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Explanation for:
Matthew
8
:
3
And Jesus stretching forth his hand, touched him, saying: I will, be thou made clean. And forthwith his leprosy was cleansed.
13
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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":"Leprosy is healed immediately when the Lord extends His hand. Reflect on the humility and lack of pride with which the response is offered. The afflicted person says, \\"If you are willing.\\" The Lord replies, \\"I am willing.\\" The individual begins with the statement: \\"You can make me clean.\\" The Lord adds the word purify. Thus, the Lord's words should not be interpreted as a single statement, as many in the Latin tradition believe, nor should they be read as one sentence—\\"I want to be cleansed.\\" Instead, they must be understood separately: first He states, \\"I will,\\" and then He commands, \\"Be cleansed.\\""},{"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":"What if the leper's perspective was misguided? In such a scenario, Christ would need to refute, reveal, and rectify that notion. However, did He do this? No; rather, He substantiated and affirmed the leper's claims. He did not merely say, ‘Be cleansed,’ but instead declared, ‘I will, be cleansed,’ thereby transforming the perception of His authority from merely the leper's view into the declaration of Christ Himself. This aligns differently with the apostles’ testimonies. When the crowd was astounded, they asked, ‘Why do you gaze at us as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk’ (Acts 3:12)? The Lord, who often spoke humbly and about matters beneath His glory, here proclaims before those who marveled at Him, ‘I want to be cleansed!’ Despite performing numerous remarkable miracles beforehand, He had never articulated Himself in such a manner. Yet, to validate the views of both the leper and the gathered multitude regarding His power, He added, ‘I will,’ and did not leave His word unfulfilled; He confirmed it through the immediate act that followed. Had He spoken falsely and blasphemously, it would have resulted in disaster. Instead, creation responded to His command, obeying swiftly—more swiftly than the Gospel writer conveys. The term ‘immediately’ does not fully capture the rapidity of the miracle's execution. Moreover, the Savior did not merely say, ‘I will, be cleansed,’ but also stretched out His hand and touched the man—an action deserving of careful consideration. Why did the Savior, after declaring His intention and speaking healing, still choose to touch him? It seems likely to demonstrate that He is not bound by the law but transcends it; that to the pure, nothing is impure. Consider Elisha, who did not even approach Naaman; he remained at home while instructing Naaman to wash in the Jordan, adhering strictly to the law. Contrarily, the Lord chose to illustrate His authority by making contact with the afflicted man. The leprosy did not render His hand unclean; rather, the leper was purified by the touch of the holy hand. Christ came forth not just to heal the body but to guide the soul toward true enlightenment. Just as He did not prohibit sharing a meal with unwashed hands when teaching about the greater significance of purity in relation to food, He illustrates here that we must prioritize the soul. We should focus on the spiritual cleansing, fearing only the spiritual leprosy, which is sin. Physical leprosy does not impede virtue. He was the first to touch the leper, and none cast judgment upon Him. The judgment was fair, free from envy. Not only did they not belittle the miracle, but they acknowledged it in awe, moved by His undeniable power, teachings, and works."},{"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":"Out of concern for becoming impure, the leper was hesitant to approach the Lord, yet the Lord reached out to him. This action demonstrated that He could not be rendered unclean and that through His divine authority, He cleansed others who were impure. The Lord's interaction with the leper was intentional, meant to test his faith. Before assessing his belief, the Lord was already familiar with him; to tempt without such knowledge is an act of ignorance. The Lord was displeased by both possibilities: had He refrained from touching the leper, it would have reinforced the idea that He feared leprosy; conversely, if He had touched him, it might have led the leper to believe that the Lord opposed the law. Thus, by reaching out His hand, He revealed His divine nature and dispelled uncleanness.\\n\\nMoreover, considering that the leper was a Jew who had heard from the priests that Jesus opposed the law and was an enemy of the Scriptures, he might have thought that Christ had no desire to heal the Jews. Therefore, the Lord conveyed a dual message: rebuke for the leper's doubtful statement, \\"if you wish,\\" yet mercy, as He healed him. Though angered by the leper's words, when the leper expressed, \\"you may,\\" He chose to heal him, purifying both his body and spirit of impurities.