Matthew's First Miracle: Healing of the Leper in Context
Matthew's Gospel records the healing of a leper as the first miracle Jesus performs after delivering the Sermon on the Mount [10]. This event, also recounted in Mark and Luke, immediately follows Jesus' descent from the mountain, where large crowds continued to follow him [8, 10].
The leper approaches Jesus, worshiping him and expressing faith in Jesus' ability to heal, stating, "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean" [2]. Leprosy, known in Hebrew as tsara'ath, was considered a "smiting" or "stroke" from God, a providential infliction [5]. It was a loathsome, diffusive, and often incurable cutaneous disease prevalent in ancient times [6]. The Mosaic Law outlined specific regulations for identifying and managing leprosy, including various circumstances under which it might manifest [5].
In response to the leper's plea, Jesus stretches out his hand and touches him, declaring, "I want to. Be made clean" [3]. John Gill highlights this act as a remarkable display of Christ's grace and goodness in touching a "loathsome creature," demonstrating his unspotted purity and holiness, which could not be defiled, and his mighty power to heal with a touch and a word [7]. The healing was immediate [3].
The act of touching the leper was significant, as lepers were typically isolated due to the contagious nature and social stigma associated with their condition [6]. Jesus' willingness to touch the leper underscored his compassion and authority over disease. After the healing, Jesus instructs the man to show himself to the priests and offer the gift commanded by Moses, as a testimony to them [9]. This instruction aligns with the ceremonial law in Leviticus 14, which required a healed leper to be pronounced clean by a priest before being reintegrated into society [9].
This miracle is one of many instances where Jesus demonstrates his power over various ailments, including casting out devils, healing the paralyzed, and even raising the dead [4, 1]. Matthew's account places this healing early in Jesus' public ministry, establishing his authority and compassion immediately after his foundational teaching.
Sources
- Matthew “Matthew 10:8 (Geneva1599) — Heale the sicke: cleanse the lepers: raise vp the dead: cast out the deuils. Freely ye haue receiued, freely giue.”
- Matthew “Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” -- Matthew 8:2”
- Matthew “Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. -- Matthew 8:3”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Miracles of Christ, The — Water turned to wine -- Joh 2:6-10. Nobleman's son healed -- Joh 4:46-53. Centurion's servant healed -- Mt 9:5-13. Draughts of fish -- Lu 5:4-6; Joh 21:6. Devils cast out -- Mt 8:28-32; 9:32,33; 15:22-28; 17:14-18; Mr 1:23-27. Peter's wife's mother healed -- Mt 8:14,15. Lepers cleansed -- Mt 8:3; Lu 17:14. Paralytic healed -- Mr 2:3-12. Withered hand restored -- Mt 12:10-13. Impotent man healed -- Joh 5:5-9. The dead raised to life -- Mt 9:18; 19:23-25; Lu 7:12-15; Joh 11:11-44. Issue of blood stopped -- Mt 9:20-22. The blind restored to sig”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Leprosy — (Heb. tsara'ath, a "smiting," a "stroke," because the disease was regarded as a direct providential infliction). This name is from the Greek lepra, by which the Greek physicians designated the disease from its scaliness. We have the description of the disease, as well as the regulations connected with it, in Lev. 13; 14; Num. 12:10-15, etc. There were reckoned six different circumstances under which it might develop itself, (1) without any apparent cause (Lev. 13:2-8); (2) its reappearance (9-17); (3) from an inflammation (18-28); (4) on the head or chin (2”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 8:2: And, behold, there came a leper--"a man full of leprosy," says Luk 5:12. Much has been written on this disease of leprosy, but certain points remain still doubtful. All that needs be said here is that it was a cutaneous disease, of a loathsome, diffusive, and, there is reason to believe, when thoroughly pronounced, incurable character; that though in its distinctive features it is still found in several countries--as Arabia, Egypt, and South Africa--it prevailed, in the form of what is called white leprosy, to an unusual extent, and from a very early p”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 8:3: And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him,.... This is a wonderful instance both of the grace, and goodness of Christ, in touching this loathsome creature; and of his unspotted purity and holiness, which could not be defiled by it; and of his mighty power in healing by a touch, and with a word of his mouth, saying, I will, be thou clean: in which he expresses at once his willingness, "I will", of which the leper before was not certain; and his power by a word of command, "be thou clean"; and in which also is shown the readiness of Christ to do it: he did not sta”
- Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 8:1: The first verse refers to the close of the foregoing sermon: the people that heard him were astonished at his doctrine; and the effect was, that when he came down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him; though he was so strict a Lawgiver, and so faithful a Reprover, they diligently attended him, and were loth to disperse, and go from him. Note, They to whom Christ has manifested himself, cannot but desire to be better acquainted with him. They who know much of Christ should covet to know more; and then shall we know, if we thus follow on to know the Lord”
- Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 17:13: And when he saw them, he said unto them,.... When upon their loud cry he looked up, and towards them, and saw what a condition they were in, his compassion moved towards them, and he ordered them to do as follows; go show yourselves unto the priests. The Ethiopic version reads in the singular number, "to the priest", as in Mat 8:4 whose business it was to inspect into this matter, to see whether a person was healed, or not; and if he was to, pronounce him clean, when a gift was offered according to the law, in Lev 14:2. So careful was Christ that the ceremonial law, ”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 8 (introduction): HEALING OF A LEPER. ( = Mar 1:40-45; Luk 5:12-16). (Mat 8:1-4) When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.”