Leviticus 13:1-59 ESV The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests, 3 and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean. 4 But if the spot is white in the skin of his body and appears no deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall shut up the diseased person for seven days. 5 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and if in his eyes the disease is checked and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up for another seven days. 6 And the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day, and if the diseased area has faded and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only an eruption. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 7 But if the eruption spreads in the skin, after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again before the priest. 8 And the priest shall look, and if the eruption has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a leprous disease. 9 “When a man is afflicted with a leprous disease, he shall be brought to the priest, 10 and the priest shall look. And if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic leprous disease in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not shut him up, for he is unclean. 12 And if the leprous disease breaks out in the skin, so that the leprous disease covers all the skin of the diseased person from head to foot, so far as the priest can see, 13 then the priest shall look, and if the leprous disease has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean. 14 But when raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall examine the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean. Raw flesh is unclean, for it is a leprous disease. 16 But if the raw flesh recovers and turns white again, then he shall come to the priest, 17 and the priest shall examine him, and if the disease has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce the diseased person clean; he is clean. 18 “If there is in the skin of one’s body a boil and it heals, 19 and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest. 20 And the priest shall look, and if it appears deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a case of leprous disease that has broken out in the boil. 21 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in it and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall shut him up seven days. 22 And if it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a disease. 23 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 24 “Or, when the body has a burn on its skin and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a spot, reddish-white or white, 25 the priest shall examine it, and if the hair in the spot has turned white and it appears deeper than the skin, then it is a leprous disease. It has broken out in the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease. 26 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and it is no deeper than the skin, but has faded, the priest shall shut him up seven days, 27 and the priest shall examine him the seventh day. If it is spreading in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease. 28 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread in the skin, but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar of the burn. 29 “When a man or woman has a disease on the head or the beard, 30 the priest shall examine the disease. And if it appears deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch, a leprous disease of the head or the beard. 31 And if the priest examines the itching disease and it appears no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for seven days, 32 and on the seventh day the priest shall examine the disease. If the itch has not spread, and there is in it no yellow hair, and the itch appears to be no deeper than the skin, 33 then he shall shave himself, but the itch he shall not shave; and the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for another seven days. 34 And on the seventh day the priest shall examine the itch, and if the itch has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 35 But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall examine him, and if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest need not seek for the yellow hair; he is unclean. 37 But if in his eyes the itch is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed and he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 38 “When a man or a woman has spots on the skin of the body, white spots, 39 the priest shall look, and if the spots on the skin of the body are of a dull white, it is leukoderma that has broken out in the skin; he is clean. 40 “If a man’s hair falls out from his head, he is bald; he is clean. 41 And if a man’s hair falls out from his forehead, he has baldness of the forehead; he is clean. 42 But if there is on the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white diseased area, it is a leprous disease breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall examine him, and if the diseased swelling is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprous disease in the skin of the body, 44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head. 45 “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ 46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp. 47 “When there is a case of leprous disease in a garment, whether a woolen or a linen garment, 48 in warp or woof of linen or wool, or in a skin or in anything made of skin, 49 if the disease is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin or in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, it is a case of leprous disease, and it shall be shown to the priest. 50 And the priest shall examine the disease and shut up that which has the disease for seven days. 51 Then he shall examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease has spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in the skin, whatever be the use of the skin, the disease is a persistent leprous disease; it is unclean. 52 And he shall burn the garment, or the warp or the woof, the wool or the linen, or any article made of skin that is diseased, for it is a persistent leprous disease. It shall be burned in the fire. 53 “And if the priest examines, and if the disease has not spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, 54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the disease, and he shall shut it up for another seven days. 55 And the priest shall examine the diseased thing after it has been washed. And if the appearance of the diseased area has not changed, though the disease has not spread, it is unclean. You shall burn it in the fire, whether the rot is on the back or on the front. 56 “But if the priest examines, and if the diseased area has faded after it has been washed, he shall tear it out of the garment or the skin or the warp or the woof. 57 Then if it appears again in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn with fire whatever has the disease. 58 But the garment, or the warp or the woof, or any article made of skin from which the disease departs when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second time, and be clean.” 59 This is the law for a case of leprous disease in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, to determine whether it is clean or unclean.
