Luke 5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 5:12-16 – Healing a Leper and Then Privacy

Luke 5:12-16 – Healing a Leper and Then Privacy

|| Matthew 8:1-4;[1] Mark 1:40-45[2]

LK5:12 Now it happened while Jesus was visiting one of the villages, look, there was a man full of leprosy.[3] When he saw Jesus he fell on his face before him and begged: “Master, if you are willing and able cleanse me!” LK5:13 Now reaching out his hand and touching the man, Jesus said: “I want to. Be cleansed.” And instantly the leprosy left him. LK5:14 Then Jesus gave him orders: “Do not to tell anyone, but leave and show yourself to the priest and make the offering for your cleansing as Moses commanded[4] as a testimony to them.”[5] LK5:15 Despite this the former leper spread the word even more about Jesus, and many crowds gathered to listen to Jesus and to be healed from their sicknesses. LK5:16 But, Jesus withdrew into wilderness areas[6] and continued in prayer.

[1] Matthew 8:1-4: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Mark 1:40-45: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

[3] Full of leprosy: Doctor Luke’s diagnosis.

[4] As Moses commanded: This was a considerable offering. [Leviticus 14:10, 20]

[5] As a testimony to them: The Jewish hierarchy are watching Jesus for a violation of the Law of Moses. Jesus did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfill it.

[6] Withdrew into wilderness areas: Or, NAS: often slip away; NEB: from time to time he would withdraw; BER: habitually withdrew; KNX: he would steal away from them. Our Lord was also a private person who sought his solitude for quiet prayers to his Father. It is an excellent lesson for people burdened with the pressures of life.

 

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Preceding

Luke 5 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 5:1-11 – Fishermen Follow Jesus

Preparing for 14 Nisan

Mankind received God’s commandments so that they could have something to hold on to and have some guidance to build up their life.

Man had chosen to go his own way. Lots of people thought they could do without God,though as soon as time proved too difficult for them they were always fast to ask God for help or even for blaming Him for their problems.

On several occasions God came to help man. For the liberation of the Egyptian slavery God asked them to cleanse themselves and to remember that night of slaughtering the lambs.

Passover (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many years later when the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, every Jew had to be in a state of Tohorah or ritual purity in time for the bringing of the Passover offering in the Temple. Today, though we’re unable to fulfil the Temple-related rituals in practice. In a way we should fulfil them spiritually by studying the given laws in the Torah. As such, Jews for example study and read the section of Parah (treatise in the Mishnah and the Tosefta, included in the order Tohorot) in preparation for the upcoming festival of Passover.

We do have to struggle here on earth with the restrictions and challenges of our world. Though we try to build up our life, when we love God we want to do that according to the bible, God’s infallible Word. These coming days, coming closer to 14 Nisan, we should take time to question ourselves if we could manage to live according to the Will of God.

Let us wonder if we really all the time believed in only One God, or did our thoughts wander about some other gods? Did we do no get carried away by idols? Did we keep a regular day of rest and did we take a regular time to think about God and to praise Him? Have we shown the respect we should show to our parents, teachers and those above us, but also to those lower than us? Where we ,at all times be willing to share our love with others? Where we willing to forgive the people who did something wrong against us?

These coming days the above questions should be in our head and have us to examine the attitude we took over the year against others.

Always remembering that when we are lovers of God we should not be part of this world but part of the Body of Christ, living up to the Will of God, which we can get to know by reading the Bible regularly. Only that way we can stay on the path of purity.

“9  [Beth] How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

10  I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 12  Praise be to you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. 13  With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

17  [Gimel] Do good to your servant, and I will live; I will obey your word. 18  Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. 19  I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.” (Psalms 119:9-19 NIV)

Today those commandments are not hidden for us. They are at our disposal.
It is that Word of God we should allow us to cleanse us. As spiritual water it should run over us and wash down all the dirt which may have come over us. Every day, over and over again, we should let ourselves be inspired by that heavenly Word that purifies those who are willing to give themselves in the Hands of the Most High. Allowing ourselves being guided by that Word of God, we shall find the right directives for our actions and attitudes, thereby keeping us steady on the right path.

When we do come to the memorial meeting of 14 Nisan, (April 10, 2017) we should be clean to come before our Most High, to show our gratefulness for the ransom offer His only begotten son gave. Let us prepare for that special occasion.

