law, the resurrection of synagogue ruler Jairus’ daughter, the son who was demon possessed who threw himself into campfires, the woman who reaches out and touches him as he walks through the crowd; each of these instances and more display for us Jesus’ compassionate nature. Yet what strikes me the most is not Jesus’ response, because you would expect that, but that he responds without hesitation. Even when a hated Canaanite woman comes to him and cries out from the crowd, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” Jesus responds in a way whereby his disciples and the woman both are taught the truth that God is a compassionate God and he responds right away. (Matthew 15:22-28) In fact the only time Jesus takes his time in responding was with a close friend who had to die in order for others to be taught a lesson on compassion and the power of God! And now a leper stands before Jesus and his disciples asking that if Jesus is willing he could make him clean and it is here in this moment the extent of the compassion of Jesus is graphically displayed for us because “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.” No Pharisee, no Sadducee, and certainly none of the teachers of the law would ever in their wildest dreams willingly reach out and touch a leper, but Jesus does immediately without hesitation! This makes me weak in the knees knowing my own aversions and sensing my own prejudices to see Jesus willingly and lovingly reach out to this man who had no hope. And low and behold in this moment of time all of creation pauses and waits to hear the precious words of Jesus when he quietly and confidently says, “I am willing”. The leper’s heart leaps as the Jesus commands, “Be clean!” and “Immediately he is cured of his leprosy.” In this Jesus teaches us that we need to act immediately!
EXAMPLE: I have learned in life that not every problem needs me to try and “fix” it. In fact often what folks need is a compassionate ear of one who will simply listen. Often even a sincere hug relays to the one hurting that while you may not have the answer, you are available to share their hurt and walk beside them. This is why when folks ask me that they need prayer for someone or something I often respond right away. I try to stop what I am doing and pray with them right then and there. I have learned that as a believer I am a purveyor of Jesus’ compassion and conduct to a hurting world. And in this Jesus teaches that with the lepers of life we need to act immediately!
When dealing with the difficult people of life we often want them to respond in the way we want them to rather than in the way they often do. What we see from Jesus is the focus of his ministry was to give God the glory and it is here that Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life…
III. We need to give Jesus the glory! (v. 4)
Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
1. In our day and age not many people carry business cards anymore. Instead they rely on exchanging phone numbers and addresses by simply touching one phone to the other. For Jesus his calling card, so-to-speak, was found in the actions he did and here we discover Jesus giving his calling card not only to the leper he heals but to those the leper was legally required to go to first. Jesus tells him, “See that you don’t tell anyone.” Jesus wasn’t fearful of others discovering who he was because the crowds already knew. And he was more than likely known by the powers that be, the Pharisees and the Scribes. Jesus tells him, “But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” And there it is. We discover that Jesus wanted his calling card given to the authorities so that not only would the leper not get into trouble, but that the Law of Moses was followed and the required thanksgiving gift to God was given. It would show the leper’s willingness to honor God, for his personal protection, and it would be a testimony to the powers that be that Jesus was indeed the Messiah! I just told you about Jesus’ friend that he delayed going to in order to heal him. Lazarus died and his sisters and the onlookers needed to understand who Jesus truly was however when Lazarus’ sisters send for him he tells his disciples, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it. (John 11:4 NIV)” Perhaps you did not know it but not since Miriam in the Book of Numbers do we find any Israelite being cured of leprosy and in her case she had to wait outside of the camp for seven days to be cured and to be brought back into the Israelite fold! But here this leper is cured instantly and can be welcomed back into society immediately! It’s Jesus showing the Priests of the Temple that the Messiah had indeed come and to give God the glory he deserved! In this Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life we need to give Jesus the glory!
EXAMPLE: Far too often we want the credit for doing something when in fact we should not seek to be recognized for the ministries God gives us in life. This is one of the many reasons I like baseball because it is a team sport where each individual contributes to the overall success of the team. Sure you will have all stars but more often than not if you interview them they will not take the credit but humbly give fellow players their due because they realize they are one part of a team. We can forget that we are also part of a team: God with us. As his disciples we are to always give him the credit and glory for what he does through us. In this Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life we need to give Jesus the glory!
