2 Kings 5:20
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
The verse belongs to the story of Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, a great man with his master and honorable because by him the Lord had given deliverance to Syria, a mighty man in valor who was a leper. After his master spared Naaman by refusing to receive what he had brought, Gehazi coveted that wealth and resolved to run after Naaman to take something for himself. He acted from hidden greed and selfish desire for gain and reward.
He formed this intent despite living with Elisha and witnessing his godly life and teaching, by which religious privileges he was not made better. His resolve began a course of deception directed at Naaman. He undertook it in the belief that he could conceal his actions.
That deception placed a stumbling block in Naaman's path even though Naaman had received great light and was favorably disposed to serve the living God, and it had no excuse. God revealed to Elisha the words Gehazi had spoken and every detail of his encounter with Naaman. The falsehood Gehazi then spoke from covetousness was sin against the God of truth and verity, who is a God of sincerity and truth, in whose sight prevarication and any exaggeration or deception appear evil.
For this he was punished by having Naaman's leprosy cling to him. He remained a leper cursed by God and shunned by others until his death, for that falsehood he was struck with leprosy that ended only with death. This shows that even life itself should not be purchased at the price of falsehood. His leprosy stands as a warning that dishonesty and mixing sacred work with selfish or unholy principles can bring harm to God's cause, especially when people handle sacred things.