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Explanation for:
Matthew
8
:
2
And behold a leper came and adored him, saying: Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
12
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The first individual He encountered was a leper, someone afflicted with leprosy who had not yet been able to receive the Savior's teachings delivered on the mountain. It is significant that he was the first to be healed in a remarkable manner, followed by the centurion's son, and then Peter’s mother-in-law in Capernaum, who was suffering from a fever. Finally, those tormented by unclean spirits were brought to Him, and He cast out these spirits with a simple command after healing all the sick. And behold, a leper approached Him and, kneeling, said, \\"Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me.\\" This encounter comes immediately after His preaching and teaching, providing an opportunity for a visible sign to confirm His words through the power of a miracle in the hearts of the listeners. The one who seeks healing exhibits no uncertainty regarding the ability to accomplish what is requested."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Remarkable was the wisdom and belief of the one who approached! He did not disrupt the teaching nor attempt to push through the crowd; instead, he awaited an appropriate moment and arrived when Christ descended from the mountain. Not only did he approach, but he did so with great intensity, as another Gospel writer notes, kneeling before Him (Mark 1:40) and earnestly imploring Him with genuine faith and a correct understanding of His nature. The leper did not say, if you beseech God; or, if you pray to Him; rather, he expressed, If you are willing, you can make me clean. He did not simply request, Lord, cleanse me; instead, he entrusted everything to Christ, submitting the healing to His will, which affirmed His ultimate authority."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"“If you desire, Lord, you can heal me,” the leper contemplated, believing that perhaps He adhered to the law much like Elisha, who refrained from going out to meet Naaman (2 Kings 5:9-11). The Lord addressed his uncertainty through His touch, affirming that the law cannot obstruct the one who established it. The leper may have thought himself alienated from the law or even opposed to it; hence, the Lord healed him both in secret and openly, ensuring he would not merely experience physical healing but also avoid spiritual condemnation. “If it is Your will, You can purify me.” This statement and its tone served to challenge the leper's uncertainty. He acknowledged the Lord's capability, but whether it was His intention remained unclear to him. “If it is Your will, You can make me clean.” The leper recognized that not all the dead are raised, nor are all the sick cured, leading him to believe that healing was reserved for those chosen by the Lord. Thus, he approached Him saying, “Lord, if You desire, You can cleanse me.” Furthermore, having observed how the priests’ various regulations regarding leprosy only burdened those afflicted without offering true healing, the efficacy of these legal rituals diminished in his perspective, prompting his declaration: “If it is Your will, You can purify me.”"},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"Upon descending from the mountain, where he imparted the Commandments to his disciples and the gathered crowd, he promptly heals a leper by reaching out his hand. This action illustrates that those who struggle with the obedience to the Commandments can be purified through His grace from the trials that accompany such doubts."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He did not utter, ‘If you invoke God, but rather if you are willing,’ which serves as a testament to unwavering faith. Aware of His teachings and authority, he trusted that He, being the Almighty, was indeed God. Consequently, he approached with complete earnestness. Matthew mentions that he approached with humility, while Mark elaborates that he fell to his knees before Him (Mk. 1:40); similarly, Luke describes him as falling down and pleading with Him (Lk. 5:12)."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The leper, being wise, chose not to ascend the mountain so as not to disrupt the teaching that was taking place. However, when Christ descended, he bowed before Him, demonstrating his profound faith. Instead of saying, \\"if you pray to God, you will heal me,\\" he proclaimed, \\"if you are willing.\\" This is the purpose behind Christ's actions."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Amphiteatrov)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896e9b7a2ebaf99e4620a_Philaret%20(Amphiteatrov).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Among the many who followed Jesus, we see the profound impact of His words on one leper, revealing the transformative power of Christ to us, dear brethren. Just by hearing the Savior’s divine message, this Israelite’s heart was swiftly enlightened with the true light of faith in Him. This profound faith is held up in the Gospel as a model for all generations to come. Through this faith, he quickly recognized in the humble Jesus the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, and he offered Him worship, openly admitting that only His will was enough to heal him from his leprous condition. Approaching Him with humility, he fell to the ground and said, ‘Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me.' This, dear brethren, embodies the essence of a true prayer of faith, which, in deep humility, lays its requests before the Lord and submits the outcome to His omnipotent and holy will."