Leprosy, a portrait of sin – Preaching
Preaching Outline on Leviticus 13:1-3 – And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When a man hath in the skin of his flesh a swelling, or a scab, or a bright spot, in the skin of his flesh, as the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests. And the priest shall examine the plague on the skin of the flesh; if the hair in the plague has turned white, and the plague seems deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy; the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean.
Introduction to Leviticus 13:1-3
The book of Leviticus was written by Moses. This book provides many guidelines for the people of Israel, such as questions about burnt offerings, questions about health, information about the offerings that were brought before the Lord.
Even though they were guidelines for the people of Israel hundreds of years ago, they still live on and bring us a teaching that can also be applied today.
These teachings are also reflected in our lives in a spiritual way.
Development
The beginning of the book of Leviticus talks about a disease that had no cure at the time, namely leprosy. It was a disease that was totally visible and that spread throughout the body within a few days.
Today, this disease is curable and there is a specific treatment for it, but back then those who suffered from it had a very difficult time and were isolated from society.
Leprosy
When we make a comparison today, we can see that leprosy speaks volumes about sin in the life of man. And sin is that which distances man from God.
At first it’s just a small spot
Leviticus 13:22 – if it spreads greatly on the skin, the priest shall pronounce it unclean; it is a plague.
Just as leprosy has its beginnings in a subtle way, so does sin in a man’s life: it starts with small slips and soon takes over his life.
It contaminates man
Once a man is contaminated with sin, it becomes impregnated, so that it changes his whole life, taking over every area of his life.
It’s contagious
Individuals with leprosy were isolated and distanced from society because of the disease’s high contagious power.
Isn’t this also the case with sin in man’s life?
When we live for a long time with people who lead sinful lives, we end up absorbing all that bad behavior from their lives, thinking that everything is normal.
It’s incurable
This was the condition of leprosy in those days, totally incurable. Those who acquired this disease only hoped for a miracle to be cured.
Jeremiah 13:23 – Can the Ethiopian change his skin? Or the Leopard his spots? You too are incapable of doing good, you who are accustomed to doing evil.
The consequence is exclusion
Numbers 5:2 – Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and every one that is unclean by reason of contact with a dead person.
As we can see, sin brings a separation between man and God.
Conclusion of Leviticus 13:1-3
But Jesus, and he alone, can heal him
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the only remedy that can free man from the leprosy of sin. His blood shed there on the cross of Calvary gives man the right to be free from this disease that plagues the lives of many in the world.
Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Preaching Outline on Leviticus 13:1-3 – And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, When a man hath in the skin of his flesh a swelling, or a scab, or a bright spot, in the skin of his flesh, as the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests. And the priest shall examine the plague on the skin of the flesh; if the hair in the plague has turned white, and the plague seems deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy; the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean.
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