1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. (Matthew 8:1-4 KJV)
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
The first verse refers to the conclusion of the previous sermon. The people who heard Jesus were astonished at his teaching, and as a result, when he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. Though he was a strict lawgiver and a faithful reprover, they eagerly listened to him and were unwilling to leave his presence.
Those to whom Christ has revealed himself cannot help but desire to know him better. Those who know much of Christ should long to know more. It is encouraging to see people so devoted to Christ that they never grow tired of hearing about him and to see them eager to receive good teaching and follow him wherever he goes. Jacob’s prophecy about the Messiah was fulfilled—“to him shall the gathering of the people be” (Genesis 49:10)—yet many who gathered to him did not remain with him. Only a few followed him closely and faithfully, compared to the large crowds that followed him at a distance.
Here we have an account of Christ cleansing a leper. According to Mark 1:40 and Luke 5:12, this event likely occurred before the Sermon on the Mount, though Matthew places it here to first highlight Jesus’ teaching and then his miracles.
Leprosy was considered among the Jews to be a mark of God’s displeasure. Miriam, Gehazi, and Uzziah were afflicted with leprosy for specific sins. Therefore, Christ, to demonstrate that he came to remove God’s wrath by taking away sin, began with the healing of a leper. This disease was seen as coming directly from God and could only be removed by his power. It was not treated by physicians but was placed under the care of the priests, who waited to see what God would do.
The fact that leprosy could even appear in garments or on house walls suggests it was a supernatural affliction, different from what is now called leprosy. The king of Israel once said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?” (2 Kings 5:7). Christ proved himself to be God by healing lepers and giving his disciples authority to do the same (Matthew 10:8). This was also among the signs proving he was the Messiah (Matthew 11:5).
Leprosy symbolized sin, as it caused defilement and separation from holy things. The Old Testament laws about leprosy (Leviticus 13–14) treated it not merely as a sickness but as uncleanness. The priest could declare a person clean or unclean but could not heal them. The honor of making lepers clean was reserved for Christ, the High Priest of our faith, who came to accomplish what the law could not—cleansing sinners from their spiritual disease. The law identified sin and pronounced sinners unclean but could not make them whole. Christ, however, removes sin and perfects those who are sanctified.
The leper came to Jesus and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” (Matthew 8:2). This cleansing can be considered a physical and a spiritual mercy.
As a physical mercy, it was a blessing to the body, delivering it from a disease that, though not fatal, made life miserable. This teaches us to seek Christ for healing, acknowledging his power while submitting to his will. We can be sure of his ability to heal, but his will to grant physical healing depends on what is best for his glory and our good. We should trust his wisdom and mercy, saying, “Your will be done,” which makes both our waiting and the outcome more peaceful.
As a spiritual mercy, it symbolizes the cleansing of the soul. Sin is like leprosy—it defiles and separates us from God. To be restored, we must be cleansed, and this should be our greatest concern. When we come to Christ as the Great Physician, we can be assured that if he wills, he can make us clean.
We must trust in his power. No guilt is too great for his righteousness to cover, and no sin too strong for his grace to overcome. God would not appoint a healer who is unable to fulfill the task. We must also appeal to his mercy, not as a right, but as a humble request, saying, “Lord, if you will.”
Christ responded with great kindness. He stretched out his hand and touched the leper. Though leprosy was considered unclean and contagious, Christ was not defiled by touching him. He never hesitated to interact with sinners for the purpose of bringing healing. While we would be defiled by touching what is impure, Christ remained separate from sin even while dwelling among sinners.
Then he spoke: “I am willing. Be clean” (Matthew 8:3). Unlike Elisha, who told Naaman to wash in the Jordan, Christ did not require a complicated or costly treatment. He simply spoke, and the man was healed.
His words revealed both his kindness and his power. He commanded, “Be clean,” and it was done. Immediately, the leprosy left him. While nature works gradually, the God of nature works instantly. Moses’ first miracle was healing his own leprosy (Exodus 4:7), for priests under the law first made atonement for their own sins. But Christ’s first miracles included healing others, for he had no sin of his own to atone for.
Jesus then gave the man instructions. Those who Christ heals should also be guided by him. He told him, “See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest” (Matthew 8:4). Christ wanted his miracles to be fully validated before being widely proclaimed. Truth should be presented with evidence, and those who teach it should be ready to defend it.
He also wanted to ensure the man followed the law. By going to the priest, the man would receive an official declaration of cleansing, removing any doubts. This also prevented the priests from denying his healing out of jealousy. Christ upheld the law, showing that he did not come to abolish it but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).
Lastly, Jesus commanded him to offer the gift that Moses prescribed. This was an act of thanksgiving to God and a recognition of the priest’s role. It also served as a testimony—either as evidence of Christ’s power for those who were willing to believe or as a witness against those who rejected him. Christ’s words and works always serve as a testimony.