\\n\\nThe leper perceived that not every sick person was healed, leading him to believe that the Lord could choose whom to heal, prompting him to say, \\"Lord, if you want, you can cleanse me.\\" In response, the Lord demonstrated that His healing was not performed out of deceit. Nonetheless, the leper's faith was acknowledged when he said, \\"If you will, you can cleanse me,\\" leading the Lord to heal him, illustrating His acceptance of belief. \\n\\nWhen the Lord extended His hand, it was interpreted as a breach of the law, as anything associated with leprosy is considered unclean. However, the Lord did not physically touch the leper but rather offered His healing touch from above him. As we continue to read the subsequent narrative, we can discern whether this act was in opposition to the law. It is important to note that St. Ephrem referenced the Diatessaron, rather than the Gospel itself, in his account."},{"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 after imparting the Commandments to His disciples and the gathered crowd, He promptly heals a leper by extending His hand. This act demonstrates that those who question the necessity of adhering to the Commandments can be purified from their doubts through His compassionate assistance."},{"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 Lord reached out to the leper, demonstrating that He was not bound by the commandment prohibiting contact with lepers. Instead, He revealed His authority over him, indicating that nothing is impure to the pure, and that His sacred body imparted holiness."},{"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":"Desiring to affirm the perspective of the leper, who rightly recognized Him as the Sovereign God, while simultaneously demonstrating His divine authority to the crowd, Christ declared, \\"I want to be cleansed.\\" In this moment, His willingness signifies His humanity, while His act of purification reflects His omnipotence. However, if Christ could heal the leper simply by speaking, why did He choose to touch him? The reason lies in the Jewish law, which prohibited contact with those afflicted by leprosy. Yet, Christ aimed to illustrate that, as God, He was above the law—since the law governed ordinary people—and He unhesitatingly reached out to the leper, without facing opposition from the onlookers. They understood that His actions were always just and right. Through this act, Christ also imparted a lesson: they should not fear the physical leprosy of others but rather be wary of the spiritual leprosy of sin. His touch did not transmit uncleanness; instead, it brought about healing. Thus, if the beauty of our souls eradicates the leprosy of sin, let us embrace the teachings of Christ’s commands so that, through His touch, we too may be cleansed from this affliction."},{"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":"The all-good Jesus, whose compassionate heart is perpetually receptive to fervent prayer, responds with his boundless mercy and divine strength. To demonstrate that celestial authority is imparted to his unblemished flesh, he extends his mighty hand, touches the afflicted man, and in a moment, his body is wondrously restored from leprosy. And Jesus, filled with compassion, reached out his hand and touched him, declaring, ‘I want to be cleansed,’ and the leprosy departed from him. Such immediate healing from incurable ailments is attainable solely through the omnipotent might of God."},{"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":"By reaching out to him, the Lord demonstrated that touching a leper, as dictated by Moses' law, rendered the individual unclean (Lev. 13:3). Through this act, the Lord illustrated His supremacy over the law, emphasizing that what is clean cannot be tainted (Theophilus) and indicating His intent not only to restore the leper but to affirm that he was already made whole in that moment, treating him as if he were pure. His willingness to heal signifies His desire to restore health, affirming His sovereign authority over all afflictions, and revealing that He possesses the divine power to bring about healing."},{"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":"The divine authority of His Lord is clearly demonstrated through His actions. With a heart full of love, Jesus extended His sanctifying hand and, as the sovereign of the Law itself, He reached out to the leper, contrary to the strict letter of the Law. Encouraging the man's faith and fulfilling his earnest plea, Jesus responded decisively, saying with the authority of the Almighty, “I WANT TO BE CLEAN.” His proclamation was immediately followed by action: the leper was instantly cleansed by the touch of the holy hand of the Lord. In the words of Chrysostom, \\"Nature, upon receiving the command, obeys and does so more swiftly than the Evangelist conveys. The term ‘immediately’ does not truly capture the speed of the transformation.