Matthew 8
A leper is cleansed
When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 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.
As Jesus comes down from the mountain, a man with leprosy kneels before him and says Jesus can make him clean if he is willing. Jesus touches him, says he is willing, and the man is healed. Jesus tells him to tell no one, but to show himself to a priest and make the offering Moses commanded.
What does this mean?
'Leprosy' in the Bible covers a range of skin diseases, not only what is now called Hansen's disease. To be 'clean' meant fit to take part in community life and worship.
Historical context
The Law required people with such conditions to live apart and warn others away (Leviticus 13:45–46); a priest had to confirm recovery, followed by offerings (Leviticus 14). Touching such a person would normally make one ritually unclean.
Why does it matter?
This is the first of ten miracles gathered in chapters 8–9. Jesus' instruction to follow the Law fits his words in 5:17. The command to keep silent is one of several in Matthew (9:30; 12:16).
Editorial notes, not scripture.
Told in three Gospels
Mark 1:40–45
A man with leprosy is made clean
How Mark tells it
Only Mark records Jesus' strong emotion — compassion, or anger in some manuscripts — and the stern warning as he sends the man away. Mark alone says the healed man himself spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town. Luke says only that reports spread; Matthew ends with the instruction to see the priest.
Continue reading in Mark →Luke 5:12–16
A leper is cleansed
How Luke tells it
Luke describes the man as "full of leprosy" and sets the scene vaguely "in a certain city." Where Mark says the man himself spread the news, Luke says only that the report spread, and he alone adds that Jesus withdrew to pray. Matthew places the story just after the Sermon on the Mount.
Continue reading in Luke →How Matthew tells it
Matthew places the healing as Jesus comes down from the mountain, the first act after the Sermon; in Mark and Luke it follows a preaching tour. Matthew's version is the shortest, omitting Mark's note of Jesus' compassion and the man spreading the news until Jesus could no longer enter towns openly. Luke calls the man 'full of leprosy'.