Leprosy – tsaraath – H6883
Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries
From H6879; leprosy: – leprosy
tsawrah – H6879
A primitive root; to scourge, that is, (intransitively and figuratively) to be stricken with leprosy: – leper, leprous.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Dictionary
tsaraath
1) leprosy
1a) in people, malignant skin disease (Lev. 13-14)
1b) in clothing, a mildew or mould (Lev_13:47-52)
1c) in buildings, a mildew or mould (Lev. 14:34-53)
Part of Speech: noun feminine
tsawrah
1) to be diseased of skin, be leprous
1a) (Qal) to be a leper
1b) (Pual) to have leprosy
The oldest skeletal evidence for the disease dates from 2000 BC, as found in human remains from the archaeological sites of Balathal in India and Harappa in Pakistan. Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a mildly infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Mycobacterium leprae, or M. leprae, or Mycobacterium lepromatosis. It multiplies very slowly, with an incubation period of about 3 to 5 years. However, symptoms can take as long as 20 years to appear. The bacteria affects the skin, peripheral nerves, and the eyes. Leprosy is curable, but if left untreated it can cause severe disabilities and blindness. When nerves in the arm are affected, small muscles become paralyzed, leading to curling of the fingers. Patients may also lose sensation in the feet. Unable to feel pain, the patient may suffer deformation of their feet as a result of continued injury and infection. If the facial nerves are affected, they may lose the blinking reflex of the eye, which can lead to dryness, ulceration, and ultimately blindness. Bacilli at the mucous lining of the nose can cause internal damage and scarring which, in time, causes the nose to collapse. Most leprosy complications are the result of nerve damage. M. leprae attacks nerve endings and destroys the body’s ability to feel pain and injury. Without feeling pain, people injure themselves on fire, thorns, rocks, and even hot coffee cups. Injuries become infected with secondary infections and result in tissue loss. Fingers, toes, and limbs become shortened and deformed as the tissue is absorbed into the body. Genetic factors are suspected to play a role in susceptibility to an infection as 95% of adults actually are immune to the disease. Current research shows M. leprae is transmitted primarily through coughing and sneezing and via the skin during close and frequent contact with untreated, infected persons. Leprosy is not sexually transmitted and is not spread through pregnancy to the unborn child. Two exit routes of M. leprae from the human body often described are the skin and the nasal mucosa, although their relative importance is not clear. Lepromatous cases show large numbers of organisms deep in the dermis, but whether they reach the skin surface in sufficient numbers is doubtful.
The first signs of leprosy are usually:
Discolored skin patches with sensory loss. Leprosy patches usually occur slowly, and they do not itch or cause any pain.
Unusual sensations (numbness/tingling/burning) in hands and/or feet.
Weakness in hands and/or feet
Difficulty holding and lifting things
Difficulty moving and walking
Common symptoms present in the different types of leprosy include a runny nose; dry scalp; eye problems; skin lesions; muscle weakness; reddish skin; smooth, shiny, diffuse thickening of facial skin, ear, and hand; loss of sensation in fingers and toes; thickening of peripheral nerves; a flat nose due to destruction of nasal cartilage; and changes in phonation and other aspects of speech production. In addition, atrophy of the testes and impotence may occur.
There are two main types of the disease – paucibacillary and multibacillary, which differ in the number of bacteria present. A person with paucibacillary disease has five or fewer poorly-pigmented, numb skin patches, while a person with multibacillary disease has more than five skin patches. The diagnosis is confirmed by finding acid-fast bacilli in a biopsy of the skin. Leprosy is curable now with a combination of antibiotics, known as multidrug therapy (MDT). The treatment consists of a cocktail of antibiotics for 6-12 months, depending on the type of leprosy a person has. Treatment of paucibacillary leprosy is with the medications dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine for six months. Treatment for multibacillary leprosy uses the same medications for 12 months.
We are talking about ancient peoples who had no medical or scientific technology. They had no idea how leprosy works, how it is transmitted, how to diagnose it, how to treat it. But it was a deadly disease in those days. In order to protect the majority of the Israelites, God addressed leprosy in terms these people could understand. They had no microscopes, hypodermics, antibacterials, antibiotics, diagnosis and treatment protocols. If a modern day doctor had gone back in time to these people and tried to explain everything you just read about the disease, they wouldn’t have understood what he was talking about because they didn’t have the education, knowledge and human experience to grasp it. So God approached them in the way they could understand. How good God is to care about their health and to approach them and educate them on their own level. With the knowledge we have today, we can understand that all God’s rules and regulations in this chapter were necessary to protect the people. It may seem cruel to us to put people in isolation in a “leper colony” but we must remember, there was no way in those days to treat lepers and to understand transmission and prevention. So God told them how to diagnose and treat and prevent leprosy. It was to preserve the majority of the people from getting leprosy and other diseases. He was using His Laws to teach them hygiene, sanitation and disease prevention on a level they could understand. It could have also encompassed other skin diseases including leucoderma, vitiligo, psoriasis, eczema, yaws, sycosis or tinea barbae, ringworm of the scalp, or impetigo, as well as fungi and molds.
