05-24-2026 Be Clean
Text: Matthew 7:29 - 8:4
This morning, we are going look at the compassion that Jesus had for someone that was an outcast of society. Our text is found in Matthew 7:28 to 8:4 that says: “ (28) And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching (29) for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (1) When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. (2) And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” (3) Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed. Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (4) And Jesus said to him, See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
After the listening to Sermon on the Mount the people were astonished by what Jesus taught and were impressed by the authority He displayed in revealing the truth. Teachers of the law and religious scholars often cite traditions and quote authorities to support their arguments and interpretations. But Jesus spoke with a new authority that was all His own. He did not need to quote anyone because He is the original Word as John tells us in 1:1. When He had come down from the mountain after the sermon, huge crowds followed Him and very soon, they would see that His powerful words would be demonstrated by His deeds.
This crowd of people would never have tolerated a leper among them. Even though the sermon they just heard put them in a spiritual frame of mind they did not change their feelings regarding lepers. Leprosy was a terrifying disease because there was no known cure. In Jesus’ day the Greek word for leprosy was used for a variety of similar diseases, and some forms were contagious. For those who contracted the contagious type, a priest would declare them unclean and banish them from their homes and cites. They were sent to live in a community with others who had the disease until they either got better or died. Yet when this man who had leprosy begged Jesus to heal him, Jesus reached out and touched him, even though his skin was covered with the dreaded disease.
Sin is also an incurable disease – and we all have it. Only Jesus’ healing touch can miraculously take away our sin and restore us to real living. But first, like a person with leprosy, we must realize our inability to cure ourselves and ask for Jesus’ saving help.
In the Bible, lepers picture what sin has done to all of us. Romans 3:10-23 show us that we are all unclean. Our sins have earned us death as we are told in Romans 6:23. But the teachings of Jesus along with all great sermons are to prepare us to care and serve everyone. Yet many who follow Christ, from the time that He walked this earth up to today, have no compassion for those who are considered unclean. Too many want the Lord to save only respectable people. But as we are told in Luke 19:10, Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost. Until we have been saved by Jesus, we are all unclean just as the leper in our text today was unclean.
This leper came and worshiped Jesus. He called Him “Lord” just as the thief on the cross did that is recorded in Luke 23:42. And he believed Jesus could do anything. Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, I am willing; be cleansed.
Compassion is to feel what another feels. Jesus identifies with the pain of this dying man, and He also identifies with the pain each one of us feels in our lives. He will never hesitate to touch the untouchable. Sadly, many Christians today hesitate to reach out to those considered untouchable. But like Jesus, we should make every effort to reach out to them. We can be that one person that can cause someone to change their lives for the better by showing them compassion.
Jesus was willing to hear this man’s cry for help and heal him. He then instructed the man to tell no one what happened and instead go to the priest. He did this because the law required a person healed of leprosy to be examined by the priest. Jesus wanted this man to give his story firsthand to the priest to prove that his leprosy was completely gone so that he could be restored to his community.
Imagine the happiness that the man felt when he was cured of the disease that separated him from all that he had held dear. This is the same joy that we experience when we accept Jesus into our hearts as Lord and Savior. In that moment we are washed clean of the stain of sin that we carried until the point that we accepted Him. Whatever was in our past has been wiped away. We do not have to relive what we have done in the past and can now move forward living a life dedicated to Jesus and doing our best to live as He did.
Will we always get it right? Absolutely not. Those times when we do slip and fall can also be forgiven, and we can continue living for Jesus. But remember, this does not mean that we can continue life as before and continue to sin without concern. We are not perfect so we will miss the make at times. But when we do ask for forgiveness, we should do our best to not repeat the same or new sins. Remember, we are to do our best to live like Jesus. He is the example of all we should be and do.
Because we have been forgiven, we should take every opportunity we are presented with to help another person to start a new life in Christ. It is said that we might be the only “Jesus” a person may ever see. Do not let any opportunity pass you by to help another experience the love, forgiveness, joy, and peace that can only be found when your heart is centered on Jesus.
Is it going to be easy to do this? No. You may lose friends, be ridiculed by some. But in the end, it will be worth it because you will be rewarded when the time comes to meet Jesus face to face and have Him tell you, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.”
Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.