Lesson #14

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Leviticus

September 21, 2015

Introduction

May 13, 2010

Leviticus Lesson #02

May 13, 2010

RETURN TO THE LIST OF LESSONS

LEVITICUS 13
Lesson #14
THE FILTHINESS AND REPULSIVENESS OF SIN

• Memory Verse: Psa 38:3

• With this lesson we have a new section in the book of Leviticus that covers chapters 13, 14, 15. These three chapters deal with the disease of Leprosy and similar diseases.
  • In the days of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the disease of leprosy was active and observable in daily life.
  • While we do not deal much with leprosy today in the modern world, the disease still exists and is known today as Hansen’s disease.
    • This disease is contagious by physical contact.
    • Bacteria grow in the open wounds of leprosy patients, and the disease is passed by physical contact.
    • Contagion can be prevented by constant washing and cleanliness.
• The disease of leprosy has a unique spiritual meaning that goes through all of scripture, Old Testament and New Testament.
  • According to modern medicine, the leprosy of the Bible covers a variety of skin conditions including mildew or mold. We are not so much concerned with a medical diagnosis but a spiritual diagnosis.
  • What is the spiritual meaning of leprosy?
    • The spiritual meaning of leprosy is sin.
      • Read Psa 38:3,5,7, and 18
      • Read Isa 1:5-6
    • There is no better illness to depict sin than the illness of leprosy.
  • Background:
    • The disease of leprosy is thought to have originated in Egypt. In the Bible Egypt symbolizes the world system.
    • Leprosy in the ancient world was considered almost incurable and highly contagious.
      • In the ancient world, leprosy was the worst possible disease, similar to cancer or AIDS today that strikes fear into the heart of a person. There were several types of leprosy that were common.
      • All types of leprosy were mistakenly considered a punishment from God.
    • The symptoms and progression:
      • =1= Leprosy would begin with little nodules which develop sores and a foul discharge. The eyebrows fall out, the eyes become a glassy stare; the vocal chords become raw sores, the voice becomes hoarse and the breath wheezes. The hands and feet develop open sores until the whole body is covered. The average length of this disease is 9 years ending in mental decay, coma and ultimately death.
      • =2= Another type of leprosy would begin with a loss of feeling in some part of the body. The nerve endings and muscles deteriorate. The tendons contract until the hands are like claws. Open sores develop on the hands and feet and cause numbness. Fingers and toes eventually drop off. Then hands and feet may drop off. The length of this type of leprosy is 20-30 years in which a person dies by inches.

• The social treatment of the leper:
  • Lepers were treated as though they were already dead. They were banished from any contact with society including contact with their own family.
  • Lepers were banished because leprosy was thought to be both incurable and highly contagious.
    • You could not come closer than 6 feet to a leper or you also would be considered “unclean” and have to go through a purification ritual. (Lev 13:45-46)
    • Because of the banishment from society, lepers lived in horrible conditions outside the city in caves, in tombs, and in the city garbage dump, begging for food, and receiving no medical attention.
    • The filthy conditions with which lepers were forced to live aggravated the disease and hastened death.

• Leprosy as an accurate picture of sin: a parallel

Leprosy	Sin
Leprosy starts small and grows	Sin starts small, usually as a thought, and grows into actions. (Jam 1:14-15)
The true sign of leprosy was red, raw flesh and not the white skin we often think about in relation to this disease.	The true sign of sin is the flesh nature that raises itself to the surface often in the form of red-hot anger.
Leprosy goes deeper than the surface of the skin.	Sin goes deeper than man’s exterior actions. It comes from the heart. (Jer 17:9)
Leprosy eats away the flesh.	Sin eats away man’s soul.
Leprosy makes a person unclean for inclusion in society.	Sin makes man unacceptable to God, and he cannot be included in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Leprosy incapacitates man from performing useful daily functions of life.	Sin incapacitates man from useful service to God.
Man attempted to hide the beginnings of leprosy.	Man attempts to hide his sins.
Eventually leprosy cannot be hidden and will be easily observable by all.	Eventually man’s sin will catch up to him and become obvious to all.
Leprosy causes good tissue to become deadened to pain and results in self-inflicted wounds.	Sin burns the soul of man and causes scar tissue to form so that man eventually is without feelings of guilt. The result is rampant sin in a person’s life, a hardened heart, and a dead conscience. (Eph 4:19) (1Tim 4:2)
Leprosy is a living death.	A person living with sin not forgiven is spiritually dead. (Eph 2:1-2)
Leprosy has the foul smell of rotting flesh.	Sin has a foul smell to God.
Leprosy is contagious.	Sin not dealt with is contagious.
In the days of the Bible, man did not have penicillin to combat this disease.	Man does not have the answer for dealing with sin outside of Jesus Christ.
Leprosy eventually results in a horrible physical death.	The non-believer eventually suffers the second death for eternity. (Rev 20:14)
Leprosy was thought to be hereditary.	Sin is hereditary. We are all sinners because we are children of Adam. Sin patterns are passed down from parents to children in many situations. (Exo 34:6-7)
Leprosy separated the leper from the worship of God. He could not enter the temple or the tabernacle.	Sin separates man from God. (Isa 59:2)

