[Leviticus 13] Pronounced Clean By Jesus Your High Priest. In Leviticus 13, the Lord instructs Moses regarding the disease of leprosy. Leprosy among the Hebrews was the unfortunate legacy of four centuries of enslavement in Egypt, where the incidence of this plague was common. A leper was required to present himself to the priest, and the priest followed a protocol by which healing was expected to come. Leprosy is a metaphor in the bible for the plague of sin that disfigures our lives. We are not left to ourselves in this condition. When you present yourself to Jesus, your High Priest, you are pronounced clean!
[Lev 13:1-59 KJV] 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh [like] the plague of leprosy; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests: 3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and [when] the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight [be] deeper than the skin of his flesh, it [is] a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean. 4 If the bright spot [be] white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight [be] not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white; then the priest shall shut up [him that hath] the plague seven days: 5 And the priest shall look on him the seventh day: and, behold, [if] the plague in his sight be at a stay, [and] the plague spread not in the skin; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more: 6 And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, [if] the plague [be] somewhat dark, [and] the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it [is but] a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 7 But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again: 8 And [if] the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a leprosy. 9 When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest; 10 And the priest shall see [him]: and, behold, [if] the rising [be] white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and [there be] quick raw flesh in the rising; 11 It [is] an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up: for he [is] unclean. 12 And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of [him that hath] the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh; 13 Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, [if] the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce [him] clean [that hath] the plague: it is all turned white: he [is] clean. 14 But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: [for] the raw flesh [is] unclean: it [is] a leprosy. 16 Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest; 17 And the priest shall see him: and, behold, [if] the plague be turned into white; then the priest shall pronounce [him] clean [that hath] the plague: he [is] clean. 18 The flesh also, in which, [even] in the skin thereof, was a boil, and is healed, 19 And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat reddish, and it be shewed to the priest; 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. 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: 22 And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a plague. 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. 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; 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. 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: 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. 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. 29 If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard; 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. 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: 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; 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: 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. 35 But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing; 36 Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he [is] unclean. 37 But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and [that] there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he [is] clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 38 If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, [even] white bright spots; 39 Then the priest shall look: and, behold, [if] the bright spots in the skin of their flesh [be] darkish white; it [is] a freckled spot [that] groweth in the skin; he [is] clean. 40 And the man whose hair is fallen off his head, he [is] bald; [yet is] he clean. 41 And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he [is] forehead bald: [yet is] he clean. 42 And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it [is] a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, [if] the rising of the sore [be] white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh; 44 He is a leprous man, he [is] unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague [is] in his head. 45 And the leper in whom the plague [is], his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. 46 All the days wherein the plague [shall be] in him he shall be defiled; he [is] unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp [shall] his habitation [be]. 47 The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, [whether it be] a woollen garment, or a linen garment; 48 Whether [it be] in the warp, or woof; of linen, or of woollen; whether in a skin, or in any thing made of skin; 49 And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it [is] a plague of leprosy, and shall be shewed unto the priest: 50 And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up [it that hath] the plague seven days: 51 And he shall look on the plague on the seventh day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, [or] in any work that is made of skin; the plague [is] a fretting leprosy; it [is] unclean. 52 He shall therefore burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is: for it [is] a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire. 53 And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; 54 Then the priest shall command that they wash [the thing] wherein the plague [is], and he shall shut it up seven days more: 55 And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed: and, behold, [if] the plague have not changed his colour, and the plague be not spread; it [is] unclean; thou shalt burn it in the fire; it [is] fret inward, [whether] it [be] bare within or without. 56 And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague [be] somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof: 57 And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it [is] a spreading [plague]: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague [is] with fire. 58 And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin [it be], which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean. 59 This [is] the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.