Conclusion:
Our attitude needs to be willing! We need to act immediately! We need to give Jesus the glory!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2019 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
June 30, 2019
There are folks in our lives that are just tough to love. You know what I mean; those who have nothing good to say about anyone else, those who are constantly jealous over others and what they have or do, or those folks who constantly gripe about almost everyone and anything. Then there are those folks who just have to gain attention by constantly gripping over their latest ailment, sickness, or hypochondria. It can be difficult to be around such folks in life and they can become or be seen as the “lepers” of our day and age.
In Jesus’ day there were skin ailments that were often seen as leprosy but actually were not, however, I believe that Jesus and his followers knew the difference between minor skin diseases and actual leprosy. After Jesus was finished speaking to the crowds he heads back down the hillside and meets up with a man who is a leper. How Jesus interacts with and has compassion on him displays for us just how even in our day and age, lepers gotta love them! Let’s see what Jesus teaches us…
READ: Matthew 8:1-4
How we handle those folks who rub us the wrong way says a lot about our compassion. I readily admit I have to work on this constantly in my life; I’m not as compassionate as I should be. However there is hope for a person like me and Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life…
I. Our attitude needs to be willing! (Vv.1-2)
When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
1. We notice that Jesus’ teaching that day must have had a huge impact because not only are his words recorded here, Luke makes mention of them, and we see that “When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him.” In fact this would be the case pretty much from now on in Jesus’ ministry. Wherever he went from then on large crowds would follow him to the point he has a tough time finding any solitude: “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ (Mark 6:31 NIV)” but “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. (Mark 6:34 NIV)” We do not know for sure however perhaps the leprous man had heard the words of Jesus far off from the sidelines and waited patiently for Jesus to finish because as a leper he would not have been welcome in the crowd. But now we find that he “came and knelt before” Jesus. His humility was evident and he certainly had nothing to lose as an outcast - the lowest in the social order and commanded to stay away from anyone else under penalty of death! Maybe he got there late, we simply do not know but whatever occurred we find him with the courage to come to Jesus with a request: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Now isn’t this interesting. Evidently the man had heard enough to know that Jesus had cured others or he was affected by the Master’s words to the crowd and he was given the courage to confront the only one who had the power to cure his disease. When the lepers of our lives come to us no matter why, how is our attitude? When they enter our lives aren’t they in effecting asking us “if you are willing”. The man recognizes Jesus’ lordship, his mastery over disease, pain, and suffering but more than that he evidently saw that Jesus would stop, listen to his request, and respond. Who else could a leper come to be made clean? When life gives us lepers we need to be ready to respond. Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life our attitude needs to be willing!
EXAMPLE: Willingness does not mean we have to like the person nor do we have to like having to respond but we have to be willing. The disciples would have an ingrown revulsion to anyone who had leprosy. It was a horrible disease that would not have a cure until recent times. Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a bacterial disease that can cause skin lesions, disfiguration, damage to the nerves and eyes, and other problems. Fortunately, the disease is treatable with medication and those with leprosy can live normal lives and be cured! Jesus’ disciples did not know that this would happen they only knew what they experienced and what they were told. Yet like us they needed an attitude change and here Jesus teaches us that our attitude needs to be willing!
