Leviticus 13:1-59 - Homilies By J.a. Macdonald

Leprosy.

That leprosy is a type of sin is evident from David's allusion in confessing his own horrible offenses (see Psalms 51:7 )? This also appears from the words of Jesus to the only leper, out of the ten cleansed by him, who returned to give glory to God: "Thy faith hath saved thee" (see Luke 17:11-19 ). The others had faith which availed them to remove the leprosy of the body; but this man's faith availed to remove the leprosy of the soul. Hence this plague often came as a judgment from Heaven upon sin (see Numbers 12:10 ; 2 Kings 5:27 ; 2 Chronicles 26:19 ), from which circumstance, perhaps, it had its name ( צרעת ), tsaraath, from ( צרע ), tsaro, to smite. As there is no disease whose description engages so much space in Scripture, leprosy must be regarded as a very special type of sin.

I. IT IS A PLAGUE MOST LOATHSOME .

1 . So it is described.

2 . Is not this a true picture of sin?

II. IT IS A DISEASE DEEPLY SEATED .

1 . Surface evils may be mistaken for sin.

2 . When the evil is in the flesh there is uncleanness.

III. IT IS A MALADY FEARFULLY CONTAGIOUS .

1 . Such was the figure.

2 . The reality answers to the figure,