This is a challenging chapter to read. Leviticus 12 is the shortest chapter thus far in the bible, and this chapter (Leviticus 13) is thus far the longest (59 verses). The subject it deals with is, at the same time, repugnant and heartbreaking. Leprosy was and is a terrible disease with a death sentence attached to it. Like sin, it separated families, excluded the victim from God’s presence in the temple, and resulted in horrible suffering and pain. There was one hope – to go to the priest and be pronounced clean. The language involved in this passage regarding the “pronouncing” a victim clean or unclean is actually a Hebrew idiom or figure of speech. The wording is in ancient Hebrew, “the priest shall cleanse him (or, defile him). This language is reminiscent of the words of Jesus when He appeared to His disciples after the resurrection:
[Jhn 20:21-23 KJV] 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you: as [my] Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on [them], and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; [and] whose soever [sins] ye retain, they are retained.
This is the priestly ministry of every believer. The idea of remitting sin is uncomfortable to us, but it is the plain wording of scripture and part of the commission Jesus gives the believer. When a person would present themselves to the priest, there was a seven-day time period during which their fate hung in the balance. If they were pronounced clean, they would return to the company of their loved ones, and life would go on. If they were pronounced unclean, their life was over. What kind of a difference such a pronouncement would bring in these lives. How sad that we have allowed the “whosoever sins ye remit…” passage in the bible to remain in obscurity because it challenges our religious thinking. Three times in the gospel, Jesus connected forgiveness of sins with healing. The Pharisees were outraged that Jesus would pronounce a person’s sins forgiven. They had no idea who they were dealing with:
[Mat 9:5 KJV] 5 For whether is easier, to say, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
[Mar 2:9 KJV] 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, [Thy] sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
[Luk 5:23 KJV] 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
We hear much teaching on the authority of the believer. If we are to believe the explicit instructions of Jesus, part of that authority is to remit sin in the lives of those who present themselves to us in the name of the Father. Does that mean they don’t have to repent? Some religious traditions teach it this way. A person sins goes to their priest and is given a few religious tasks, and they go on their way. As evangelicals, we find this to be an insult to the spirit of grace. However, the religious tradition of inescapably “sinning a little every day” is the common belief even among people who espouse the born-again experience.
Remember that the same Lord, who said, “thy sins be forgiven thee,” also said, “go and sin no more.” What was Jesus saying here? Just to go and do the best we can? Or did He mean “go and cease from sin?” Today, the best and brightest minds in theology and our pulpits take this to say, “give your best effort.” Due to a lack of teaching on this subject, I have talked to many people in younger generations who have NO idea of what sin is. But there is a standard of holiness and purity that is intended to express the character of Christ in our lives. Most versions of this foisted upon us by religious tradition have no basis in scripture but instead, arise from and are rooted in the religious traditions of the Middle Ages. However, it is our responsibility to find out what these verses mean to us, and by what means we are to hold ourselves accountable to them. We are invited to cleansing in salvation and commanded to refrain from and abandon sinful actions, habits, and ways as well:
[1Pe 1:15-16 KJV] 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
[Rev 3:2 KJV] 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
[Eph 1:4 KJV] 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
So in our passage, the pronouncement of clean or unclean came after seven days. It was not instantaneous. This implies process. Seven is a number of perfection and completion. The fact that the declaration of clean or unclean dictated a waiting period speaks to God’s process. In our culture, we want God to drop perfection upon us without requiring a progression of maturing. As the frustrated believer said, “Lord, I want patience, and I want you to give it to me right now…” The psalmist said (Psa. 118:24), “This is the day that the Lord hath made I will rejoice and be glad in it…” This speaks to us much more than the literal 24-hour day. The bible teaches extensively of the “day of the Lord” as a season of time, whether for mankind in general or for us as individuals. All of us have defilements in our lives and our characters just as the lepers of old. God will not leave us in this condition. If you present yourself to God for your seven days of pronouncement – to God’s anointed process by which He brings us to liberty, freedom, and healing life can be much different from what we have experienced in trying to solve these difficulties on our own.