• Because the stigma of “uncleanness” meant that a person with this disease must be isolated from the rest of society, this gave rise to leper colonies throughout the world.
  • The leper colonies of Hawaii at the turn of the 20th century were well known.
  • The movie, “Ben Hur” depicts the plight of the leper accurately.

• Why did the Jews come to think that this disease was a curse from God?
  • There are three major situations in the Bible where God used leprosy to judge a person.
    • Num 12:10 Miriam
    • 2Kin 5:27 Naaman
    • 2Chr 26:19 King Uzziah
  • However, in these three instances, the leprosy was the consequences brought on by the person’s sin.

• Read Lev 13:1-8
  • The diagnosis of leprosy:
    • The high priest did not diagnose a medical condition but a religious condition that required a religious ritual.
      • Upon examination, the high priest would watch the skin condition for a period of seven days and then make a declaration of “uncleanness” by leprosy or “cleanness” if the symptoms disappeared.
      • The obvious symptoms:
        • A boil
        • A scab or tumor.
        • A bright spot.
      • Leprosy went deeper than the surface of the skin and caused death to the hair follicle.
      • Two periods of seven days of observation and three inspections by the High Priest point to God’s longsuffering mercy.
        • God does not immediately judge sin, but waits for His perfect time before he brings judgment.
        • Number 7 is the Biblical number meaning God’s completion or perfection. (2Pet 3:9)
        • The three inspections by the High Priest refer to the Holy Trinity that eventually will judge sin.
    • In the same way, when a believer sins, he should immediately deal with that sin before the sin progresses and causes symptoms of spiritual death to the believer’s spiritual walk with the Lord.
      • A person must take his sin and sickness to our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ.
      • Read 1Joh 1:7, 9
      • Jesus Christ cleanses us by exposing us to God’s light, revealing our sin, causing us to repent, and bringing us to God’s forgiveness through the blood of Christ.
  • In Lev 13:9-11 there is the diagnosis of an old case of leprosy. In other words, if a man is already designated as a leper, each new breakout of the disease does not need to go through the 14 days of isolation and the three examinations of it.
    • In the same way, there are hardened criminals where sin has become a habitual lifestyle. This is the serial killer, the alcoholic, the drug addict, the terrorist, the mafia, etc.
      • Sin is a way of life and they are proud of their sin.
      • They are slaves of sin and do not recognize their slavery.
      • They have a seared conscience and do not feel guilty for their sins.
      • Read Jer 17:9
      • Read Mat 15:19-20
    • However, there is hope for this condition.
      • Read Lev 13:12-13
        • If the leprosy covered his whole body and all the skin was totally white, the high priest would declare that he was clean.
        • Why?
          • This disease is called Luco-dermia and was not a serious case of leprosy.
          • In this condition, leprosy was not contagious because there are no running sores or red patches of skin.
      • Read Isa 1:18
        • Spiritually speaking, even a person with a habitual lifestyle of unspeakable sin can still come to God to receive Jesus Christ.
        • The Holy Spirit can still touch the hardened heart and cause him to repent and ask for forgiveness.
  • In Lev 13:18-28 there is the discussion of an old case of leprosy that had been healed and declared clean but later reappears as leprosy.
    • We all know of believers in Jesus Christ that gained the victory over sin through their relationship with Jesus Christ but later those same sins reappeared.
    • There is still hope for repentance and forgiveness of this wayward believer.
  • Verse 28 speaks about the “rising of a burning” instead of leprosy.
    • This would be a fever from an infection in the skin. It would not be classified as leprosy so the person would be declared unclean.
    • Notice that through all of these details, the Israelites had to keep constant watch over their bodies just in case leprosy developed.
    • In the same way, Paul tells the believer to be constantly on watch for the rising of the flesh nature in which sin resides.
    • Read Rom 6:19
  • In Lev 13:29-44 speaks about leprosy in the head or in the beard.
    • In this situation the detection of leprosy may be delayed because it is hidden by the hair.
      • If leprosy was expected, they would use the same 14 day procedure and the same 3 observations.
      • God wanted the people to be sure to pay attention to signs of leprosy on the head.
    • In the same way, the leadership of the church can fall into sin like any other member of the church, and should be dealt with like any other member of the church.
      • Sin in the leadership of a church can be hidden for awhile because it is unexpected.
      • However, it is even more devastating to the Body of Christ.
    • The Word of God gives us the pattern for dealing with sin in the church and especially in leadership.
      • Accusations should not be made lightly against someone, and especially someone in leadership. (1Tim 5:19)
      • The guidelines for dealing with the sin of others in the church should follow Mat 18:15-18.

