Leviticus 13:14-28
IN THE previous verses we had I before us the case of a man cored from head to foot with leprosy and its extraordinary result — the priest was to pronounce him “clean!” However, it is quite different if raw flesh appears in the man. “He shall be unclean.”
Here in type is one who knows he is a sinner, even admits it, but wills rather to go on in his sins. The evil is active and deep-seated; sin reigns within him, and this is a sure sign of ruin, more so than anything that might appear on the surface. Such a one does not know that grace of God that cleanses and pardons. He does not hate his sin, nor does he desire to give it up. There is no evidence of true repentance.
On the other hand grace encourages holiness in the believer. He longs that sin shall not have dominion over him. To such the Lord Jesus gives power to walk in holiness.
Too often we find people who are ready to admit they have some sins, but they are not willing to take their true place as lost hell-deserving sinners. God will not cleanse and bless until there is a full confession of guilt.
But “if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest;... then the priest shall pronounce him clean.” v. 16,17. Here there is a change for the better, so that the man is encouraged to come himself to the priest; he does not wait to be brought. When the priest sees that the sore is really turned white, he pronounces him clean. The sore instead of working within is turned white without, and the man comes himself, conscious that he is clean. This is the effect of grace, for “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17). Through Christ Jesus God has wrought a work whereby He can deliver us, once poor slaves to our lusts and passions and under Satan’s power, and He makes it good in our souls by His Spirit. In verse 18 we get a “white ring” in the place of a “boil,” and in verse 24 a “hot burning.” The priest must examine the man very carefully to see if the evil is deeper than the skin. If it is then the evil is at work and he must be pronounced unclean. On the other hand if he finds it has a superficial appearance, that there is no sign of spreading underneath the surface, he will wait hoping that it is but a passing evil and not a persistent habit. If it has not spread but rather is fading away then he will declare the man to be clean.
Sometimes when there is an outburst of temper, hot burning words are spoken. It may be a passing thing but the bad effects often rain. How good it is when one who has failed in this way seeks grace to humble himself and go and tell the offended one he is sorry. Thus the matter ends there; it does not spread, and communion is restored. On the other hand how sad it is when, as we get in Matthew 18:15-17, one sins against his brother and refuses all attempts to win him, even when his case comes before the assembly. It is evident that in him sin is unjudged and working, and he is to be refused the fellowship of his brethren. May we learn to judge the first workings of sin in our hearts, to reckon ourselves “dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:11).
ML-02/13/1972