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Leprosy is regarded as one of the most repulsive and dreadful afflictions mentioned in Scripture. Initially, it manifests on the body as spots resembling lichen, which appear progressively, often starting on the face, especially near the nose and eyes. Over time, these spots expand to encompass other areas, ultimately resulting in the entire body being covered in sores. There are three distinct types of leprosy, characterized by the color of the spots and sores: white, red, and black leprosy. Beyond the visible spots and sores, common symptoms include facial swelling, a drying and sharpening of the nose, loss of the sense of smell, watery eyes with dull corneas, a hoarse voice, and hair loss. Additionally, the skin can become lumpy, a greyish-white hue, insensate, and cracked, leading to the development of foul ulcers. The gums may swell, causing unpleasant saliva to flow from the deformed mouth, and the joints in the arms and legs may become stiff, resulting in a loss of mobility. The afflicted body becomes entirely frail and takes on a repugnant appearance. In some instances, ulcers may initiate at the extremities, causing nails, fingers, and joints of the hands and feet to gradually detach, until the disease reaches vital organs, ultimately leading to the unfortunate individual’s demise. While the visible ulcers seem external, the affliction actually penetrates deeply into the bones and joints. It is believed that in children, leprosy can remain dormant until a certain age, similar to scrofula, at which point it presents as skin lesions indicating its activation. A person born with leprosy might endure 30, 40, or even 50 years of a sorrowful existence, progressively nearing destruction. This ailment is known to be both contagious and hereditary, transmitting through the third and fourth generations. Moses provided detailed guidance regarding this condition and the individuals suffering from it (Lev. 13). To prevent the spread of the disease, those stricken were isolated from the community, with priests tasked to evaluate the illness and determine appropriate measures. \\n\\nIn their act of reverence and humility, they approached Him, expressing their supplication and hope, saying, \\"if thou wilt.\\" This reflects profound faith in Jesus Christ as the miracle worker, acknowledging that healing is solely dependent on His will (cf. Chrysostom, Theophilus). Likewise, every believer should have the confidence that it is according to the Lord's will to grant them salvation. To \\"cleanse\\" signifies a complete healing from the affliction, removing all sores and restoring health."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"As the leper approached, filled with desperation, this wretched sufferer stood before the Lord, bowing down and humbling himself in heartfelt supplication. He cried out, \\"LORD! IF THOU WILT, THOU CANST CLEANSE ME.\\" Leprosy, an utterly repulsive and unhealable affliction, causes the face to swell, the nose to shrivel and become pointed, the eyes to grow dim and filled with tears, the voice to turn raspy, and the hair to fall out. The entire body is overtaken by decaying sores, and foul saliva oozes from the altered mouth. Fingers and toes gradually succumb and detach, leaving the man resembling a repugnant cadaver. Despite the grim reality of this illness, which heralds a gradual death, some sufferers endure for thirty to forty years. Because leprosy is contagious, Moses’ law mandated that lepers be separated from their families; they resided in miserable shelters on the outskirts of towns and had to announce their condition to healthy individuals from a distance, proclaiming, \\"unclean, unclean!\\"\\n\\nIn such a state of despair, one of these outcasts ran to Jesus as He descended the mountain and appealed to Him, saying, \\"Lord, if you are willing, you can cleanse me.\\" The leper’s faith was profound, complemented by remarkable humility and a wise demeanor. He did not interrupt the teachings or press through the crowd, but rather waited for the right moment to approach Jesus. Furthermore, with great fervor, as another evangelist recounts (Mk. 1:40), he fell to his knees and earnestly sought healing with unwavering belief. He refrained from saying, \\"If you ask God, or if you pray to God,\\" but instead expressed absolute trust by stating, \\"If you are willing, you can cleanse me.\\" He did not demand, \\"Lord, cleanse me,\\" but willingly entrusted his plea to Christ."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"On the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee, not far from where the holy Jordan River empties into the Lake of the Gospel, on the gentle rise of Tel-Hum, lie the remnants of an ancient metropolis. Access to these abandoned ruins is challenging; the only living creatures to be seen are timid lizards or snakes slithering among the stones, overgrown with weeds and burdock. In the time of our Lord, there existed a small yet thriving city named Capernaum, which translates from Hebrew as \\"village of comfort.\\" This location was one of the most beautiful spots in the Promised Land; the nearby Gennesaret Valley flourished year-round with lush vegetation, while the sparkling waters of Lake Galilee teemed with fish, attracted by the numerous fishing boats that scattered across its surface. The city bustled with the vibrant life of a large population. Positioned strategically at major trade routes, it welcomed caravans journeying from Damascus towards Jerusalem and further south to Egypt, as well as travelers headed to Phoenicia and the historic cities of Tyre and Sidon. Merchants of different backgrounds, including devout Jews, sincere Galileans, educated Hellenes, and fierce Romans, converged in this marketplace. Christ the Saviour, the Comforter of Israel, chose this fortunate town as His residence, where He dedicated most of His public ministry. This place was the home of the apostle Peter and likely that of other apostles who were fishermen; here the Lord continually shared His divine teachings and performed numerous miracles, leading the evangelist to refer to it as His city. He journeyed from the Mount of Beatitudes to this town following His marvelous sermon. Given that the Holy Land was under Roman authority, a detachment of soldiers was present in Capernaum, led by a centurion. This officer was of Gentile origin yet had recognized the emptiness and falsehoods of paganism, embracing the Jewish faith as the true path. Demonstrating his commitment, he built a synagogue for the Jewish people. When Jesus arrived in Capernaum, the centurion's beloved servant was gravely ill. As detailed by St. Luke, the elders approached Jesus and urgently implored Him, “He is worthy that You should do this for him, for he loves our people and has built us a synagogue” (Luke 7:4-5). St. John Chrysostom notes that