• Read Lev 13:45-46 The life of a leper:
  • According to the Mosaic Law the leper was isolated from society. He was not permitted to live inside the city.
    • He had to cover his upper lip.
      • The covering of the upper lip prevented the leper from breathing on anyone.
      • Modern science has found that leprosy can be passed through the air to the mouth from a discharge in the nose.
    • He had to constantly say, “unclean”, “unclean” so that no one would innocently approach him.
  • The spiritual idea from the Old Testament and the New Testament was that the Jewish leadership would remove sin from the camp.
    • We saw this aspect in the animal sacrifices of Leviticus where the animal that took the sins of the people was taken outside the camp.
    • In the same way, the leper was removed from society.
    • In the same way, Jesus Christ was taken outside the city to Mount Calvary for crucifixion because He took our sins on himself.
  • The extensive passage of Lev 13:45-59 deals with leprosy in the fabric of garments.
    • The price or quality of the garments made no difference in regards to the plague of leprosy.
    • The garments of a leper were observed over time very carefully to determine whether or not they carried the plague of leprosy.
      • The garments of a leper were burned because they were contagious.
      • Sin is contagious. We teach it to our children by example.
        • There is no such thing as legitimate sin among consenting adults. Two people who decide that their conduct is acceptable because it does not hurt anyone else are using that as an excuse to justify their own behavior.
        • They blind themselves to the reality of sin. What is the reality?
          • All sin hurts other people by example, especially the youth.
          • All sin is an offense to God that brings judgment on society as a whole.
    • Paul tells the believer to examine his spiritual clothing and remove the sin garments of the flesh nature.
      • Read Col 3:8-10
      • For the Christian, he is not only to remove the spiritual garments of the sin nature, but he is to put on the righteousness of Christ that He might be clothed with Christ. Why must we do both?
        • Read Isa 64:6.
        • If we do not put on the righteousness of Christ we are left with our own righteousness which is nothing but filthy rags according to Isaiah.

• Application:
  • Many non-believers today have no concept of sin and its consequences of spiritual death.
  • Many non-believers today say they will have lots of company in hell.
    • Leprosy was a disease of isolation and loneliness.
    • Eternal separation from God, what the Bible calls the second death, is eternal isolation and loneliness.
    • The garments of leprosy were dealt with by fire.
    • The eternal lake of fire deals with man’s sin for all of eternity. This fire never goes out. (Rev 19:20)

HOMEWORK
Leviticus 14
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Lev 13
  • If you do not have eternal salvation through Jesus Christ whereby you escape the second death of an eternity in the lake of fire, you need to repent of sin and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart and life. You can ask the teacher or a pastor to pray for your eternal salvation.
• Preparation for Lev 14
  • Read Lev 14:1-57
    • Why do you think so much detail is given about a house with the plague of leprosy?
• Memory verse: Gal 3:22