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Another point to be made is God is to be obeyed whether we understand it or not. His knowledge is far above our knowledge.
He also may have used leprosy as symbolic of sin and how it numbs us to sin, and the world, and how it destroys us, bit by bit. When we become saved and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we are no longer of this world. The cancer (or leprosy) of sin is no longer destroying us, eating away at us, ruining us. We are no longer an outcast, separated from God due to our sin. Jesus took care of sin on the cross. But the lost are still self destructing with the cancer (or leprosy) of sin until they die and go to hell. They can’t see; they can’t hear; they can’t feel the touch of the Holy Spirit. They are blinded, deafened and only the Holy Spirit can open their spiritual eyes and ears and give them the ability to understand the gospel message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Only He can ignite, and breath upon, the faith seed God put in our hearts. Sin is so corrosive and destructive to us. It incubates in us and then crawls out in the open sores of our lives with ruination and despair. There are three categories of leprosy: leprosy in the flesh, leprosy in the garments, and leprosy of the house. We can be saved from this but only through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. He is the antidote that cures us from sin and preserves us for eternity in perfection.
The two bird sacrifice presented a picture of the death of one bird for sin and the release of the other bird pictured the deliverance from the bondage of sin (Leviticus 14).
Leviticus 14:2-7 ESV This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest, 3 and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of leprous disease is healed in the leprous person, 4 the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop. 5 And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water. 6 He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7 And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field.
“In this cleansing ceremony, one bird was killed in an earthen vessel over running water, and its blood was applied to a living bird, to some cedar wood, to some scarlet fabric, and to some hyssop. Then, using these things, the blood was sprinkled on the one who was cleansed from leprosy. Then, the living bird was let go. This seems to be a picture of Jesus’ death and its spiritual application; a ‘heavenly’ being (as a bird is ‘of the heavens’) dies in an earthen vessel, while remaining clean (because of the running water). The death of the bird is associated with blood and water; the blood is connected with life (applied to the living bird), and then applied to the one cleansed.
“Cedar wood: Cedar is extremely resistant to disease and rot, and these qualities may be the reason for including it here – as well as a symbolic reference to the wood of the cross. Some even think the cross Jesus was crucified on was made of cedar.
“The connection with hyssop is also important. Jesus was offered drink from a hyssop branch on the cross (Matthew 27:48), and when David said purge me with hyssop in Psalm 51:7, he was admitted that he was as bad as a leper.” – David Guzick’s Enduring Word Commentary
“The birds are striking types of death and resurrection. Notice that the blood of one was mingled with fresh, i.e., running, water, because of the perennial freshness of the blood of Christ; and that the ascension of the other, when liberated, is significant of the freedom from the law of sin and death which the soul of the believer experiences through the power of the Holy Spirit. See Romans 8:1-4.” – F.B. Meyer’s Through The Bible Day By Day
The blood of a single bird would not be enough to immerse the body of the other bird so it was mixed with water so there was enough to immerse the bird and do the appointed sprinklings (seven times). The “water” is literally, “living water.” It refers to water that comes from a flowing source, such as a spring, river, or creek. It did not come from a well or a cistern. It was thought to be pure, fresh water.
The cedar wood, which is almost incorruptible, signified a holy God, incorruptible. Scarlet symbolizes the blood of Christ thus the thread was scarlet that tied the living bird to the cedar handle along with the hyssop. The bird that was slain, gave it’s blood. It’s blood was mixed with “living water” and thus sprinkled 7 times on the living bird (7 is the number of perfection and wholeness, completion) and the bird was set free. This gives a beautiful picture of our Lord Jesus, who came in flesh as we are. He died for us, His blood was given to cleanse us of our sin and set us free from deadly, corrosive sin. We were once cast out due to our sin. But through Jesus, we are no longer dead men walking but we have been born again and we will live eternally in fellowship with our God!
