We will continue on with the leper from the last lesson. We had decided
that this is not only speaking of a physical disease but spiritual, as well.
We will begin now in Leviticus 13:20 “And if, when the priest seeth it,
behold, it [be] in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned
white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a plague of leprosy
broken out of the boil.”
We have been discussing the similarity between leprosy, as a disease,
and sin. Sin is spoken of as corruption. This is always a repulsive thing.
The examining of this by the high priest is like the leader of the church
examining the actions of someone who has erred. Was the thing they did in
ignorance, was it a sin done with no intent of harm, or was it a sin from
within? If this sin was a sin formed in the inside of man, then we see the
worst kind of sin. This type sin, would separate the person from the flock.
The leader of the church must decide which type of transgression this is. Is
the sin to be forgiven and just go on, should there be some kind of
restitution to the offended, or should the sinner be cut off from the flock?
Leviticus 13:21 “But if the priest look on it, and, behold, [there be]
no white hairs therein, and [if] it [be] not lower than the skin, but [be]
somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:”
To look at this spiritually, this would be like the head of the church,
telling the sinner to make restitution to the person wronged and come back
to the church. The head of the church would then decide whether this person
is truly repentant, and whether he would recommend him being brought back in
as a member of the church.
Leviticus 13:22 “And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the
priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a plague.”
Leprosy is probably the most dreaded disease. In some cases, great
portions of flesh fall off. This is the description of rampant sin, as well.
Especially when it sweeps through a church. The head of the church has to
remove a habitual sinner from the membership to keep the sin from
overwhelming the other members.
Leviticus 13:23 “But if the bright spot stay in his place, [and] spread
not, it [is] a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.”
Sometimes a person is accused of sin, when they are not guilty. The
head of the church has to decide, whether this just looks like sin on the
surface, or if this is really sin. Just because a person is accused of sin
is not enough, there must be proof for the head of the church to move upon
it.
Leviticus 13:24 “Or if there be [any] flesh, in the skin whereof
[there is] a hot burning, and the quick [flesh] that burneth have a white
bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;” Leviticus 13:25 “Then the priest
shall look upon it: and, behold, [if] the hair in the bright spot be turned
white, and it [be in] sight deeper than the skin; it [is] a leprosy broken
out of the burning: wherefore the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it
[is] the plague of leprosy.”
This sin mentioned here is more than skin deep. This is something very
serious in nature. Christians, whose desire of their heart is to do right,
will not have sin imputed to them. I John 2:1 “My little children, these
things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” I John 2:2 “And he is
the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins
of] the whole world.” Habitual sin is a sin of the heart, and Jesus will not
take care of habitual sin for us. The sickness has gone too deep when the
sin is habitual. Hebrews 6:4 “For [it is] impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers
of the Holy Ghost,” Hebrews 6:5 “And have tasted the good word of God, and
the powers of the world to come,” Hebrews 6:6 “If they shall fall away, to
renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son
of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.” The Scripture in Hebrews
chapter 6 and the Scripture above in Leviticus where the person is declared
unclean, are both speaking of someone who habitually sins after they have
been saved.
Leviticus 13:26 “But if the priest look on it, and, behold, [there be]
no white hair in the bright spot, and it [be] no lower than the [other]
skin, but [be] somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days:”
Leviticus 13:27 “And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day: [and]
if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him
unclean: it [is] the plague of leprosy.”
Leprosy, in the beginning, is a hidden disease. Sometimes the first
indication that a person had it, would be a harmless looking little bump
would surface. Many times, for literally years, that would be all you would
see. Then, when you least expect it, the thing would burst into a full blown
sore. Sin is sometimes hidden for a long time, then all of a sudden, it will
show its ugly face. We may hide our sin from the world, but the great High
Priest [Jesus] knows all about our sin, and some time we will have to stand
before Him and be judged.
Leviticus 13:28 “And if the bright spot stay in his place, [and] spread
not in the skin, but it [be] somewhat dark; it [is] a rising of the burning,
and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it [is] an inflammation of the
burning.”
We can see, here, very clearly that the High Priest is the final Judge.
He is the only one that can declare us saved or unsaved. Many professing
Christians will be surprised, when He says {get away from me I never knew
you}.
Leviticus 13:29 “If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the
beard;” Leviticus 13:30 “Then the priest shall see the plague: and, behold,
if it [be] in sight deeper than the skin; [and there be] in it a yellow thin
hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a dry scall,
[even] a leprosy upon the head or beard.”
The primary difference, in this case, is that the hair turns yellowish
red, rather than white. Looking at this from the spiritual standpoint, we
could see in the beard; age, or someone who has been a believer for a long
time. The head could possibly mean someone of authority in the church.
Judgment begins at the house of God. In the verse above, it appears to me
that the person did not come to the high priest to be examined, but the high
priest noticed this problem and mentioned it. Again, this is a deep-seated
sin, because it was deeper than the flesh. Notice, also, that this leader
can be male or female.
Leviticus 13:31 “And if the priest look on the plague of the scall,
and, behold, it [be] not in sight deeper than the skin, and [that there is]
no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up [him that hath] the
plague of the scall seven days:”
This must be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, if this is an elder or
leader who has been accused. I Timothy 5:19 “Against an elder receive not an
accusation, but before two or three witnesses.” This has to be proven beyond
a shadow of doubt.
Leviticus 13:32 “And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the
plague: and, behold, [if] the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow
hair, and the scall [be] not in sight deeper than the skin;” Leviticus 13:33
“He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall
shut up [him that hath] the scall seven days more:”
Judgment of sin many times must be postponed until all the facts are in
and the accused has a chance to defend himself. This being shaven could have
a number of implications. It could be that even the very appearance of evil
was to be removed. The shaving of the head could, also, be a momentary loss
of authority, until the accusation died down. The seven still means
spiritually complete. This waiting seven days, here, could also mean, until
the church is satisfied there is no sin, only the appearance of sin. We are
cautioned to not give even the appearance of evil. This would be doubly
important for people in authority.
Leviticus 13:34 “And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the
scall: and, behold, [if] the scall be not spread in the skin, nor [be] in
sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and
he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.”
This is a reprieve. The cleanliness of this leader is because the robe
has been washed in the blood of the Lamb and made every whit whole.
Sometimes, just for appearances sake, the person might be rebaptized.