Leprosy may be a broad generic term for any number of eruptive skin diseases and disorders. Indeed, specific identification of the disease so named in the biblical accounts with that now called leprosy (from the formerly more general Latin loanword lepra) or Hansen’s disease was not made until the Middle Ages when the disease became widespread in Europe. The biblical descriptions of leprosy are not clinically precise, and the necroses associated with Hansen’s disease are apparently not in view in the Bible. “Leprosy” in garments and buildings was caused by mold, rot, or fungus. The extensive code for dealing with “leprosy” is one means of stressing the separation of the people of God from any uncleanness, whether moral or physical.
Leprosy was “the outward and visible sign of the innermost spiritual corruption; a meet emblem in its small beginnings, its gradual spread, its internal disfigurement, its dissolution little by little of the whole body, of that which corrupts, degrades, and defiles man’s inner nature, and renders him unmeet to enter the presence of a pure and holy God”. Since infection made a person ceremonially unclean, God appointed the priests to act as His examiners to determine whether the victim was “unclean” and therefore had to be separated from the rest of the camp. The person being examined could be isolated for as long as two weeks to give the disease a chance to change for better or for worse.
Sin is “deeper than the skin.” “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9) The word translated “wicked” in this verse means “sick”;” Sin is not a surface problem that can be solved with simple remedies, like trying to cure cancer with hand lotion. Sin comes from within, from fallen human nature; unless the heart is changed, there can be no solving of the sin problem. Scientific progress has made life more comfortable, but it hasn’t made the world less corrupt. So when the church has a superficial view of sin, this attitude affects everything the church believes and does. If men and women are basically good and not sinners under the wrath of God, then why preach the Gospel? Why send out missionaries? For that matter, why did Jesus even die on the cross? If people are good, then what they need is counseling and consoling, not convicting; we should give them encouragement, not evangelism.
But now this is the time for restoration of a house filled with mildew. Mold and mildew and rot grows very well in dark places, hiding beyond the surfaces. But just like sin when it grows and spreads you began to see the physical damages that are a result of infection. Today it is time for spring cleaning, what is causing you to rot and mold. Just like leprosy your house has to be treated and cleansed. Many of us live with infectious disease who then become carriers who infect others. It is time to clean the house, let our High Priest, Jesus Christ come in and examine our hearts, be sure that all leprosy is gone. What grace that God would treat a lepor, what grace that has been given to us that God also made atonement for our infectious disease (sin) as well. God makes it easy for us to be forgiven and restored. The new season has arrived and its time for spring cleaning.
Great post Pastor!!! Sin is like leprosy because it starts off as one spot and quickly spreads throughout the body. We have to keep the heart clean.
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