THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
Cyril. Indeed, Palladius. The divine David also expresses, ‘The sin of my youth, and my ignorance, remember me not: in thy mercy remember me, for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord’ (Ps. 24:7). As the law addresses every aspect of life, it serves as a testament to its own precision, applicable to various materials like vessels, wool, and leather. It states, ‘If there be leprosy’ and a blemish appears on any of these items, then “the priest” shall “see” and remove the “ulcer”: and if the stain does not improve, “let it be burnt upon the fires: for leprosy of histories is” (Lev. 13:51-52).
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Furthermore, it instructs that anything damaged should be cleansed; however, if the damage persists, it must be consigned to the fire, rendered utterly worthless, perhaps drawing a comparison to wool, duck, and skins, which reflect our condition. We must recognize it as a severe transgression when, despite the cleansing and purification that Christ has provided, we remain in our impurities. If Christ, who washed us, finds no benefit from that purification in us, He would have to cast us into the fire as punishment, similar to how the priest, discerning no benefit to the duck or the fabric post-wash, ultimately destroys them. Palladius. This is indeed true. Cyril. Thus, the law uses leprosy as a profound metaphor for mortality, cleverly utilizing observable physical examples to shed light on deeper spiritual truths, enhancing understanding through tangible illustrations.