Show Yourself to the Priest

[VerticalReality]

Matthew 8:1-4
When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Now, obviously I believe this passage of scripture is referring to a literal man who was literally cleansed of leprosy. However, we also know that the word of God uses leprosy symbolically for sin as well. So, if we use this scripture in such a manner to describe the man being cleansed of his sin, Jesus also instructed him to present himself to the priest as it was required under Mosaic Law (Leviticus 14:4-32). When a man cleansed of leprosy presented himself to the priest there were many things that were to happen from that point forward (sacrifice a bird, anoint the cleansed man, etc.)

Jesus is our High Priest under the New Covenant, and He is the one who will cleanse us from leprosy (sin). It is by His sacrifice and His blood that we are cleansed of our unrighteousness. That being said, there is also the matter of anointing the cleansed man.

My question . . .

Should the man that needs to be cleansed of his leprosy (sin) present himself to the priesthood to be anointed as a declaration of his cleansing by faith? In a way like what James 5 describes when the sick present themselves to the elders of the church . . .

James 5:14-15
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Thoughts?

[jayne]

James 5:14-15
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Thoughts?

I have a couple of thoughts.

What better way to be healed from sin-sickness than to allow Godly people to pray for you in the manner prescribed in the Bible? Many Christians are in bondage to certain sins and cannot fight alone.

I believe that Christians don't practice James 5:14-15 enough probably because we don't understand it all. I, for one, believe in the elders of the church praying over the sick and sin-sick and anointing them, but my church doesn't practice it. Not because they dismiss the idea, but because we have just traditionally never included it in our practices. And we all know where traditions lead to.

But, with me saying that, let me say that I love my church and my pastor. I'm very happy there and no church is perfect.
.................................................. ....................

Secondly, take another look at the Leviticus 14 passage that you referred to. It's really good!!!!! It's a picture of the crucifixion. The person healed from leprosy presented himself to the priest and the priest took two birds.

One bird was killed over an earthen pot with water being poured into it. The blood was dripped from above into the stream of flowing water. So blood and water flowed mingled together into the vessel.

Where else did blood and water flow? From the side of Christ while dying on the cross.

The priest then took the live bird and tied cedar wood (the cross), hyssop (Jesus drank from hyssop on the cross) and scarlet thread (blood) around the live bird. The live bird was then dipped into the blood and water mixture from the dead bird (as we are covered by the blood of Jesus.)

The bird was used to sprinkle this blood and water mixture over the person healed from leprosy (again, being covered by the blood of Jesus).

Then the live bird was set free and we know that Jesus Christ is the Truth and He has set us free.

It's a beautiful passage that contains a whole lot more than meets the eye.

[VerticalReality]

I have a couple of thoughts.

What better way to be healed from sin-sickness than to allow Godly people to pray for you in the manner prescribed in the Bible? Many Christians are in bondage to certain sins and cannot fight alone.

I believe that Christians don't practice James 5:14-15 enough probably because we don't understand it all. I, for one, believe in the elders of the church praying over the sick and sin-sick and anointing them, but my church doesn't practice it. Not because they dismiss the idea, but because we have just traditionally never included it in our practices. And we all know where traditions lead to.

But, with me saying that, let me say that I love my church and my pastor. I'm very happy there and no church is perfect.
.................................................. ....................

Secondly, take another look at the Leviticus 14 passage that you referred to. It's really good!!!!! It's a picture of the crucifixion. The person healed from leprosy presented himself to the priest and the priest took two birds.

One bird was killed over an earthen pot with water being poured into it. The blood was dripped from above into the stream of flowing water. So blood and water flowed mingled together into the vessel.

Where else did blood and water flow? From the side of Christ while dying on the cross.

The priest then took the live bird and tied cedar wood (the cross), hyssop (Jesus drank from hyssop on the cross) and scarlet thread (blood) around the live bird. The live bird was then dipped into the blood and water mixture from the dead bird (as we are covered by the blood of Jesus.)

The bird was used to sprinkle this blood and water mixture over the person healed from leprosy (again, being covered by the blood of Jesus).

Then the live bird was set free and we know that Jesus Christ is the Truth and He has set us free.

It's a beautiful passage that contains a whole lot more than meets the eye.

I agree 100% with you. It is an awesome foreshadowing of Jesus' wonderful work on Calvary.

What do you think is significant about presenting ourselves to the elders of the church? A demonstration of faith? Exposing darkness?

[jayne]

I definitely think, in part, it's about exposing the darkness. When you say the words, "I am addicted to pornography" or "I have a drinking problem" or "I have hateful thoughts about my husband", you break some of the chains that those sins have on you.

Part of the devil's tricks of his trade is that if he can convince you to keep your burdens a secret that no one will know about any of it and therefore it can't hurt you.

That's a lie.

I think that's why some Christians come to this website and unburden themselves and ask for pray for deliverance from grievous sins. Speaking it and laying it at the feet of Christ in the presence of brothers and sisters in the faith who will pray for you is the beginning of the breaking of the chains.

I also think that's why some 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Overeaters Anonymous works. You HAVE to expose your bondage to others who wish to help you.