LEVITICUS 13
Concern. Leprosy was a feared disease for which there was no known cure. God had concern for the leper and made certain he or she was treated with dignity. God gave the priest all the information needed to detect the disease and make sure it did not spread. How tragic it would be to isolate someone who was not really infected or to declare clean somebody who was unclean.
Characteristics. There is more to this law than a lesson in symptoms; in the Bible, leprosy is a picture of sin (Isa. 1:4–6). The disease was not on the surface; like sin, it was “deeper than the skin.” (The phrase is used ten times.) Leprosy spreads in the system and makes the person unclean, so much so that he or she had to be isolated: “He shall dwell alone” (v.
Compassion. Our Lord had compassion on the lepers, touched them, and made them clean (Mark 1:40–45); and He gave His disciples power to cleanse the lepers (