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Preceding articles

Christians, secularism, morals and values

Pesach and a lot of brokenness in the world

On the first day for matzah

14 Nisan a day to remember #3 Before the Passover-feast

14 Nisan a day to remember #4 A Lamb slain

14 Nisan a day to remember #5 The Day to celebrate

 

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Additional reading

1. What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits
2. Getting fate in your change to positiveness
3. Flowing out from a genuine spiritual “heart”
4. Cleanliness and worrying or not about purity
5. Making sure we express kedusha for 14-16 Nisan
6. Reciting the Aleinu as a warning against temptation of idolatry
7. What Does The Bible Say About….Fornication?
8. Sukkoth, Gog, Magog, Armageddon, a covenant and Jerusalem
9. Christianity like Judaism God’s call to human responsibility
10. Without God no purpose, no goal, no hope
11. See God’s wonderworks and hear His Voice
12. Commemorating the escape from slavery
13. Festival of Freedom and persecutions
14. Seven Bible Feasts of JHWH
15. Holidays, holy days and traditions
16. Redemption #4 The Passover Lamb
17. Remember the day
18. Shabbat Pesach service reading 1/2
19. Shabbat Pesach service reading 2/2
20. Easter holiday, fun and rejoicing
21. Why we do not keep to a Sabbath or a Sunday or Lord’s Day #2 Testimony
22. Why we do not keep to a Sabbath or a Sunday or Lord’s Day #3 Days to be kept holy or set apart
23. Yom Hey, Eve of Passover and liberation of many people
24. A Passover for unity in God’s community
25. A Great Gift commemorated
26. Anointing of Christ as Prophetic Rehearsal of the Burial rites
27. A Messiah to die
28. An unblemished and spotless lamb foreknown
29. The Song of The Lamb #5 Revelation 5
30. The Song of The Lamb #7 Revelation 15
31. This day shall be unto you for a memorial and you shall keep it a feast to the Most High God
32. Exodus 9: Liar Liar

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Further reading

1. ‘Choose purity…are you asking me or telling me?’
2. How can you be an ardent lover of truth?
3. Purity
4. Pursing Purity
5. How to Overcome the Sin in Your Life
6. A Healthy spiritual heart
7. Today’s fragrance: keeping your ways pure
8. Available
9. Core values part 2
10. Passport to Purity
11. “Pure In Heart And Life” 03/21
12. The Window Cleaner
13. Pleasure of God, Part 2
14. The Rosary- Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart

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Related articles

• Monday Motivation: Faith in Action
• Safety tips when celebrating Passover in Europe
• So, A Priest, A Rabbi And An Atheist Smoked Weed Together And Things Got Spiritual
• Montreal mosque facing calls for investigation after imam preaches on anti-Semitic conspiracy theories
• Yom Hey, Eve of Passover and liberation of many people
• 9 Adar and bickering or loving followers of the Torah preparing for Pesach

Nazarene Commentary Luke 3:15-17 – The Baptisms of the One Coming

Luke 3:15-17 – The Baptisms of the One Coming

 

LK3:15 Now the people were in great expectation[1] and everyone was wondering in their hearts regarding John, whether he might be the Christ. LK3:16 So then John told them all: “I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who is stronger than me – someone I am not worthy[2] to even untie his sandal straps – he will baptize you with holy Pneuma[3] and with fire. LK3:17 His winnowing tool is in his hand and he is ready to clean out his threshing floor [Micah 4:12] to gather the wheat[4] into his barn. The chaff [Psalm 1:4] he will burn up in a fire that cannot be put out. [Isaiah 66:24]

 

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[1] Great expectation: Or, suspense, on tiptoe. There was a strong messianic spirit of anticipation at the beginning of the 1^st Century. Compare Luke 19:11.

[2] I am not worthy: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark 1:7.

[3] Baptize you with holy Pneuma: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on spirit baptism compare 1 Corinthians 12:12, 13.

[4] Wheat: Compare Matthew 13:30.

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Preceding articles:

Nazarene Commentary Luke 3:1, 2 – Factual Data

Nazarene Commentary Luke 3:3-6 – John Preaches Baptism of Repentance

Nazarene Commentary Luke 3:7-9 – Vipers, Repent!

Nazarene Commentary Luke 3:10-14 – “What Shall We Do?”

