Leviticus 13:6
And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the plague be somewhat dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
The priest was to shut up one with a suspicious skin mark for seven days and look again, and if the spot had grown dim and had not spread in the skin he was to declare him clean as having only a scab and have him wash his clothes. It stands among the laws of uncleanness and leprosy that gave directions against spreading disease. Leprosy is a dreadful and incurable disease that fitly pictures sin as an inward, consuming and shameful plague that never heals of itself and contaminates all around it. Cleansing from that sin-leprosy comes only from the great Physician by faith in his healing power, as miraculous as raising the dead. God still requires proper precautions against disease, for those sanitary directions stand at the head of sanitary law for preserving life and health, and their cleansing is an example for Christians to follow cleansing truths of health reform that they may be clean vessels for God's Spirit.
Procedure and Legal Setting
The priest's procedure for a suspected skin disease begins with inspecting the person. He then waits seven days and looks on him again. If the plague has grown somewhat dark and has not spread in the skin, he pronounces him clean, declares it but a scab, and requires him to wash his clothes. The direction belongs to the laws in Leviticus 12 to 15 regulating uncleanness and leprosy. That whole section gives sanitary directions about diseases that can spread, including leprosy and the unsanitary condition of houses.
Its cleansing procedure required a person or object to be visibly clean before the sanctuary's cleansing with blood. It thus distinguishes observable physical uncleanness from deeper defilement that required atonement. The law stands among the Levitical laws belonging to the sanctuary's yearly round of service, which typified Christ's ministry.
Leprosy as Type of Sin
Leprosy is a horrible, dreadful, acknowledged incurable disease that was prevalent in the Holy Land, and it is a fitting type and picture of sin, including mortal sin as a terrible moral disease. The laws for its examination and cleansing belong to the full directions concerning the plague of leprosy, whose rules for the leper serve as a picture of the healing sinners need. Like leprosy, sin is a terrible moral disease that never gets well of itself.
As figured by leprosy, sin is an incurable and infectious plague that consumes its victim. Its chief seat is within, where it pollutes the source of life, even while it brings outward shame. As figured by leprosy, sin is contagious, so the sinner contaminates the very atmosphere and introduces pollution where all before was comparative purity. His society is calculated to lead others to sin, so such influences are more to be feared than the infection of the leper.
Cleansing from this leprosy-like sin comes only from the great Physician. Jesus Christ's healing of lepers showed His power to heal, and complete cleansing of the leper from the dread malady is no less a miracle than raising the dead. That cleansing is received by faith in the cleansing power of the Author of the ceremonies, and the rites show faith in Christ from whom healing must be sought.
Sanitation and Present Application
Leviticus 13:6 belongs to the laws concerning leprosy and the unsanitary condition of houses, and it shows that God required people to take proper precautions against disease even though He Himself is the one who heals. Precaution did not deny divine healing but worked with it, for inspection, waiting, and washing were commanded duties alongside trust in God as healer.
The verse is part of the laws of sanitation promulgated by Moses, which still stand at the head of sanitary law. Observing such sanitary law has real value for preserving life and health, and the enduring superiority of these ancient laws proves that divine inspiration guided Moses.
Israel's laws of cleansing, including this direction, are an example for Christians to follow cleansing truths, including health reform. By attending to such cleansing they become clean vessels fit to receive God's Spirit and the latter rain.