Healing the Leper… vs. 1-4

• 1^st – Ministry of the King… vs. 1
  • After this…
    • When He had come down from the mountain – great multitudes followed Him!
    • AFTER completing the Sermon of the KING [Sermon on the Mount]
    • Jesus came down off the HILL – back into the city of Capernaum…
    • And there were MANY [πολύς] who now followed the Lord!
    • The phrase AFTER these saying – is used THREE times in MATTHEW:
    • AFTER the completing the Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 7:28
    • AFTER completing His ministry in the Galilee – Matthew 19:1
    • AFTER completing His ministry in Judea – Matthew 26:1
  • Outline of the Book…
    • FIRST – The Presentation of the King – Matthew 1-7
    • SECOND – The Ministry of the King – Matthew 8-18
    • THIRD – The Rejection of the King – Matthew 19-25
    • FOURTH – The Resurrection of the King – Matthew 26-28
    • We have come to the END of the FIRST section of the book of MATTHEW…
    • We now come into the SECOND part – the Ministry of the KING!
• 2^nd – Make me clean… vs. 2-3
  • Leprosy… vs. 2
    • Behold – a leper came and worshiped Him!
    • No sooner had Jesus come down off the HILL [mount of Beatitudes]
    • A LEPER comes and begins to continually [imperfect] WORSHIP Him!
    • Leprosy [Hansens] is a disease that attacks the nervous system so a person cannot feel…
    • If we touch a HOT stove – or a SHARP blade – PAIN tells us we have been injured…
    • But a LEPER cannot FEEL – and ends up harming themselves unintentionally…
    • It is a disease that slow that slowly consumes the infected person [no hands – face]
    • It is also CONTAGIOUS – people nearby can become infected…
    • Therefore – anyone with LEPROSY was required to call out UNCLEAN if you came close!
    • The Bible uses LEPROSY as an illustration of SIN…
    • Because the first time we commit a SIN – we FEEL it is wrong…
    • But if we KEEP on sinning – we stop FEELING as much guilt…
    • Until eventually we lose all FEELING of remorse – causing us to be UNCLEAN!
  • Impossible request… vs. 2
    • Saying – Lord – if You are willing – You can make me clean!
    • The LEPER said to the Lord [κύριος] – if You are willing [subjunctive]
    • Jesus had the POWER [δύναμαι] to make him CLEAN [pure]
    • LEPROSY was an uncurable disease [we do have medicine today]
    • This man was saying he believed Jesus could do the IMPOSSIBLE!
    • Much like LEPROSY – SIN is an incurable disease…
    • We have no POWER to be able to be PURE before the God…
    • But what we CANNOT do – God can DO – because nothing is impossible for Him!
    • Mark 10:27 – “With men it is impossible – but not with God. With God all things are possible.”
  • Touching the unclean… vs. 3
    • Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him – saying:
    • I am willing – be cleansed. Immediately his leprosy was cleansed!
    • Jesus stretched out His hand – and TOUCHED the Leper…
    • TOUCHED [ἅπτομαι] – to CLING to someone – hold on TIGHT…
    • And told the LEPER – I am willing – be CLEAN [imperative]
    • IMMEDIATELY – the LEPER was CLEANSED [passive]!
    • According to the LAW – if someone touched [ἅπτομαι] a LEPER – Leviticus 15:7
    • They would be UNCLEAN as well for the remainder of the DAY…
    • The tradition was for the JEWS to stay TWO meters apart from them…
    • But Jesus did NOT care – He was willing to get DIRTY to reach those who were SICK!
    • Sharing the Gospel means getting our hands DIRTY…
    • People who might not have BATHED – those who might be SICK…
    • How can we say we LOVE them – if we will not even TOUCH them…
    • We are called to REACH out to the LOST – and show them the GOOD news!
• 3^rd – The Testimony… vs. 4
  • Tell no one…
    • Jesus said to him – See that you tell no one!
    • The healing of an incurable disease was going to attract a LOT of attention…
    • So Jesus commanded [imperative] the man to tell NO one [he told everyone] – Mark 1:45
    • Because Jesus was not looking to become FAMOUS – He pointed people back to the WORD!
  • The Offering…
    • Go your way – show yourself to the priest.
    • And offer the gift that Moses commanded – as a testimony to them!
    • Jesus commanded him to GO [imperative] and SHOW [imperative] himself to a priest…
    • He was to do this as a TESTIMONY – and EXAMPLE for others…
    • OFFERING [imperative] the gift required by the Law of MOSES – Leviticus 14:2-7
    • TWO birds – one was sacrificed [Jesus] – the other was set FREE [Leper]
    • CEDAR wood – a picture of the CROSS of Christ…
    • SCARLET cloth – a picture of our BLOOD of Jesus – that cleanses us – I Peter 1:19
    • HYSSOP – a common weed that grows everywhere in Israel!
