Section 45
Cleansing of a man with leprosy, followed by much publicity
In one of the cities by the Sea of Galilee
| Matthew 8:2-4 | Mark 1:40-45 | Luke 5:12-16 |
|---|---|---|
| 2And behold, a leper came and bowed down before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3So Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing0x3B be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. | 40Then a leper came up and knelt before him, begging him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched the man, and said to him, “I am willing0x3B be made clean.” 42When he said this, the leprosy immediately departed from the man, and he was made clean. | 12While Jesus was in one of the towns, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 13So Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing0x3B be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him. |
| 4Then Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” | 43Then Jesus sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45But the man went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places. Yet people were coming to him from everywhere. | 14Then Jesus ordered him to tell no one, but said, “Go show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 15But the news about Jesus spread even more, and large crowds would gather together to hear him and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16But he would often withdraw to desolate places and pray. |
Notes
Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee is a beautiful blue freshwater lake. Because it is shaped like a harp, it is called Yam Kinneret (Numbers 34:11) in Hebrew, from the word kinnor, which means “harp.” It was also known as the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1) after the large city, built by Herod Antipas, which is located on its shores. It was also called Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1)
The Sea of Galilee is fed by the Jordan River, which brings water from the melting snows of Mount Hermon to the north. Additional water comes from the numerous springs around the lake, many of which are hot springs. The hot water from these springs allows even tropical fish to thrive. The very high rate of evaporation from the lake raises the humidity to an average of 65% in the area over and around the lake; such an environment also enables tropical plants and fruit to grow.
The lake is now 12.5 miles long and 7 miles wide, with a circumference of 32 miles. It may have been slightly longer in Jesus’ time, since the lake may have receded somewhat in the north near Bethsaida. The surface of the lake is about 700 feet below sea level.