Matthew 8:1-4 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

For the purposes of this series, I am skipping Jesus’ discourses. While I am not giving space to the discourses in the series, it does not mean that they are not valuable. It only means that I am not focusing on them here, but they are part of the context to understand the narratives. The first discourse is in chapters 5-7 and it is what we know as the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, Jesus explains how his followers ought to live their lives as part of the Kingdom of God. The ethical standards that Jesus lays out in this discourse are very high. Some people get confused with Jesus’ moral teachings and the Law. It is important to note that the Law is not equivalent to morality. While God’s laws are moral, they don’t define the extent of all morality. Sometimes laws define just a minimum moral requirement, but Jesus speaks of the full moral value of life in the kingdom and he taught it with authority.

Right after preaching this sermon, a leper comes to Jesus as he is walking down the mount and asks to be healed. Leprosy was a term used to describe a wide range of skin diseases that made a person “ceremonially unclean.” To be unclean meant that the person had to live outside the community until the leprosy healed and the priest had to approve his/her reentry into the community after examining and certifying that (s)he had healed. Matthew presents Jesus as the Messiah that was prophesied by Isaiah, a healing Messiah. Actually, the healings were a sign to the people that God was at work in their midst. But I want to highlight the leper as a follower in contrast with the crowds that “followed” Jesus.

Like many others, the leper had a need. But in contrast with the crowds, the leper came to Jesus, knelt before him, called him Lord, and asked to be cleansed. The leper shows the attitudes of a true follower: he got closer, he worshiped, he believed. The way in which the leper asks shows that he had no doubt that Jesus could, but he pleaded that he would. Lepers were outcasts of society in those days, but Jesus does not hesitate to stretch out his hand and touch him to heal him. Jesus shows his compassion and takes action by showing mercy. In the same way, Jesus touches us when we come to him to be cleansed from all unrighteousness (1Jn.1:9).

Lord, cleanse me from all unrighteousness. May I get closer and acknowledge you as my Lord. Help me believe that you have the power to cleanse me from my uncleanness.

Acts 10:9-33 Peter's Vision

When Peter explained the giving of the Spirit on Pentecost, he quoted Joel who said "...and your young men shall see visions." Little did he know at the time that he would be given the privilege to see this one. God uses visions as a means to communicate something to his people with a visual image or images. The images of Peter's vision came to him while he was praying during the sixth hour (11-noon) on the housetop of Simon the tanner in the city of Joppa. The homes in these days had a flat rooftop that was used as living space, accessible via some steps on the side of the house. It was used as a gathering place as well as a place to do laundry, dry fruit, winnow chaff from grain, sleep during hot nights, and pray.

The vision came to Peter while he was on the rooftop praying. He was hungry, and while he waited for food to be prepared, he saw a sheet descending from the heavens with all kinds of animals on it and a voice that told him to kill and eat. The reason Peter refused to do so is rooted in the dietary laws of the Jews. According to Deuteronomy 14, there were clean and unclean animals, birds, and insects. The unclean (ceremonially speaking) were not to be eaten and these included the pig, camel, hare, eagle, vulture, falcon, owl, bat, insects, etc. among others. Peter's refusal to eat was met with the words: What God has made clean, do not call common."

Peter could not understand God's message because of the prejudice already built up in his life by tradition. How easy it is for me to get lost in the traditions that I have locked myself into! Traditions are not bad, they are good. They are the means to remember what God has done in the past and to celebrate the many benefits we enjoy for what God has done. But traditions have this other edge that cuts open, honest, and relevant communication with my God. Traditions can be the material necessary to build bridges that lead to the truth, but it can also be used to build a box to keep God inside and mold him according to my prejudiced conceptions of him.

As Peter tries to figure out the meaning of this vision, the men sent by Cornelius arrive. Timing is everything here. God speaks through the ordinary things of life as well as through the great visions of the heavens. Am I listening? The so called "coincidences" in life many times become the voice of God speaking loudly to me. Am I paying attention? I need to take time to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, the hurry, the busyness, the noise of the crowd so that I can hear God's voice. My refusal to slow down makes it almost impossible for me to perceive and discern what God wants to say to me.

