Regulations About Skin Diseases
April 4, 2021
Commentary
The Lord told Moses and Aaron to say to the people (v. 1): If a skin rash should break out and start spreading you must be brought to Aaron or to one of the other priests (v. 2). If the priest discovers that the hair in the infected area has turned white, he will say, “This is leprosy: you are unclean (v. 3).” But if the hair in it hasn’t turned white, the priest will order you to stay away from everyone for seven days (v. 4). If the diseasehasn’t spread by that time, he will order you to stay away from everyone else for another seven days (v. 5). Then if the disease hasn’t gotten any worse or spread, the priest will say, “You are clean (v. 6).”
However, if the disease comes back, you must return to the priest (v 7). If it is discovered that the disease has started spreading, he will say, “This is leprosy: you are unclean (v. 8).” Any of you with a skin disease must be brought to a priest (v. 9). If he discovers that the sore spot is white with pus and that the hair around it has also turned white (v. 10), he will say, “This is leprosy. You are unclean and must stay away from everyone else (v. 11).” But if only the scars remain, he will say, “You are clean (vv. 12-13).” If the sores come back and turn white with pus, he will say, “This is leprosy: you are unclean (vv. 14-15).” However, if only white spots remain, the priest will say, “You are now clean (vv. 16-17).” If you have a sore that either swells or turns reddish-white after it has healed, then you must show it to a priest (vv. 18-19). If he discovers that the hair in the infected area has turned white he will say, “This is leprosy: you are unclean (v. 20).” but if the white area is only on the surface of the skin and hasn’t gotten any worse (v. 21), and if the hair in it hasn’t turned white, he will have you stay away from everyone else for seven days. If the sore begins spreading during this time, the priest will say, “You are unclean because you have a disease (v. 22).” But if it doesn’t spread, and only a scar remains, he will say, “You are now clean (v. 23).”
Application
The only way the Lord can use me is if I live a clean and pure life. Praise the Lord for I John 1:9.
Leviticus 13:1– 23 (NET)
1 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron: 2 “When someone has a swelling or a scab or a bright spot on the skin of his body that may become a diseased infection, he must be brought to Aaron the priest or one of his sons, the priests. 3 The priest must then examine the infection on the skin of the body, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the infection appears to be deeper than the skin of the body, then it is a diseased infection, so when the priest examines it he must pronounce the person unclean.
4 “If it is a white bright spot on the skin of his body, but it does not appear to be deeper than the skin, and the hair has not turned white, then the priest is to quarantine the person with the infection for seven days. 5 The priest must then examine it on the seventh day, and if, as far as he can see, the infection has stayed the same and has not spread on the skin, then the priest is to quarantine the person for another seven days. 6 The priest must then examine it again on the seventh day, and if the infection has faded and has not spread on the skin, then the priest is to pronounce the person clean. It is a scab, so he must wash his clothes and be clean. 7 If, however, the scab is spreading further on the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his purification, then he must show himself to the priest a second time. 8 The priest must then examine it, and if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest is to pronounce the person unclean. It is a disease.
9 “When someone has a diseased infection, he must be brought to the priest. 10 The priest will then examine it, and if a white swelling is on the skin, it has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic disease on the skin of his body, so the priest is to pronounce him unclean. The priest must not merely quarantine him, for he is unclean. 12 If, however, the disease breaks out on the skin so that the disease covers all the skin of the person with the infection from his head to his feet, as far as the priest can see, 13 the priest must then examine it, and if the disease covers his whole body, he is to pronounce the person with the infection clean. He has turned all white, so he is clean. 14 But whenever raw flesh appears in it he will be unclean, 15 so the priest is to examine the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean —it is diseased. 16 If, however, the raw flesh once again turns white, then he must come to the priest. 17 The priest will then examine it, and if the infection has turned white, the priest is to pronounce the person with the infection clean —he is clean.
18 “When someone’s body has a boil on its skin and it heals, 19 and in the place of the boil there is a white swelling or a reddish white bright spot, he must show himself to the priest. 20 The priest will then examine it, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest is to pronounce the person unclean. It is a diseased infection that has broken out in the boil. 21 If, however, the priest examines it, and there is no white hair in it, it is not deeper than the skin, and it has faded, then the priest is to quarantine him for seven days. 22 If it is spreading farther on the skin, then the priest is to pronounce him unclean. It is an infection. 23 But if the bright spot stays in its place and has not spread, it is the scar of the boil, so the priest is to pronounce him clean.
Illustration: Are You a Leader
S. I. McMillen, in his book “None of These Diseases,” tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, “Are you a leader?” Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, “No,” and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: “Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower.” (Darren Ethier -Sermon Central)