\\" \\n\\nBut why did the Savior, having healed him by His will and His words, still choose to touch him? It was to demonstrate His supremacy over the Law, showing that nothing is deemed impure in the presence of the Pure One. In contrast, Elisha did not even acknowledge Naaman directly; he adhered strictly to the Law by remaining at home and sending Naaman to wash in the Jordan. However, the Lord touched the leper to signify that He heals not as a servant, but as the Master. His hand, touching the leprosy, remained clean, while the leper’s body was restored by that holy touch. \\n\\nChrist came to redeem not only physical bodies but also souls. Just as He did not prohibit eating with unwashed hands, He teaches us to prioritize the health of our souls over mere external cleanliness. We should focus on cleansing our spirits and be vigilant against our own spiritual leprosy, which is sin. Physical leprosy cannot impede virtue. He is the first to touch the leper, and none condemn Him for it. He transcended the mere letter of the Law, which declared touching a leper as an impurity. Yet, He also revealed the spirit of the Law, emphasizing that mercy outweighs sacrifice."},{"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":"Jesus approached the afflicted individual and declared, ‘I desire your cleansing.’ Immediately upon uttering these words, every scab, sore, tumor, and wound vanished, revealing a restored and healthy man before the astonished witnesses. The miracle was both undeniable and remarkable! In the Old Testament, there are only two recorded instances of lepers being healed: Moses restored his sister Miriam, and the prophet Elisha healed Naaman the Syrian. In these cases, the healings occurred through the power of God invoked in their prayers; it was God who brought about the healing through Moses and Elisha. However, in this instance, Christ healed the leper through His own divine authority, stating, ‘I will, be cleansed.’"},{"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":"In response to His faith, an infinitely gracious declaration was made, “I will, be cleansed.” Each miracle performed by Christ served as a revelation. While He occasionally delayed His response to the pleas of the afflicted when the situation warranted, there was never a moment's hesitation when a leper called out to Him. Leprosy, often viewed as a manifestation of sin, provided Christ the opportunity to convey that a sinner’s sincere request for purification is always met with a swift reply. When David, the epitome of genuine repentance, cried out in authentic sorrow, “I have sinned against the Lord,” the prophet Nathan was quick to deliver the benevolent message from God, “The Lord has taken away thy sin; thou shalt not die” (2 Sam. 12:13). The Savior reached out His hand and touched the leper, and he was cleansed instantly."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Upon descending from the mountain, a large crowd followed Him, eager to hear His teachings. Suddenly, a man afflicted with leprosy approached, kneeling before Him, and expressed, ‘Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.’ The Lord responded, ‘I desire your healing,’ and immediately the leper was healed of his condition. ‘Now,’ He added, ‘do not inform anyone, but go and present yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a witness to them.’ The Lord spoke similarly during another encounter involving the healing of a leper."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"During one of His journeys, as recorded in Luke, Christ was present in a certain town and within a house, as noted by Mark. It was then that a man afflicted with leprosy approached Him, this being a condition deemed incurable by human medicine. Due to its contagious nature, those suffering from leprosy were ostracized, residing on the outskirts of urban areas. If a leper was miraculously healed, they could be reintegrated into society only after a thorough evaluation by the priests, in accordance with Leviticus chapter 13.\\n\\nWhen the leprous man came forward, he did so with deep humility, fully aware of his condition, and earnestly pleaded for healing. The Lord, moved by compassion, restored him to health. Upon cleansing the leper, Jesus gazed at him and, as Mark recounts, said, “I am willing; be cleansed.” This intense look held significance that was likely only understood by the man who had been healed, who was now the recipient of the Lord’s transformative gaze into his very soul. It is speculated that after performing this act of mercy, Christ admonished him for violating the law by entering the house. This assumption is further reinforced by the fact that afterwards, He instructed the healed man to comply with the ritual requirements outlined in the law for those who had been cleansed from leprosy, as described in Leviticus chapter 14."}]}
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