Like little disobedient children who do not want to do something we can drag our feet, take our time to respond, and grip about how we don’t have the time, can’t do it, or simply we don’t want to do it! However, here in Matthew Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life…
II. We need to act immediately! (v. 3)
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
1. We see the compassionate nature of Jesus in the gospel narratives that describe his life for us. We discover it when he heals Peter’s mother-in-law, the resurrection of synagogue ruler Jairus’ daughter, the son who was demon possessed who threw himself into campfires, the woman who reaches out and touches him as he walks through the crowd; each of these instances and more display for us Jesus’ compassionate nature. Yet what strikes me the most is not Jesus’ response, because you would expect that, but that he responds without hesitation. Even when a hated Canaanite woman comes to him and cries out from the crowd, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” Jesus responds in a way whereby his disciples and the woman both are taught the truth that God is a compassionate God and he responds right away. (Matthew 15:22-28) In fact the only time Jesus takes his time in responding was with a close friend who had to die in order for others to be taught a lesson on compassion and the power of God! And now a leper stands before Jesus and his disciples asking that if Jesus is willing he could make him clean and it is here in this moment the extent of the compassion of Jesus is graphically displayed for us because “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.” No Pharisee, no Sadducee, and certainly none of the teachers of the law would ever in their wildest dreams willingly reach out and touch a leper, but Jesus does immediately without hesitation! This makes me weak in the knees knowing my own aversions and sensing my own prejudices to see Jesus willingly and lovingly reach out to this man who had no hope. And low and behold in this moment of time all of creation pauses and waits to hear the precious words of Jesus when he quietly and confidently says, “I am willing”. The leper’s heart leaps as the Jesus commands, “Be clean!” and “Immediately he is cured of his leprosy.” In this Jesus teaches us that we need to act immediately!
EXAMPLE: I have learned in life that not every problem needs me to try and “fix” it. In fact often what folks need is a compassionate ear of one who will simply listen. Often even a sincere hug relays to the one hurting that while you may not have the answer, you are available to share their hurt and walk beside them. This is why when folks ask me that they need prayer for someone or something I often respond right away. I try to stop what I am doing and pray with them right then and there. I have learned that as a believer I am a purveyor of Jesus’ compassion and conduct to a hurting world. And in this Jesus teaches that with the lepers of life we need to act immediately!
When dealing with the difficult people of life we often want them to respond in the way we want them to rather than in the way they often do. What we see from Jesus is the focus of his ministry was to give God the glory and it is here that Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life…
III. We need to give Jesus the glory! (v. 4)
Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
1. In our day and age not many people carry business cards anymore. Instead they rely on exchanging phone numbers and addresses by simply touching one phone to the other. For Jesus his calling card, so-to-speak, was found in the actions he did and here we discover Jesus giving his calling card not only to the leper he heals but to those the leper was legally required to go to first. Jesus tells him, “See that you don’t tell anyone.” Jesus wasn’t fearful of others discovering who he was because the crowds already knew. And he was more than likely known by the powers that be, the Pharisees and the Scribes. Jesus tells him, “But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” And there it is. We discover that Jesus wanted his calling card given to the authorities so that not only would the leper not get into trouble, but that the Law of Moses was followed and the required thanksgiving gift to God was given. It would show the leper’s willingness to honor God, for his personal protection, and it would be a testimony to the powers that be that Jesus was indeed the Messiah! I just told you about Jesus’ friend that he delayed going to in order to heal him. Lazarus died and his sisters and the onlookers needed to understand who Jesus truly was however when Lazarus’ sisters send for him he tells his disciples, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it. (John 11:4 NIV)” Perhaps you did not know it but not since Miriam in the Book of Numbers do we find any Israelite being cured of leprosy and in her case she had to wait outside of the camp for seven days to be cured and to be brought back into the Israelite fold! But here this leper is cured instantly and can be welcomed back into society immediately! It’s Jesus showing the Priests of the Temple that the Messiah had indeed come and to give God the glory he deserved! In this Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life we need to give Jesus the glory!
EXAMPLE: Far too often we want the credit for doing something when in fact we should not seek to be recognized for the ministries God gives us in life. This is one of the many reasons I like baseball because it is a team sport where each individual contributes to the overall success of the team. Sure you will have all stars but more often than not if you interview them they will not take the credit but humbly give fellow players their due because they realize they are one part of a team. We can forget that we are also part of a team: God with us. As his disciples we are to always give him the credit and glory for what he does through us. In this Jesus teaches us that in dealing with the lepers of life we need to give Jesus the glory!
Conclusion:
Our attitude needs to be willing! We need to act immediately! We need to give Jesus the glory!
---
This article is copyrighted © 2019 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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