The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 337

glory by his miraolcs, He does so etill. If we follow him with perseveTina stead- fastness, we she.II see tho.t he still worketh miracles of grace. His blood cleanseth from all sin; he heals the dying soul ; he casts out the evil spirit; he calms the tempest of dietrncting doubts and anxious feare; he is mightier than all the hosts of the wicked one. II. 'fnE LEPEli. 1. His prayer, He wa.s in great misery, full of lepTosy. Ile felt the fate.I power of that terrible disease; it was disfiguring his person with a loathsome deformity, eating out the very life; it was separating him from the society of men; he was unclean, avoided by his nearest relatives; he was cut off from all that could give him consolation; nothing remained for him but death-a slow, lingering death. Its hand was upon him now; there wo.s no help in man. Dut he heard of the Lord Jesus; perhaps he had hovered on the outskirts of the crowd, listening to the Saviour's words in the distance; perhaps he had been told of the wonders which he had already wrought. He had not yet healed a leper. Leprosy was regarded as a visitation, a stroke, from the hand of God. "Am I God," said the King of Israel (2 Kings v. 7), "to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy?" It was God who sent it; it was God alone who could remove it. But, in spite of this fixed belief of the Jews, the leper had faith in the Lord Jesus; there was- something about him, something in bis look, manner, words, which told of the heaven whence he came. The leper doubted not; he came, he kneeled down, he fell on bis- face, he worshipped him, o.nd said in words so striking that they have been recorded by the three evangelists, notwithstanding various differences of detail in the narration of the miracle, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." He was conscious of unworthiness; perhaps he knew that sin ho.d brought this misery upon him. He dared not presume upon the mercy of the Lord. He felt his own degradation; he knew not whether Christ would be willing to help one so unworthy, so guilty; but he bad no doubt of his power. As he co.me to Christ, so we must come. He came with reverence; he kneeled down. Humble reverence, reverence in gesture and in heart, becomes us sinful men when we draw near to the Most Holy One. He came with intense earnest- ness of supplication; his felt his misery, his danger. So must we come if we would be saved from the leprosy .of sin; we must feel onr guilt, our awful clanger, the greatness of our need; we must come with strong desire, hungering o.nd thirsting for forgiveness. longing to be made clean from the defilement of our sin. And we must come in full assurance of faith, confessiug our unworthiness of the Saviour's mercy, but doubting not his love and power. 2. The Lord's answer. He "put forth his hand, and touched him." He-feared not the danger of Levitical defilement; his perfect holiness cleansed all who came to him in faith, whom he deigned to touch with that gracious puri- fying hand. He spoke the word of power,·" I will; be thou clean." As he taught with authority, so he heals with authority. It is his act; he heals in his own Name, by his own authority. " His touch hath still its ancient power;" his blood cleanseth from all sin; still he speaks that gracious word, "I will." He was moved with compassion. then; he is the same compa.ssionate Redeemer now; he is ready, williug, to cleanse us. There is no lack of power or of love in him; the fault is in ourselves. Only let US- come with the faith, the earnest longing, the reverent prayer of the leper, and we shall hear that gracious "I will," and the leprosy of sin will depart before the saving touch of the Lord. 3. The Lord's direction. The leper was cleansed, but he must show himself to the priest; he must go to the temple and offer the appointed gift. He wo.s to tell no man till he ho.d gone to J eruso.lern. Silence was best, perhaps, for himself; the Lord knew his spiritual condition; it was best, perhaps, for the success- of the Lord's ministry. He was to go to the temple to give thanks to God in the sanctuary for his wonderful recovery; he wo.s to observe the ordinances of the Mosaic ritual, and to show his gratitude by his offerings. So should we do when God has been merciful to us; we should give thanks in the .church; we should bring our thank-offerings to Almighty God. LESBONB. 1. It is not enough to ho.ve heard Christ once; follow him; we need him- nlways, nil our life. 2. Sin is a loathsome, fa.to.I sickness; only One can heo.l, the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. Como to him; doubt him not; he is "the same yesterday, and to-day. aud for ever." Vere. 5-17.-Miracles at Cujiernaum. I. HEALilW 01" TIIE cENTua10:s'11 SERVAXT.  3,2 TliE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oH. vnL 1-34.