“The cedar-wood served for the handle, the hyssop and living bird were attached to it by means of the scarlet wool or crimson fillet. The bird was so bound to this handle as that its tail should be downwards, in order to be dipped into the blood of the bird that had been killed. The whole of this made an instrument for the sprinkling of this blood.” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible)
In Exodus 12:22 a hyssop branch is used by the Israelites at the first Passover to paint the blood of the lamb on the door frames. In Leviticus 14:4-7 the hyssop branch is used when sprinkling the blood/living water in the ceremonial cleansing of the leper. In Numbers 19:1 hyssop is used for cleansing someone who has touched a dead body. It was used in purification ceremonies. In many of the Old Testament sacrifices (the two turtle doves for the cleansing of the leper, and especially the sacrifice of the red heifer), hyssop was burned in the fire, with the sacrifice, along with scarlet and cedar. In John 19:28-30, Jesus is offered sour wine soaked into a sponge lifted on a hyssop branch. Basically the hyssop branch is a means by which the blood of the sacrifice was applied to the sinner to deflect God’s judgment.
Today it is unsure what plant the biblical hyssop was. What is called “hyssop” today is a brightly colored shrub, or subshrub, that ranges from 12″-24″ in height. The stem is woody at the base, from which grow a number of upright branches. During the summer, hyssop produces pink, purply blue, or, more rarely, white fragrant flowers. The essential oil comes from the purple flowered variety (purple represents royalty) and includes the chemicals thujone and phenol, which give it antiseptic properties. It has high levels of polyphenols (a type of antioxidant) and good antioxidant activity. On top of that, extracts and oils from the plant showed moderate antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. I.e. researchers concluded that these plants may help prevent and treat some viral diseases. It has anti-inflammatory properties and anti-nociceptive activity: Nociceptors are specialized sensory cells that detect and respond to stimuli, such as pain and heat, without having to first send signals to the brain. These cells can become hypersensitized in some chronic pain conditions, such as fibromyalgia. It also has anti-atherogenic properties: This means that it may slow or prevent the formation of fatty plaques in the arteries, which can lead to hardening of the arteries and heart disease. It is still under study as to how the essential oil of this hyssop can be safely used. It must be treated carefully as it can cause seizures and death if too much of the essential oil is taken.
But some contend that it was a species of marjoram (origanum), six species of which are found in Palestine including Origanum syriacum or Syrian Oregano. Others think that it was the caper plant, the Capparis spinosa of Linnaeus.
But the stems, or twigs, of hyssop were bound together to form a “brush” used to brush and sprinkle the blood of sacrifice. Could it represent faith?
“In a remarkable way, this unusual ritual points to the future work of the Messiah, who would cleanse those stained with the leprosy of sin.
· “Jesus was sacrificed outside the camp (Hebrews 13:11-13).
· “Jesus was the Man from heaven (John 3:13, 6:38).
· “Jesus remained cleansed and holy (Acts 2:27) even in His death, becoming sin (2 Corinthians 5:21) without becoming a sinner.
· “Jesus came by water and blood (1 John 5:6) and died in association with blood and water (John 19:34-35).
· “Jesus died in association with scarlet cloth (Matthew 27:28).
· “Jesus died in association with wood (John 19:17-18).
· “Jesus died in association with hyssop (John 19:29).
· “Jesus lived, bearing the marks of His death (John 20:27).
· “Jesus ascended to heaven, out of human sight (Acts 1:9).
“iv. There is a sense in which the living bird set free points to the resurrected Jesus. But it also points to the one healed and free from their leprosy, including the leprosy of sin; they are resurrected and free in the resurrected Jesus Christ.” – David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary
Leviticus 14:8-9 ESV And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. And after that he may come into the camp, but live outside his tent seven days. 9 And on the seventh day he shall shave off all his hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows. He shall shave off all his hair, and then he shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean.
The first part of the ceremonial took place outside the camp because he was a leper still under the sentence of the law. After the two-bird sacrifice outside the camp, the leper was declared “clean” by the Priest and he washed his clothes, shaved off all his hair, immersed and bathed, he could now enter the camp. Being sprinkled with blood and water he was no longer a walking dead man. He was cleansed and allowed back into life. He may still have the scars, but he is no longer dirty. It’s a new beginning for the former leper. Also, there is no danger of contaminants in his clothing or hair, being brought in to endanger the people in the camp.
