The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 241

home by the Spirit of Christ. 2. W7im the case WIUI dubious judgment was defen-ed. (1) Meanwhile the suspecte~ pers?n was "shut up" (vers. 4, 21, 81) that opportunity might be given for the mantfesta.tion of the symptoms. So are sinners "shut up" by the Law to the faith of the gospel (see Rom. xi. 82, margin; Gal. iii. 23). (2) At the end of" seven days" judgment was given; or, if the symptoms were not then sufficiently manifest, a second period of seven days was allowed, which was the final term. Could these periods refer to the dispensat_ions of our probation? In this case the leper must be taken to personate a class of sinner according to the type of his disease whether procee<l ing from the "rising," or the "boil," or the "scab." In any case a' sufficient probation is given us in this world for the manifestation of our real cha;acter which probation we should be careful to improve. 8. .A leprous garment was treated~ repre- senting its owner. (1) It bad to be inspected by the priest for his judgment and sentence, as though it had been a person. In case the plague in it were not pronounced, it had to be "shut up" and examined again after the same intervals of" seven days" (vers. 50, 54). The expense and trouble of this, particularly if it had to be brought from a distance, would be as much as the garment was worth, so that the Law is un- accountable unless it was intended to serve a typical purpose. (2) Aga.bus the prophet ma.de Paul's girdle emblematica.lly to represent that apostle (Acts xxi. 11). The " owner" of a leprous house, obviously for the same reason, had to "come and tell the priest" ( eh. xiv. 85). (8) The washing of the garment in this case suggests the washing of regeneration. II. HE HAD TO PRONOUNCE UPON HIM. 1. In some cases the verdict was an acquittal. (1) If the suspected leprosy proved to be but a surface evil, the subject was pronounced clean (ver. 6). Jesus does not mark as sins infirmities which spring not from an evil nature. 'lne person acquitted, however, had to wash his clothes (ver. 34). There is no person so faultless as not to need the laver of regeneration. (2) If a leper be "white all over," no proud flesh, no ichor, being visible, he is pronounced. clean (ver. 18). The virulence of the disease is over; God's mercy has reached him; the sinner is forgiven. But the marks of an old dissipation often remain after forgiveness. Though now clean, there can be no question that he had been a leper. (3) Another case is given. A leper, sapposing his disease gone, presents himself to the priest for his cleansing; but the priest, discovering "raw flesh," sends him away unclean; in time, however, he becomes cured, returns to the priest, and on the second application is pronounced clean (ver, 17). This case is like that of the sinner whose repentance is not perfect, and at the altar he discovers that until he is reconciled to a brother whom he had wronged his gift cannot be accepted; the reconciliation made, he returns and finds the favour of God (Matt. v. 28, 24). 2. In other cases the judgment was" Unclean." (1) When the plague is pronounced, as in cases of" old leprosy," deliberatiou was unnecessary; jndgment came speedily (vers. 10, 11). So with the openly wicked (Ps. ix. 16; Prov. v. 22 ; xi. 5). (2) In all cases evidence must be clear. Time, therefore, was given for the plague to pronounce itself. So, before judgment could overtake the Amorites, their iniquity must be full (Gen. xv. 16; see also Dan. viii. 28; Matt. xxiii. 82, 83; 1 Th~ss. ii. 16). (3) Jesus is unerring in his judgments. He is the faithful as well as merciful High Priest. 8. The sentence. (1) The leper has to dwell without the camp (ver. ~6). So must the open sinner be put out of the Church (see 1 Cor. v. 11-13). Hypocrites and unbelievers, though in the Church in the visible part, are not recognized by God as members of the Church in the spiritual part. (2) The leper has to behave as an excommunicate seeking for the mercy of God. His clothes are rent to express extreme grief and sorrow. His head is bare, turbaaless, to express deep humiliation. He put a. covering upon his upper lip; had his jaw tied up with a linen cloth as a corpse, to express his state as that of a living death (see 2 Kings v. 7; Ezek. x_xiv. 17), and he was to cry "Unclean I" (ver. 45). When we confess that we are dead m trespasses and sins, and sorrow to repentance, there is hope for us in God. (8) But as the garmen. that remains unclean after two washings, to save it from destruction must hnve. ~he leprous piece rent from it; so if a" right hand" or" right eye" preve1;1t us from realizmg the benefits of redemption, they must be separated (ver. 66), But 1f all efforts to save the garment fail, then its doom is to be burnt (sec Matt. v. 29, 30; xviii. 8, 9).---J. A. M. Ven. 46, 46.-.4 picture of ain. The stringent rules for the treatment of the lep~r OH. XIII, 1-46,] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 205