I consider listening to God a task of great precision for which I must focus all my attention and energy to do it right. Have I ever tried to make a measurement reading with precision while moving? No! I stop. I take my time. I focus. I concentrate. I make sure I know how to use the measuring tool. And sometimes I measure again to make sure I did it right the first time. Why do I think I can listen to God while on the run? Why don't I take time to be with God and listen to his voice?

Traditions, busyness, and lack of attention can all stand in the way of hearing and understanding God's voice. Peter heard and finally understood God's message: Do not call any person common or unclean! The Gospel is also for the Gentiles, not just for the Jews! Am I listening? Am I paying attention? Am I able to see? I yearn to hear God's voice.

Father, allow my eyes to see you at work in the ordinary things in life. Allow my ears to listen attentively to your voice. Don't allow tradition, or busyness, or lack of attention to stand in the way of my relationship with you. Speak to me. I want to hear your voice. Amen.

Matthew 15:1-9 Traditions and Commandments

The kingdom of God demands worship that is sincere and genuine. Fake appearances and lip service are not acceptable. Unless my following of Jesus is heartfelt, I am wasting my time. For this reason, it is important that I learn to distinguish between traditions and commandments. Traditions are not bad in themselves. In fact they can be very good if they are based on doctrine, God's commands. But traditions that are totally based on human speculations and enforcement will not get me closer to God, especially if those traditions contradict God's commands.

Case in point: Jesus is accused by the Pharisees of disregarding the tradition of the elders concerning the washing of hands. In the Old Testament we find a ceremonial law that required the priest to wash his hands and feet before performing priestly duties. Unfortunately, this ceremonial law was enforced upon all Jews. It was meant for the priest only. Washing of hands before eating is certainly the right thing to do from a hygienic point of view, but that is not what the Pharisees have in mind when they wash. The washing is ceremonial and it was meant to cleanse their contact with Gentiles or anything unclean (ceremonially speaking). 

Jesus retorts asking why the Pharisees break God's commandment by following their own traditions. Case in point: God's law requires that we honor our parents. This is not only to respect them, but to take good care of them in whatever they need as best we can. The Pharisees came up with a way to avoid the responsibility to honor your parents by saying: "It is Corban." Corban is a Hebrew word used to state a vow by tagging finances or property as an offering to the Temple. If a person tagged his finances and property as Corban, the Pharisees would free that person from the responsibility to provide and take care of his parents in old age. To Jesus, this is hypocritical.

Any tradition that disregards God's commands or teaches contrary to God's Word should be abandoned. What is the basis to judge a tradition as good or bad? The Scriptures as contained in the Old and New Testaments is our rule for faith and life. I must be diligent in the understanding of doctrine, God's commands, so I will not confuse human traditions with it. 

Lord, cause me to be diligent in understanding your Word. Fill my heart with the desire to be close to you. May I be genuine in my worship as I seek your face. Help me obey your commands.

Matthew 8:1-4 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

"Leprosy" refers to many different skin diseases from a rash to actual leprosy. People diagnosed with leprosy were commanded by the law to wear torn garments and let their head hair hang loose.  Also, they were to cry out "unclean, unclean" while covering their upper lip as they walked down the streets. Moreover, they were to live alone, outside the camp (city).

The unclean status of a leper was so public that he/she was ostracized from society. People would not touch them since they were unclean. Lepers were left to live a very lonely life as they were moved outside the camp. Since no employer would hire a leper, most of them were left to beg to survive. Leprosy took away homes, social life, jobs, even dignity.

Jesus paid attention to the leper and even touched him to make him clean. Then, he asks him to go to the priest to be pronounced officially clean. One of the cleansing rituals for lepers used two birds. One was to be killed. The other was to be dipped in the blood of the other and set free. The one declared clean had to be sprinkled with that blood.

Leprosy represents sin in my life. My cleansing and my freedom is possible by the blood of Jesus Christ. I have been sprinkled with his blood to be able to spread my wings and fly, soaring the skies above for the glory of God. I can't forget that my ability to fly freely was purchased with blood - a life. I can't forget that my freedom was given to help others become free. Like Jesus, I must pay attention to the cry of those in bondage. I must be willing to touch their lives as a member of the body of Christ so that they can be set free and many times recover what sin took away from them.

God Almighty, thank you for Jesus Christ your Son, who came to give his blood to sprinkle my soul and declare me clean of my sin. May your love and compassion fill me to pay attention to those in bondage and minister to them. May I seek their freedom as I enjoy the abundant life you have granted me.