    • Are we UNCLEAN – struggling with SIN that we cannot overcome…
    • Jesus can make us CLEAN – He alone has the POWER to take away our SIN…
    • He was sacrificed [bird] – so that we could be set FREE – John 8:36
    • He went to the CROSS [cedar] – where He shed His blood [scarlet]
    • Then He made forgiveness available to everyone – easy to find [hyssop]
    • But He does not just want to CLEAN us – He wants us to tell EVERYONE else…
    • Give our TESTIMONY – how God can do the IMPOSSIBLE – and make us PURE!

• 2^nd – Healing The Servant… vs. 5-13
  • 1^st – The Centurion… vs. 5-7
    • Roman solider… vs. 5
      • Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum – a centurion came to Him – pleading with Him!
      • As Jesus came into Capernaum [city on the north side of the Galilee]
      • A CENTURION came calling [παρακαλέω] to Him!
      • CENTURION [21x in NT] – was a ROMAN officer – who oversaw 100 soldiers…
      • The ROMAN military had conquered Israel – so the Jews also hated Centurions!
    • His servant… vs. 6
      • Saying – Lord – my servant is lying at home paralyzed – dreadfully tormented!
      • Calling Jesus Lord [κύριος] – he asked for help for his SERVANT [young child]
      • Telling Him that the boy was unable to get out of BED – and in TERRIBLE pain…
      • There is a good possibility – this sick BOY was a Jewish SLAVE…
      • But this ROMAN solider showed great compassion for Him!
      • The Bible seems to always puts CENTURIONS in a positive light…
      • A CENTURION at the foot of the cross who said Jesus was the Son of God – Matthew 27:54 
      • It was a CENTURION who saved Paul when he was shipwrecked on Malta – Acts 207:43
    • No partiality… vs. 7
      • And Jesus said to him – I will come and heal him!
      • Jesus did NOT hesitate – He told the CENTURION He would come and HEAL [indicative]
      • Because Jesus was not just there to help JEWS – He was there for EVERYONE!
      • Romans 2:11 – “For there is no partiality with God.”
      • Why does the Bible portray CENTURIONS in a good light…
      • To show us that even people we HATE – need the message of the Gospel…
      • We do NOT just tell people we like about Jesus – we tell EVERYONE!
  • 2^nd – Great Faith… vs. 8-10
    • Speak the Word… vs. 8
      • The centurion answered and said: Lord I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.
      • But only speak a word – and my servant will be healed!
      • The CENTURION would NOT let Jesus go with him…
      • He kept saying [imperfect] he was not WORTHY for the Lord [κύριος] to come into his home…
      • Besides – all Jesus needed to do was SAY the WORD [λόγος]
      • And the CENTURION knew his servant would be [indicative] healed!
    • Understanding Authority… vs. 9
      • For I also am a man under authority – having soldiers under me. 
      • And I say to this one – Go – and he goes. And to another – Come – and he comes.
      • And to my servant – Do this – and he does it!
      • The CENTURION was a man UNDER authority [ἐξουσία] – he had a boss [Tribune]
      • But he was also a man in AUTHORITY – his soldiers has to do [imperative] what he said…
      • The CENTURION understood – what everyone else had missed…
      • He knew Jesus could HEAL – because He was the one who had all AUTHORITY!
      • Matthew 28:18 – “All authority [ἐξουσία] has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
    • Marveled… vs. 10
      • When Jesus heard it – He marveled – and said to those who followed.
      • Assuredly – I say to you – I have not found such great faith – not even in Israel!
      • When Jesus heard what the CENTURION said – God was AMAZED [indicative]
      • He turned to those who were following Him [His DISCIPLES] and said…
      • AMEN [ἀμήν] – I have not found such great FAITH [πίστις] in ALL of Israel [including them]!
      • Romans 12:3 – “God has dealt to each one a measure of FAITH.”
      • Jesus will go on to say – some have GREAT – others have LITTLE faith – Matthew 8:26
      • The wording leads us to think of FAITH in terms of QUANTITY…
      • As if one person is given a LOT of faith – while another only has a SMALL amount…
      • But Jesus rejected this idea – when the disciples asked Him to INCREASE their FAITH!
      • Luke 17:6 – “[All we need is the] faith of mustard seed…”
      • FAITH is not about QUANTITY or QUALITY – it is about WHO we put our TRUST in…
      • We have GREAT faith when we are putting our TRUST in Jesus…
      • Because it means we are putting out TRUST in the one who has all AUTHORITY…
      • The God of the IMPOSSIBLE – who can do ANYTHING! 
  • 3^rd – Salvation… vs. 11-13
    • Kingdom of Heaven… vs. 11
      • I say to you that many will come from east and west.
      • And sit down with Abraham – Isaac – and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven!
      • MANY [πολύς] will come [indicative] from the EAST and WEST [outside Israel]
      • And they will BOW [passive] with Abraham – Isaac – Jacob – in Heaven…
      • In other words – there will be MANY who are NOT Jews who will be SAVED!
    • Outer Darkness… vs. 12
      • But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. 
      • There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!
      • But some JEWS [sons of the Kingdom] will NOT be saved – cast [passive] into outer darkness…
      • Outer DARKNESS – 3x in NT – a unique term used by Matthew to describe HELL…
      • Where there is WEEPING – men who MOURN eternal separation…
      • GNASHING [of teeth] – 7x in NT – to snarl or growl in anger!
