Luke 5:14, commentary and pictures

Jesus charged the cleansed leper to tell no one of the healing but to go at once to the temple, show himself to the priest, and present the offering Moses commanded for cleansing as a witness to them. The offering could not be accepted until the priests examined him and pronounced him wholly free of disease, and that sentence officially restored him in health to home, family, friends, and the congregation of Israel. Silence and haste were urged so he would secure an impartial examination before any rumor reached the priests and hatred would move them to a dishonest decision, and so diseased crowds would not press about Jesus, charges of breaking the ritual law would not arise, and preaching of the gospel would not be hindered. That obedience to Moses testified that His work did not oppose the law, showing His love for humanity, His respect for the law, and His power to deliver from sin and death, and giving the priests opportunity to be convinced and overcome prejudice. The very priests who had condemned him to banishment were thus compelled to certify his cure, leaving a standing testimony for Christ in the reinstated man as a living witness though they refused Him as Messiah, while the man in joy at regained health and family life proclaimed everywhere the power of the One who made him whole, not understanding that each public display hardened the chief priests and elders in their determination to destroy Jesus.

Leprosy, Setting, and Background

Luke 5:14 belongs to the account of the cleansing of the leper, which is given also in Matthew 8 and Mark 1. The encounter took place by a lake outside the city. The leper was barred from entering cities and villages, yet he heard of Jesus' healing works and saw the sick restored, became convinced that Jesus is the promised Savior, and longed to be healed.

The man had been of high distinction, and he and his family grieved when convinced he had the fatal disease. Noted physicians thoroughly examined his case and searched their books for further knowledge, but had to admit their skill was baffled and the disease incurable. The priest then examined him and decided his was the worst form of leprosy. That verdict sentenced him to a living death separated from friends and the society where he had held high position, and those who had courted his favor and shared his hospitality fled from him in horror, and he went out an exile from his home.

Under the inflexible ritual law of Moses only the priests could examine suspected leprosy and pronounce a person unclean or free, a requirement binding even kings and rulers who had to yield scepter and flee society if stricken. A pronounced leper was shut out like one already dead from family, the congregation of Israel, and the habitations of men, doomed to associate only with fellow lepers. He was obliged to rend his garments and publish his calamity with the mournful cry Unclean! unclean! to warn all to flee, because whatever he touched was unclean and the air was polluted by his breath. Leprosy was the most dreaded disease in the East for its incurable and contagious character and horrible effect on its victims. Among the Jews it was regarded as a judgment for sin called The stroke and the finger of God, deep-rooted, ineradicable, deadly, and a symbol of sin.

The Command and Testimony

Jesus charged the cleansed man to tell no one of the healing but to act at once, going straight to the temple to show himself to the priest and offer for his cleansing what Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. The direction to keep the healing quiet and present himself with the Mosaic offering made obedience itself the public testimony, showing that His work did not oppose the law of Moses. The offering could not be accepted until the priests examined him and pronounced him wholly free from disease, and however unwilling they were they could not evade examining and deciding the case.

That examination confirmed the cure and officially restored him in health and vigor to home, family, friends, community, society, and the congregation of Israel. Silence and prompt action were enjoined with urgency so he would present himself before any rumor of the miracle reached the priests, securing an impartial examination and decision. The reason was that if the priests first learned the facts their hatred of Jesus might lead them to render a dishonest sentence, so haste protected the man's permission to unite again with family and friends.

Silence was also required to keep diseased sufferers from crowding about Him with fears of contamination, to avoid charges of breaking down the restrictions of the ritual law, and to prevent hindrance to preaching the gospel. Sending the healed man to the priests gave them testimony calculated to disarm prejudice and to disprove the Pharisees' accusation that His teaching was opposed to the law given through Moses. It showed His love for humanity, His respect for the law, and His power to deliver from sin and death, and gave the priests opportunity to be convinced and to overcome prejudice.

The same priests who had condemned him to banishment were thus made to certify his cure by public sentence, leaving a standing, lasting testimony for Christ with the reinstated man as a living witness. They were convinced of divine power by the examination and the offering that testified to his restoration, though they refused to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah. The man misunderstood the restriction as modesty and, from joy at regaining health, strength, and family and social life, could no longer conceal the fact but joyfully went about proclaiming the power of the One who made him whole and giving Jesus full credit. He did not understand that each public display of divine power made the chief priests and elders more determined to destroy Him.

The command belongs to Christ's healing ministry meeting both physical and spiritual needs of those who sought His help. With the healing of the woman who silently touched the hem of His garment and the distant healing of the nobleman's servant, the compassionate healing of the leper gives encouragement and illustrates the touch of faith.