ACC ~ Luke 5 v12 - 16
OVERVIEW:
The healing of the leper is part of Jesusâ preaching of the kingdom of God, showing clearly Jesusâ divinity in his power over sickness and his humanity as he stretches out his hand to touch the leper (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). Jesus breaks with Israelâs purity code because he touches the leper, and instead of Jesus becoming unclean, Jesus remains clean and cleanses the leper too, showing that he cannot be defiled by the leperâs unclean leprosy (EPHREM THE SYRIAN). But it also may be that Jesus understands the leperâs confession to be pious and faithful, and at his word the healing happens because of the power of that word. The significance of Jesusâ action is more striking when considered in light of Old Testament theology, for in sending the leper to the priests Jesus shows that this healing came not through the law but through grace (AMBROSE). By sending the leper to the priest, these levitical sacrifices on his behalf foreshadow Jesusâ baptism in his blood on the cross. (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). [1] Jesus regularly retreats from the cities into the desert and thereby shows us how to pray (CYPRIAN).
[1] Lk 12:49-50; Heb 13:10-16.
5:12-13 | Jesusâ Healing
JESUS DEMONSTRATES HIS DIVINITY AND HUMANITY
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: He accepts his petition and confesses that he is able and says, âI will; be cleansed.â He grants him also the touch of his holy and all-powerful hand. Immediately the leprosy departed from him, and his affliction was ended. Join with me, therefore, in adoring Christ, thus exercising at the same time both a divine and a bodily power. For it was a divine act so to will as for all that he willed to be present unto him. To stretch out the hand, however, was a human act. Christ, therefore, is perceived to be One of both, if, as is the case, the Word was made flesh. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 12. [1]
[1] CGSL 106**.
JESUS CANNOT BE DEFILED
EPHREM THE SYRIAN: Go, show yourself. [1] This was for the sake of the priests. For the leper was afraid to touch him lest he defile him. But the Lord touched him to show him that he would not be defiled, he, at whose rebuke the defilement fled from the defiled one. COMMENTARY ON TATIANâS DIATESSARON 12.21. [2]
[1] Mt 8:4.
[2] ECTD 201**.
5:14-15 | Jesusâ Instructions
JESUS RESPONDS TO THE LEPERâS PIOUS CONFESSION
AMBROSE: The authority of power in the Lord is here compared with the steadfastness of faith manifest in the leper. He fell on his face because it is a mark of humility and modesty that each feel shame for the sins of his life, but shyness did not restrict his confession. He showed the wound, he begged for the remedy, and the very confession is full of piety and faith. âIf you will,â it says, âyou can make me clean.â He conceded the power to the Lordâs will. But he doubted concerning the Lordâs will, not as if unbelieving in piety, but as if aware of his own impurity, he did not presume. The Lord replies to him with a certain holiness. âI will: be clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.â For there is nothing between Godâs command and his work, because the work is in the command. Thus he spoke, and they came into being. [1] You see that it cannot be doubted that the will of God is power. If, therefore, his will is power, those who affirm that the Trinity is of One will affirm that it is of one power. Thus the leprosy departed immediately. In order that you may understand the effect of healing, he added truth to the work. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.2-3. [2]
[1] Ps 33:9 (32:9 LXX); cf. Jdt 16:14.
[2] EHG 147-48**.
HEALED BY GRACE AND NOT BY LAW
AMBROSE: He is commanded to show himself to the priest and sacrifice for his cleansing. In offering himself to the priest, the priest may understand that he was cured not by the ordinance of the law but by the grace of God above the law. When the sacrifice is performed according to Mosesâ precept, [1] the Lord shows that he did not destroy the law but fulfilled it. [2] Furthermore, by proceeding according to the law, he was seen to heal above the law those whom the remedies of the law had not healed. âFor the law is spiritual,â [3] and therefore it is seen that a spiritual sacrifice is commanded. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.8. [4]
[1] Lev 14:1-32.
[2] Mt 5:17.
[3] Rom 7:14.
[4] EHG 149**.
CHRISTâS BAPTISM IN BLOOD FORESHADOWED IN THE LEVITICAL SACRIFICES
CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Anyone can see the profound and mighty mystery of Christ written for our benefit in Leviticus. [1] For the law of Moses declares the leper defiled and gives orders for him to be put out of the camp as unclean. What if the malady is relieved? It commands that he should then be capable of readmission. Moreover, it clearly specifies the manner in which he is to be pronounced clean. âŚ
We may see, then, in the birds (offered at the cleansing of the leper) Christ suffering in the flesh according to the Scriptures [2] but remaining also beyond the power of suffering. ⌠That the one bird then was slain, and that the other was baptized indeed in its blood, while itself exempt from slaughter, typified what was really to happen. For Christ died in our place, and we, who have been baptized into his death, he has saved by his own blood. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 12. [3]
[1] Lev 13:8.
[2] 1 Pet 4:1.
[3] CGSL 107-8**.
5:16 | Jesus Withdraws to Pray
JESUS SHOWS US HOW TO PRAY
CYPRIAN: Not by words alone, but also by deeds has God taught us to pray. He himself prayed frequently and demonstrated what we ought to do by the testimony of his own example. As it is written: âBut he himself was in retirement in the desert, and in prayer,â and again, âHe went out into the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God.â But if he who was without sin prayed, how much more ought sinners to pray, and if he prayed continually, watching through the whole night with uninterrupted petitions, how much more ought we to lie awake at night in continuing prayer! THE LORDâS PRAYER 29. [1]
[1] FC 36:152**.