Leviticus 14:10-32 ESV “And on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish, and a grain offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, and one log of oil. 11 And the priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed and these things before the LORD, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 12 And the priest shall take one of the male lambs and offer it for a guilt offering, along with the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD. 13 And he shall kill the lamb in the place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary. For the guilt offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest; it is most holy. 14 The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the priest shall put it on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 15 Then the priest shall take some of the log of oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand 16 and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand and sprinkle some oil with his finger seven times before the LORD. 17 And some of the oil that remains in his hand the priest shall put on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. 18 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed. Then the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD. 19 The priest shall offer the sin offering, to make atonement for him who is to be cleansed from his uncleanness. And afterward he shall kill the burnt offering. 20 And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean. 21 “But if he is poor and cannot afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a guilt offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, and a log of oil; 22 also two turtledoves or two pigeons, whichever he can afford. The one shall be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. 23 And on the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, before the LORD. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt offering and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD. 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the guilt offering. And the priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 26 And the priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27 and shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD. 28 And the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, in the place where the blood of the guilt offering was put. 29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the LORD. 30 And he shall offer, of the turtledoves or pigeons, whichever he can afford, 31 one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, along with a grain offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD for him who is being cleansed. 32 This is the law for him in whom is a case of leprous disease, who cannot afford the offerings for his cleansing.”
After 7 days, he cleanses himself and then is able to go to the Tabernacle/Temple with his offerings: Guilt Offering, Sin Offering and Meal Offering. The distinction in the Guilt Offering is the blood and oil anointing. Seven times the oil is sprinkled before the Lord by means of the Priest’s finger. Then the blood and oil are applied to the man’s right ear, right thumb and right toe by the Priest with the last of the oil poured over his head. Now he is restored to his full rights and privileges as one of God’s people. Another distinction was the young lamb less than a year old and was lifted up and the whole animal waved in a wave offering. Usually certain parts of an older ram were waved and waving was not practiced with the Guilt and Sin Offerings. It was like the consecration ceremony of the priests in Leviticus 8.
Sin cuts us off from fellowship with God. It not only contaminates us, but to all in contact with us, though we aren’t aware we are defiling others. With the blood of Christ, we are cleansed and restored in fellowship with God and with the Saints (Believers, Christians). We are separated from the world in order to be at one with God and restored to service as His Child. Because of the blood of Jesus Christ we are admitted into the throne room of God and dedicated to His service, we are reconciled, established and confirmed in the New Covenant privileges and covenantal grace. The blood represents the blood of Jesus and the oil, the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 26:6-13 ESV Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. 8 And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? 9 For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.” 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.”
“‘The blood’ (says the learned bishop Patrick) ‘seems to have been a token of forgiveness, the oil of healing,’ for God first forgiveth our iniquities and then healeth our diseases, Psalm 103:3. See Isaiah 38:17. Wherever the blood of Christ is applied for justification the oil of the Spirit is applied for sanctification; for these two are inseparable and both necessary to our acceptance with God. Nor shall our former leprosy, if it be healed by repentance, be any bar to these glorious privileges. Cleansed lepers are as welcome to the blood and the oil as consecrated priests.” – Matthew Henry’s Commentary
“When Hezekiah asks, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord?’ he means, ‘What is the sign that I shall recover?’ intimating that if God restored him his health, so that he should be able to go abroad, the house of the Lord should be the first place he would go to.”
A Guilt Offering involved restitution for a wrong done. He was forgiven the sin for which the leprosy was sent and all the sins he had been guilty of while he was sick and separated. If he/she has been healed it is to the glory of God, His mercy and grace, and thus we should praise Him!
Jesus freely touched people with leprosy. When Jesus Christ came down from the mountain after the Sermon on the Mount, large multitudes followed him, including the man full of leprosy. The man was in violation of Levitical law. In touching the leper, Jesus also defies Levitical law. On the other hand, Jesus has compassion for this leper so He not only heals him but tells him to go to the Priest to be examined so that he can be publicly declared “clean” and return to a normal life, no longer an outcast (according to Jewish Levitical Law). What a gracious, loving Savior!!
Mark 1:40-45 MKJV And a leper came to Him, begging Him and kneeling down to Him, and saying to Him, If You will, You can make me clean. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean! ” 42 And He having spoken, the leprosy instantly departed from him and he was cleansed. 43 And He strictly charged him and immediately sent him away, 44 and He said to him, See that you say nothing to anyone. But go and show yourself to the priest, and offer those things which Moses commanded for your cleansing, for a testimony to them. 45 But going out, he began to proclaim it very much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was outside in deserted places. And they came to Him from every quarter.
Matthew 11:4-6 ESV And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John (the Baptist) what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
Luke 17:11-19 ESV On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
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