While
he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
Luke 5:12-15
Luke 5 [5.] Simon answered him, “Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net.” When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking. They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.” For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive.”
Luke 5 [11.] When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him. While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
Luke 5 [13.] He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.”
Immediately the leprosy left him. He commanded him to tell no one, “But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.” But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.
Luke 5 [17.] On one of those days, he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them. Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus. Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the middle before Jesus. Seeing their faith, he said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
Meaning:
Soon after calling his first disciples (Luke 5:10-11), Jesus meets a man whom everyone else avoided. Mark and Matthew also tell this healing (Mark 1:41-44; Matthew 8:1-4). Luke, the physician, notes that the man was “full of leprosy,” an advanced case. The story shows both the power and the tenderness of Jesus.
- “A man full of leprosy”
In the Bible “leprosy” covered a range of serious skin diseases. Whatever its exact form, its social and religious effects were devastating. The law said, “He is unclean. He shall dwell alone. Outside of the camp shall be his dwelling” (Leviticus 13:45-46). He was cut off from family, work and the worship of God. Jesus himself recalled that in Elisha’s day “not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian” (Luke 4:27).
- “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean”
The man broke the rules of isolation to reach Jesus, and fell on his face before him. His words combine great faith with humility. He had no doubt about Jesus’ power: “you can.” His only question was whether Jesus was willing. He did not demand healing but placed himself in Jesus’ hands.
- “He stretched out his hand, and touched him”
Jesus could have healed with a word, as he did at other times. Instead he touched the man. Mark says Jesus was “moved with compassion” (Mark 1:41-44). By the law, touching a leper made a person unclean. But with Jesus the direction was reversed: his cleanness flowed into the man, and the uncleanness did not pass to him. Here we glimpse the gospel itself: “For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
- “I want to. Be made clean.”
Jesus answered the man’s doubt directly. Yes, he is willing. The healing was immediate: “Immediately the leprosy left him.” Later, when John the Baptist asked whether Jesus was the Coming One, Jesus pointed to signs such as these: “the lepers are cleansed” (Luke 7:22).
- “Show yourself to the priest”
Jesus told the man to keep silent and to fulfil the law. The priest had to examine a healed leper and offer the sacrifices Moses commanded before the man could return to the community. Jesus wanted the man fully restored to his place among God’s people. The healing would also be “a testimony to them,” evidence to the priests that God was at work. Jesus gave the same instruction to ten lepers later (Luke 17:14).
- “The report concerning him spread much more”
In spite of the command, the news spread, and great multitudes came to hear him and to be healed. Mark adds that the man himself told everyone, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a city (Mark 1:45). Luke adds that Jesus responded to the pressure by withdrawing to pray (Luke 5:16).
The Significance of Luke 5:12-15
- Jesus is willing
The leper did not doubt Jesus’ power, only his willingness. Jesus’ answer, “I want to,” assures everyone who comes to him in humble faith that he cares.
- Touch the untouchable
Jesus touched the man everyone avoided. His followers are called to reach out to those whom society shuns.
- Restoration is complete
Jesus cared about the man’s body, his place in the community and his relationship with God. Christ’s salvation restores the whole person.
Cross-References:
Leviticus 13:45-46: “He shall dwell alone. Outside of the camp shall be his dwelling.” The isolation of the leper.
Mark 1:41-44: “Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him,” Mark’s account of the healing.
Luke 7:22: “the lepers are cleansed” Jesus points to his works as the signs of the Messiah.
2 Corinthians 5:21: “For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf;” The great exchange the healing pictures.
Conclusion: In Luke 5:12-15 a man full of leprosy falls before Jesus and says, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.” Jesus touches him and says, “I want to. Be made clean,” and the leprosy leaves him at once. The passage reveals Jesus’ power over disease, his compassion for the outcast, and his willingness to cleanse all who come to him in faith.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible