seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Matthew 8:1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
The whole ordeal he had to go through in order to offer the gift of Moses..... well it's going to take a while. Here's the link to Leviticus 14:1-32. But why would he put the guy through this? My guess is.... because it was the right thing to do.... and when celebrating salvation.... you do the right thing.I guess these days someone would have to make an appointment.... generally preachers are busy all day long... it's a full time job. Asking the priest to confirm that you are indeed a survivor of leprosy and then the whole killing of one bird and not the other.... well... it would require a lengthy service.... Jesus should have told the guy to call the preacher ahead.
For the controversy people..... Jesus stopped in front of a large crowd.... healed a man who knelt before him.... and then told the man not to tell anyone.
God can control the mind. It is possible this could have happened and although the people witnessed it.... they didn't see it... or notice it. After all... there was a large crowd and I'm sure people knelt in front of Him from time to time.... right?
Remember.... Matthew was a tax man.... he knew trouble coming his way.... so he kept an eye on the crowd. Matthew would notice when one man or woman knelt, impeding Jesus. It could be a trap..... Matthew was a tax man.... an "official", when Jesus found him. Not everyone liked the tax man... Matthew would notice the crowd.
Now.... Jesus had to know this would cause a big kerfuffle when a leper showed up healed. He knew people just didn't "get healed". Jesus told the guy to keep it to himself.... so why make him turn himself in to the priest or preacher.... screwing up their schedule.... and causing them to question him about the "healing".
Jesus didn't come to destroy the Civil Law or the Law of Moses. But why not??? Why draw attention to the healing?
Jesus told him not to talk about it.... just sent him to the priest.... but why?