their appeal is filled with affection; they struggled to find the right words to commend this man. Yet, the Heart Bearer recognized his fervent faith and profound humility, accompanied him to his home. As they approached the house, the centurion sent friends to convey his message: “Do not trouble Yourself, Lord, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof” (Luke 7:6-7). He explained that his hesitation was not out of laziness but because he felt unworthy to welcome the Lord. “Therefore I did not think myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed…” As the servant's condition grew dire, the centurion himself went out to meet the approaching Healer. St. Matthew recounts, “When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion approached Him, pleading, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, suffering terribly’” (Matthew 8:5-6). How many of us as followers of Christ possess such love for those who are subordinates, especially when they are in desperate need and stricken by sickness? St. Chrysostom remarks on the arrogance often found among those in authority, who refuse to humble themselves in times of hardship. Unlike the royal figure recorded in John, who insisted on having Jesus enter his house, the centurion displayed an even greater depth of humility, feeling unworthy of the presence of Christ. He was not so much preoccupied with the servant’s recovery as he was with maintaining respectfulness. Therefore, when he stated, “My servant is at home,” he offered no further elaboration."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"At the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus descended the mountain, followed by a throng of people, when a leper approached Him. The disease of leprosy is outlined in Leviticus, chapter 13, where Moses details its severe nature due to its contagiousness. Thus, it was necessary for the priests to examine anyone exhibiting a tumor, a lichen, or a spot on their skin, so that they could be marked and declared unclean. However, not all afflicted individuals were expelled from communities—only those who had leprosy on their heads. According to the law, the leper who bore such an ulcer was to tear his garments, leave his head uncovered, cover himself up to the mouth, and proclaim, “Unclean! Unclean!” Throughout the duration of his ailment, he had to live separately, away from the camp (Leviticus 13:45-46). Though leprosy was deemed incurable, if it spread over the person's entire body and then shed as scales, further progress was no longer regarded as contagious. At that point, the priests could declare the leper clean, who would then be required to offer the purification sacrifice ordained by Moses.\\n\\nSaint Gregory the Theologian vividly portrays the plight of such individuals in his discourse on compassion for the poor, delivered at the almshouse founded by St. Basil the Great, where many lepers resided: “Before your eyes lies a striking and heartrending sight that few would believe were it not witnessed firsthand: men existing as the living dead, with most of their limbs rotting away; individuals barely recognizable as they once were—more accurately, they embody the sorrowful remnants of former lives. They epitomize isolation, simultaneously filled with self-pity and self-loathing, uncertain whether to grieve for the body parts they have lost or for those that remain, whether lamenting the premature destruction wrought by the disease or the parts still tainted by its grip. These souls face doom before death, lacking anyone to provide them a burial. They possess no possessions, no family ties, no friends; many are reluctant to approach them, refuse to look upon them, and recoil in disgust, even resenting the fact that they share the same air. Who is more tender than a father? Who more caring than a mother? Yet, for these outcasts, parental love remains inaccessible. A father may mourn for his son but still drives him away. A mother may weep for her living child as if he were dead, yearning to hold him close, yet fearing his diseased flesh like an enemy. All around, whispers and hostility erupt against these unfortunate souls. They are cast out of towns, homes, public squares, and paths, and tragically even from the very sources of water. Strangely enough, those we deem unclean find us unwilling to provide shelter, nourishment, healing, or clothing. Consequently, they wander day and night, destitute and unclothed, displaying their afflicted bodies and singing sorrowful songs, begging for a crumb of bread, a fragment of boiled food, or tattered rags to shield themselves from shame and to alleviate the pain of their wounds. Who can remain unscathed by the sound of their collective groans? Who can endure this lament? Who can calmly observe this scenario unfold? Some lie together, not in joy, but united by their suffering. Surrounded by a crowd—some sympathetic but only fleetingly—they endure the harshness of sun and dust, as well as the biting cold, rain, and storms; they might be trampled underfoot if their touch were not regarded as repugnant. As they respond to sacred hymns in the temple with their own cries of despair, the prayers resonate with their bitter weeping.\\n\\nOne such afflicted individual fell at the feet of Jesus, prostrating himself before Him, as recounted by the Evangelist Luke, or kneeling in supplication, as noted by the Evangelist Mark, pleading: “Lord, if you are willing, you can cleanse me” (Luke 5:12). He recognized the severity of his incurable condition but held a profound belief that for Jesus, nothing was beyond possibility; He could heal him if He desired."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Christ journeyed from the mountain to a nearby coastal town, and as He arrived, a heartbreaking scene unfolded before Him. A leper approached, kneeling in desperation and delivering a heartfelt cry, pleading for healing from his dreadful affliction. It took remarkable faith for this young Prophet from Nazareth to be acknowledged as one who could heal a condition that was widely deemed incurable once it infiltrated the blood. The anguished cry of the unfortunate man encapsulated all his hopes for life: “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me!”"}]}
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