Luke 5:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Lord reaches out to him with intention. Although touching a leper rendered one ceremonially unclean according to the Law, His touch serves a dual purpose: to demonstrate that He is not bound by such trivial regulations, as He is the Sovereign over the Law itself. Additionally, it reveals that those who are pure are not contaminated by what appears unclean; rather, it is the leprosy of the heart that truly defiles. He touches him to illustrate that His sacred Flesh possesses the Divine authority to purify and give life, embodying the true Flesh of God the Word.

What is Christ’s response? He affirms His faith and provides complete assurance of it. He accepts the request, acknowledges His capability, and states, ‘I will do it: that thou mayest be cleansed.’ He extends the touch of His holy and omnipotent hand, and instantly the leprosy left him, bringing an end to his suffering. In this, we marvel alongside Moses at how Christ simultaneously reveals both divine and physical power. It was a Divine act to grant that everything He desired could be accomplished; however, to extend His hand reflects a human action. Thus, Christ is recognized as both divine and human, since the Word became flesh.

The Lord spoke sacred and instructive words to him: I desire to be cleansed. Instantly, the leprosy departed from him. There is no pause between God's action and His command, for the command is the manifestation of the action. He spoke, and it was done (Psalm 32:9). It is clear that God's will is synonymous with His authority. If God's will represents His authority, then those who acknowledge the unity of will within the Divine Trinity also affirm the unity of authority. The healing was immediate, and through the effectiveness of the restoration, the benevolence of the Healer is made evident.

This passage is understood in that context as well.

Just as all forms of moral affliction vanish instantly when an individual approaches the Lord with faith, repentance, and confession, they truly disappear and lose all influence over the person. Why do these afflictions sometimes resurface? The answer mirrors that of physical ailments. Individuals who have been healed are often advised against certain actions—“Don’t eat that, don’t drink that, don’t go there.” If they disregard this guidance, they may find themselves once again troubled by their condition. The same principle applies to spiritual life. It is essential to remain vigilant, watchful, and to pray; sin is the ailment that must not return.

As Christ traveled through one of the towns, as recorded in Luke, He was in a house, as noted in Mark. During this time, a man afflicted with leprosy approached Him, a condition deemed untreatable by human means. Due to the infectious nature of leprosy, individuals suffering from it were ostracized from society and resided outside the city limits. They were only allowed to rejoin the community after a thorough examination by the priests, should they be found free of the disease, as outlined in Leviticus 13. When this sick individual came before Christ, he humbly recognized his unworthiness and earnestly sought healing. The Lord responded by restoring him to health.

To his faith, the infinitely merciful response came, "I will, be healed." Every miracle performed by Christ also served as a revelation. In some situations, He did not respond instantly to the cries of the afflicted. However, there was never a moment of delay when a leper called out to Him. Leprosy symbolized sin, and Christ aimed to illustrate that a sincere plea for purification from a sinner is always soon met with a response. When David, the quintessential model of true penitents, lamented with genuine sorrow, "I have sinned against the Lord," the prophet Nathan swiftly conveyed the gracious message from God: "The Lord has taken away your sin; you shall not die" (2 Sam. 12:13). The Savior reached out His hand and touched the leper, and he was instantly restored.

Luke recounts the healing of the leper in complete alignment with the narratives found in Matthew and Mark (see Matthew 8:2-4). Both Matthew and Mark (see Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40 ff.) do not identify the exact location; however, it is confirmed that this event occurred in Galilee, where the Lord was present during that period.