42 this was an act strictly forbidden by the Mosaic Law: thereby shewing that He, (in that He had made the Law,) was superior to the Law, (as an Eastern Bishop observes); and convincing men that "unto the pure, all things are pure"." But it should be observed that our LORD, though He went beyond the letter of the ancient command, yet did not transgress its spirit: for it was only because the touch of a Leper conveyed defilement, that contact was forbidden; but on the pure person of the second Adam no defilement could pass. He could convey purity, but could not receive pollution. In the words of an Eastern Bishop,-"His Hand became not unclean by the Leper; but the Leper became clean by His Holy Hand." Delightful it is to notice the points of resemblance and of diversity between the accounts of the same miracle in different Gospels. The cleansing of the Leper' is found besides in St. Matthew's Gospel,-viii. 2 to 4; and St. Luke's, -v. 12 to 15. The reader is referred, once for all, to the notes on both those places. and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. The very words, doubtless, which the miserable man most of all longed to hear. And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. m Leviticus v. 3. n Titus i. 15. As soon as He had spoken ;”—so instantaneous was the cure! "The leprosy departed from him :" —as if a messenger of Satan were spoken of! And He straitly charged him, and forth- 43 with sent him away; and saith unto him, 44 See thou say nothing to any man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. This command (which our LORD often repeated°) to "say nothing to any man," is somewhat mysterious and difficult: for on another occasion, our SAVIOUR commanded one whom He had healed, to return home and tell his friends "how great things the LORD had done for him." The first note on St. Matt. viii. 4 may be consulted, as containing a partial explanation of the difficulty. See also below,-the last note on the present chapter. And the Reader is further referred to the note on St. Mark v. 31. But he went out, and began to publish it 45 much, and to blaze abroad the matter, He was so full of his blessedness, that he could not keep it a secret. Other persons, whom our SAVIOUR had in like manner cured, and commanded to keep silence, seem to have found it, in like manner, • As, in St. Mark vii. 36, and St. Luke v. 14. P St. Mark v. 19. impossible to restrain themselves. See St. Matth. ix. 30, 31; and St. Mark vii. 36. insomuch that JESUS could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places and they came to Him from every quarter. - Here then we see one reason why our LORD may have enjoined silence on the Leper; for it appears that, in consequence of his disobedience, the Son of MAN could no longer appear openly in the city! Doubtless, He wished that men should come to Him rather as an act of individual Faith, than troop to Him in crowds,-as to a Physician with the reputation of more than human skill; whose very touch was health, and who had never been known to lay hands on any one in vain. It requires little reflection to perceive that a certain degree of privacy in the working of His miracles was sometimes necessary,—or it would have been literally impossible to move from place to place and some caution was needed, at least at present,-or the malice of the Jews might have been aroused, before the SAVIOUR'S "time was come." The note on St. Matt. xii. 21, may further be consulted on this subject. But it may be remarked, in conclusion, that the Christian who seeks to follow his SAVIOUR'S example in all things, and who would fain see here, also, a lesson for help and guidance, will find that he is taught Humility while he pursues a course like that of our LORD, here described. He will learn that good deeds should be done in private, and that benefits conferred should shun publicity that it is well, on doing a favour, to say-'See thou say nothing to any man.' : In the words of an excellent living Writer,"Our LORD's injunction does indeed for the time appear to have been spoken in vain; yet His Word shall not return to Him void, but perform its purpose: and if in nothing else, yet in this, that even to this Day it remains a witness to us, teaching us to avoid all Vain-glory in acts of Charity, -although indeed it may be true that Glory and Honour will ever pursue those who flee from them; and flee from those who anxiously pursue them." Isaiah lv. 11. |