Scripture
And the priest shall look, and if the leprous disease has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean.
— Leviticus 13:13 (ESV)
Devotional
Strange enough this regulation appears, yet there was wisdom in it, for the throwing out of the disease proved that the constitution was sound. This morning it may be well for us to see the typical teaching of so singular a rule. We, too, are lepers, and may read the law of the leper as applicable to ourselves. When a man sees himself to be altogether lost and ruined, covered all over with the defilement of sin, and no part free from pollution; when he disclaims all righteousness of his own, and pleads guilty before the Lord, then is he clean through the blood of Jesus, and the grace of God. Hidden, unfelt, unconfessed iniquity is the true leprosy, but when sin is seen and felt it has received its death blow, and the Lord looks with eyes of mercy upon the soul afflicted with it. Nothing is more deadly than self-righteousness, or more hopeful than contrition. We must confess that we are “nothing else but sin,” for no confession short of this will be the whole truth, and if the Holy Spirit be at work with us, convincing us of sin, there will be no difficulty about making such an acknowledgment–it will spring spontaneously from our lips. What comfort does the text afford to those under a deep sense of sin! Sin mourned and confessed, however black and foul, shall never shut a man out from the Lord Jesus. Whosoever cometh unto him, he will in no wise cast out. Though dishonest as the thief, though unchaste as the woman who was a sinner, though fierce as Saul of Tarsus, though cruel as Manasseh, though rebellious as the prodigal, the great heart of love will look upon the man who feels himself to have no soundness in him, and will pronounce him clean, when he trusts in Jesus crucified. Come to him, then, poor heavy-laden sinner, Come needy, come guilty, come loathsome and bare; You can’t come too filthy–come just as you are.
Reflection
Strange mercy: when the disease is seen covering everything, the verdict can be clean. Hidden, unfelt, unconfessed sin is the true leprosy. Self-righteousness is deadlier than open ruin. But when a man knows he is nothing else but sin—when he disclaims his own righteousness and pleads guilty—then the blood of Jesus and the grace of God pronounce him clean. Contrition is hopeful. Covered-over pride is not. Come filthy, come just as you are. The great heart of love will not cast out the one who trusts Jesus crucified.
Goad
Are you still negotiating a cleaner patch of yourself this morning, or will you confess the whole covering of sin and trust the Priest who declares clean?
Tie-In
Morning is pronounced clean when sin is fully owned. Evening finds the Beloved and will not let Him go. Confession unto cleansing; then clinging love that refuses rivals.
Closing
Spurgeon’s classic text with a brief reflection to help today’s reader.
If these words have stirred something, sit with it.
NewGrapes Ministries. Making disciples, not pew-fillers. Soli Deo Gloria.