      • The imagery of hell given by Matthew is particularly graphic…
      • People who thought they were SAVED [sons of the Kingdom]
      • Will be thrown out [passive] into complete DARKNESS [absence of God]
      • There they will vacillate for all ETERNITY between TWO emotions…
      • PITY over their miserable state – that they will NEVER be able to escape…
      • And RAGING anger against the one they BLAME for sending them there!
      • Making sure no one ends up there – should be our PRIORITY…
      • Making sure they know salvation is NOT about our NATIONALITY [Jews]
      • Or who our PARENTS are [He has no grandchildren]
      • Abraham – Isaac – and Jacob were saved by their FAITH in God…
      • Likewise only [all] who put their FAITH in God – will be SAVED – Romans 10:13
    • By Faith… vs. 13
      • Then Jesus said to the centurion – Go your way – and as you have believed…
      • So let it be done for you. And his servant was healed that same hour!
      • Jesus turned back to the CENTURION – and told him to GO [imperative]
      • According to his FAITH [πιστεύω] – it would be DONE [imperative] to him…
      • And at that very moment [ὥρα] – his servant was HEALED [passive]!
      • Cornelius [centurion] was the FIRST gentile we that was SAVED in the NT – Acts 10
      • There is nothing to connect THIS centurion [from Capernaum] to Cornelius [from Caesarea]
      • But soldiers do get moved around – and just MAYBE – this was the same man…
      • Who because of his encounter with Jesus – became the FIRST to BELIEVE!
      • Jesus did HEAL the servant of this CENTURION – but the healing was NOT the point…
      • He used the HEALING as an opportunity to talk about HEAVEN…
      • Because when we reach out to HELP [θεραπεύω] people…
      • Then give them the GOSPEL – give them the CHOICE – heaven or hell…
      • The end RESULT – will be even those who think of as enemies – can become brothers!

• 3^rd – Healing Family… vs. 14-17
  • 1^st – Mother in Law… vs. 14-15
    • Peter’s wife… vs. 14
      • When Jesus had come into Peter’s house – He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever!
      • After teaching in the Synagogue – Mark 1:29
      • Jesus came into the house of Peter [spaceship church] – his Mother in Law was sick…
      • We are told in the book of Luke – it was a HIGH [μέγας] fever – Luke 4:38
      • But if Peter had a Mother in Law – he must have also had a WIFE – I Corinthians 9:5
      • There are some denominations today that insist Peter never married…
      • The idea is that somehow SINGLENESS is more holy than MARRIAGE…
      • It is a false teaching – and has come to cause a LOT of problems in the church!
      • I Timothy 4:3 – “[Listening] to deceiving spirits – doctrines of demons… forbidding to marry.”
      • The doctrine that priest must be SINGLE – has led to huge scandals…
      • The Catholic church has had to pay BILLIONS – because of cases of sexual abuse…
      • All because of a FALSE teaching – men are more HOLY if they are SINGLE!
      • Most are called to be MARRIED – only a few are able to stay SINGLE – Matthew 19:11
      • If someone is NOT called to be SINGLE – they should GET MARRIED – I Corinthians 7:9
      • A church leader is NO exception – Pastors should have a wife – I Timothy 3:3
    • Caring for family… vs. 15
      • So He touched her hand – and the fever left her. And she arose and served them!
      • As with the LEPER – Jesus did not hesitate to TOUCH [ἅπτομαι] the one in NEED…
      • And as with the CENTURION – Jesus showed His AUTHORITY…
      • Because immediately the FEVER left [indicative] her…
      • Feeling much better – she began to SERVE [imperfect] Jesus and the Disciples!
      • Jesus and the disciples were BUSY – HEALING – and TEACHING…
      • But Jesus also took the time to take care of FAMILY!
      • It is easy to get BUSY in life – we can even be doing GOOD things [serving others]
      • But we need to make sure we do not NEGLECT our family…
      • Take the time to minister to the ones in our HOME [first ministry]
      • Because if we minister to them – they will then MINISTER [passive] with us!
  • 2^nd – The prophet Isaiah… vs. 16-17
    • With a Word … vs. 16
      • When evening had come – they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. 
      • And He cast out the spirits with a word – and healed all who were sick!
      • Matthew writes this as it if all took place in ONE day [not necessarily chronological]
      • Because LATE that night – they brough to Jesus MANY people…
      • POSSESSED with demons – who we cast out with His WORD [λόγος]
      • And SICK – that Jesus healed [indicative] – ALL [πᾶς] of them!
    • By the Word… vs. 17
      • That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet – saying:
      • He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses!
      • Jesus did this to FULFILL [passive] the Words of Isaiah – Isaiah 53:4
      • He took our WEAKNESS [infirmities] – and our DISEASE [sickness] He put in His hands!
      • This is NOT speaking of physical sickness – it is talking about SPIRITUAL…
      • Jesus came – because we were too WEAK to overcome SIN…
      • So He put our SINFULNESS [disease] into His hands – nailing them to the cross!
      • I Peter 2:24 – “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree – that we – having died to sins might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.”