But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean.
The verse belongs to the cleanliness laws given to ancient Israel, where the showing of raw flesh was one of the signs of leprosy that made a person unclean. Leprosy is a fitting type of sin as a terrible moral disease and mortal evil. Like leprosy, sin is universally prevalent, reaches beyond outward acts to the motives and desires of the heart, and consumes and pollutes the source of life. Like leprosy, sin never heals of itself and is incurable by human means, so cleansing from it requires faith in Christ as the only source of cleansing and great Physician. Like leprosy, sin is contagious and infectious, spreading pollution and leading others into sin through influence and society. The sanitary laws given through Moses concerning leprosy and unsanitary conditions remain foremost in wisdom for preventing disease and preserving life, and bodily cleansing and obedience to health principles prepare God's people for His Spirit to dwell in them.
Law's Setting and Procedure
Leviticus 13:14 belongs to the laws regulating uncleanness and leprosy. Those laws are part of the cleanliness laws given to ancient Israel and of the sanitary instructions concerning leprosy. The appearance of raw flesh is placed within the signs of leprosy that made a person unclean.
The verse belongs to the law of cleansing in Leviticus 12-15. In that law physical uncleanness had to be removed first, so that the object was made visibly clean in human sight. That visible cleansing prepared it for its real cleansing with blood by atonement, by which it was reconciled or cleansed. The defilement of the sanctuary in the sight of the Lord was moral rather than physical. The verse is included among the Levitical service passages that formed part of the sanctuary's yearly cycle, which typified Christ's once-for-all ministry.
Leprosy as Type of Sin
Leprosy is a fitting type of sin, portraying it as a terrible moral disease and as mortal sin. Like leprosy, sin is universally prevalent and embraces every kind of evil. Sin reaches beyond visible acts to the motives, purposes, and desires of the heart, and like leprosy it consumes its victim and pollutes the source of life.
Like leprosy, sin never gets well of itself and is incurable by human means, for the disease was regarded as incurable, so that cleansing from it was a miracle pointing to faith in Christ as the source of cleansing, from whom alone the great Physician can cleanse. Like leprosy, sin is contagious and infectious, contaminating the atmosphere and introducing pollution where all before was comparative purity. It leads others to sin through the sinner's society and influence, which is more to be feared than the infection of the leper.
The setting points to sin as a dreadful disease from which people need healing, and receiving that healing requires pride to die and the old self to be put off. The prevalence of leprosy in the Holy Land recalls the condition described in Scripture.
Sanitary Wisdom and Application
The regulations dealing with leprosy, including the rule about raw flesh appearing, are admirable precautions directed against disease and unsanitary conditions. They belong to the laws of sanitation promulgated by Moses, which still stand at the head of sanitary law. Observing such sanitary law has real value for preventing disease and preserving life. Its enduring superiority shows divine inspiration guiding Moses.
The cleanliness laws given to ancient Israel are linked to cleansing the body and obeying health principles. Such cleansing prepares God's people for His Spirit to dwell in them. It prepares them to receive the latter rain.
The verse belongs to the cleanliness laws given to ancient Israel, where the showing of raw flesh was one of the signs of leprosy that made a person unclean.
Leprosy is a fitting type of sin as a terrible moral disease and mortal evil.
Like leprosy, sin is universally prevalent, reaches beyond outward acts to the motives and desires of the heart, and consumes and pollutes the source of life.
Like leprosy, sin never heals of itself and is incurable by human means, so cleansing from it requires faith in Christ as the only source of cleansing and great Physician.
Like leprosy, sin is contagious and infectious, spreading pollution and leading others into sin through influence and society.
The sanitary laws given through Moses concerning leprosy and unsanitary conditions remain foremost in wisdom for preventing disease and preserving life, and bodily cleansing and obedience to health principles prepare God's people for His Spirit to dwell in them.
Law's Setting and Procedure
Leviticus 13:14 belongs to the laws regulating uncleanness and leprosy. Those laws are part of the cleanliness laws given to ancient Israel and of the sanitary instructions concerning leprosy. The appearance of raw flesh is placed within the signs of leprosy that made a person unclean.
The verse belongs to the law of cleansing in Leviticus 12-15. In that law physical uncleanness had to be removed first, so that the object was made visibly clean in human sight. That visible cleansing prepared it for its real cleansing with blood by atonement, by which it was reconciled or cleansed. The defilement of the sanctuary in the sight of the Lord was moral rather than physical. The verse is included among the Levitical service passages that formed part of the sanctuary's yearly cycle, which typified Christ's once-for-all ministry.
Leprosy as Type of Sin
Leprosy is a fitting type of sin, portraying it as a terrible moral disease and as mortal sin. Like leprosy, sin is universally prevalent and embraces every kind of evil. Sin reaches beyond visible acts to the motives, purposes, and desires of the heart, and like leprosy it consumes its victim and pollutes the source of life.
Like leprosy, sin never gets well of itself and is incurable by human means, for the disease was regarded as incurable, so that cleansing from it was a miracle pointing to faith in Christ as the source of cleansing, from whom alone the great Physician can cleanse. Like leprosy, sin is contagious and infectious, contaminating the atmosphere and introducing pollution where all before was comparative purity. It leads others to sin through the sinner's society and influence, which is more to be feared than the infection of the leper.
The setting points to sin as a dreadful disease from which people need healing, and receiving that healing requires pride to die and the old self to be put off. The prevalence of leprosy in the Holy Land recalls the condition described in Scripture.
Sanitary Wisdom and Application
The regulations dealing with leprosy, including the rule about raw flesh appearing, are admirable precautions directed against disease and unsanitary conditions. They belong to the laws of sanitation promulgated by Moses, which still stand at the head of sanitary law. Observing such sanitary law has real value for preventing disease and preserving life. Its enduring superiority shows divine inspiration guiding Moses.
The cleanliness laws given to ancient Israel are linked to cleansing the body and obeying health principles. Such cleansing prepares God's people for His Spirit to dwell in them. It prepares them to receive the latter rain.