Baptism of Christ 11 (Photo credit: Waiting For The Word)

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Related articles

 

• The Wheat and the Chaff (graceofourlord.com)
  The baptisms performed by John the baptist, the truth in his preaching, and the authoritative warnings of the urgency of repentance were just some of the things that made the people who witnessed it all (and, no doubt, many who simply had heard about him) wonder if he was the Messiah that had been promised to come since the beginning (Genesis 3:15). Indeed, Luke 3:15 points out that many must have desperately wanted him to be “the one.” But verse 16 tells us how John answered that question:

  “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
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  Rather than being something positive for Christ’s followers, the baptism by fire is the judgment for the unbelievers, with the unbelievers represented by “chaff” in that verse. Chaff is the dry, scaly, inedible casing of seed or grain. Before the invention of the threshing machine in the latter part of the 18th century, threshing was often done by placing the sheaves on the threshing floor and beating them or running over them. It was the most labor intensive part of the harvest. Afterward, the wheat would be separated by winnowing, often done with a winnowing fork by tossing the grain into the wind so that the chaff would be blown away. The chaff was often burned then to dispose of it.

• In those days: John’s Baptism (friarmusings.wordpress.com)
  In the gospel accounts all of John’s words (except the word against Antipas) are spoken to persons seeking this baptism. His words show that John was unreceptive to those whom he judged to have bad faith, while he was friendly to those who were truly repentant. To the former he repeated threats and warnings and perhaps added new ones, while to the latter he gave hope for further dramatic renewal of their lives as well as ethical guidance relevant to their particular vocations. The former group seems to have been made up of people whose commonality was lording power over the common people: the religious leadership, the wealthy, the tax collectors and soldiers.
• In those days: some notes (friarmusings.wordpress.com)
  The Pharisees and Sadducees are warned that mere ritual is inadequate and will not preserve them from God’s wrath. Rather they must do good deeds that are appropriate to genuine repentance in view of the coming kingdom. Producing fruit as a metaphor for a repentant lifestyle occurs elsewhere in Matthew (3:10; 7:16–20; 12:33; 13:8, 23, 26; 21:19) and is common in the OT (Ps 1:3; Isa 3:10; 5:1–7; Hos 10:1). The image of Israel as the tree from which fruit is expected echoes Hosea 9:16; Isaiah 27:6; Jeremiah 12:2, 17:8; and Ezekiel 17:8-9, 23.
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  Matthew 3:12 winnowing fan… threshing floor…gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn: The discrimination between the good and the bad is compared to the procedure by which a farmer separates wheat and chaff. The winnowing fan was a forklike shovel with which the threshed wheat was thrown into the air. The kernels fell to the ground; the light chaff, blown off by the wind, was gathered and burned up. The scene echoes OT passages such as Ps 1:4; Prov 20:26; Isa 41:14–16; Jer 15:7; 51:33; Dan 2:35; Hos 6:11; 13:3; Joel 3:13; and Mic 4:12–13.
• The Baptism of Discipleship II (followingjesustogether.org)
  The baptism of discipleship is an act of obedience and a declaration of allegiance.  Those who follow Jesus in baptism announce their decision to follow him.  They declare their allegiance to him as Lord.  They symbolize their death to themselves by being buried (submerged) and then raised to walk in the life of Jesus.  (Note:  I’m not saying “lifestyle” of Jesus.  I’m saying the indwelling, imparted life of Jesus in us.  We live by him.  (Of course this will determine your lifestyle.)
• Fire and the Kingdom of Heaven (wsforchrist.com)
  His shovel is ready in his hand, to winnow His threshing-floor and gather the wheat into His granary; but He will burn the chaff on a fire that can never go out.”  John was revealing Jesus.
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  As we repent behavior that is unacceptable to God, the thoughts that preceded that behavior are cleansed via a purifying fire, and washed away with our Holy Baptism.  Once cleansed, we each have the opportunity to start anew, never to commit that sin again.
• John the Baptist and the Pharisees (travismikhailblog.wordpress.com)
  John’s baptism differed from sacramental Baptism, which confers forgiveness and the regenerating grace of justifying faith (Acts 2:38). His was a visible token of repentance and preparation for the Messiah (cf. Is 1:16; Heb9:10; CCC 718).
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  with fire: A symbol of God and his purifying judgment (Deut 4:24; Sir 2:5; Is 4:3-5; Acts 2:3-4; CCC 696).
• Walk in victory with Jesus : Day one (kzlam36.wordpress.com)
  Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones.10 Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
• “Bear Fruits In Keeping With …” Bible Reading Thoughts for March 12th (therugbychristadelphians.wordpress.com)
  “His winnowing fork (used in harvesting) is in his hands to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” [v.17] Chaff are ears of wheat that are useless, they have failed to produce; how much chaff can God see in the world today!!     Let us make sure we are not among the chaff!  Let us all “bear good fruit” for John also preached, “Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”[v.9]  Bearing good fruit should – indeed – must be – a labour of love for our Lord – before the harvest time occurs.  What wonders then follow!