Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 43

 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Mark 1:43 “And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;”

he straitly charged... Implies that Jesus was for some reason angry or irritated, as does the vivid sent him away, the same verb (as in verse 12). Perhaps Jesus was indignant at the outrage of mankind’s sickness and suffering, affronts to a loving God’s power to redeem His creation from all that is tainted by the imperfect and ultimately evil.

Strictly charged (ἐμβριμησάμενος)

Rev., sternly, in margin. The word is originally to snort, as of mettlesome horses. Hence, to fret, or chafe, or be otherwise strongly moved; and then, as a result of this feeling, to admonish or rebuke urgently. The Lord evidently spoke to him peremptorily. Compare sent him out ἐξέβαλεν; lit., drove or cast him out. The reason for this charge and dismissal lay in the desire of Jesus not to thwart his ministry by awaking the premature violence of his enemies, who, if they should see the leper and hear his story before he had been officially pronounced clean by the priest, might deny either that he had been a leper or had been truly cleansed.

Jesus sent the cleansed man away. Jesus told the man not to tell anyone of his healing, but the gratitude of the man being brought back as it were from the dead, was too great. He told everyone he saw.

But is it very remarkable that Christ, Who was born under the law, never betrayed any anxiety about cleanness. The law of impurity was in fact an expression of human frailty. Sin spreads corruption far more easily than virtue diffuses purity. The touch of goodness fails to reproduce goodness. And the prophet Haggai has laid stress upon this contrast, that bread or pottage or wine or oil or any meat will not become holy at the touch of one who bears holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, but if one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, it shall be unclean (Hag. 2:12-13). Our hearts know full well how true to nature is the ordinance.

But Christ brought among us a virtue more contagious than our vices are, being not only a living soul, but a life-imparting Spirit. And thus He lays His hand upon this leper, upon the bier at Nain, upon the corpse of the daughter of Jairus, and as fire is kindled at the touch of fire, so instead of pollution to Him, the pureness of healthful life is imparted to the defiling and defiled.

The forceful words sent him away (exebalen; cf. Mark 1:12), at once (euthys; cf. Mark 1:10), and a strong warning (cf. Mark 14:5) emphasize the need for prompt obedience to the instructions in Mark 1:44.

Book of Hosea Chapter 14 Vs. 7

 A Plea to Return to the Lord

They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Hos. 14:7

יָשַׁב

yâshab

yaw-shab'

A primitive root; properly to sit down (specifically as judge, in ambush, in quiet); by implication to dwell, to remain; causatively to settle, to marry: - (make to) abide (-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell (-ing), ease self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit (-ant), make to keep [house], lurking, X marry (-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set (-tle), (down-) sit (-down, still, -ting down, -ting [place] -uate), take, tarry.

under His shadow... God is the protector here. It is His shadow that protects. It is God who makes the earth produce from the grain of seed we plant. It is His rain and sunshine which brings growth. It is the blessing of God that makes it produce. The beautiful order of a productive plant is spoken of here.

צֵל

tsêl

tsale

From H6751; shade, whether literally or figuratively: - defence, shade (-ow).

the scent thereof… Their scent (literally remembrance) denotes worldwide fame and admiration.

זֶכֶ זֵכֶר

zêker zeker

zay'-ker, zeh'-ker

From H2142; a memento, abstractly recollection (rarely if ever); by implication commemoration: - memorial, memory, remembrance, scent.

This verse is better translated: Those who live in His shadow will again raise grain, and they will blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon (NASB). His shade or shadow refers to the Lord’s protection (cf. Hos. 14:8, where He is compared to a pine tree, also cf. Isa. 4:6). It is more likely that Israel is itself the tree beneath whose shade the members of the nation flourish with freshness and vigor, because of the influence of God. This seems more consistent with the imagery in Hos. 14:5-6, which compares Israel to trees. The picture of Israelites again growing grain points to the return of covenantal blessing during the Millennial period (cf. Deut. 28:4, 28:8, 28:11; 30:9; Hos. 2:21-23; Amos 9:13-15). Once again Israel will be like a fruitful vine (cf. Hos. 10:1) which produces the best wine.

The prophet now speaks: -

They shall return and dwell in His shadow.

They shall live well-watered as a garden,

Till they flourish like the vine,

And be fragrant like the wine of Lebanon.

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 42

 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Mark 1:42 “And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.”

immediately the leprosy... What could cleanse a man of such disease in a moment aside from God’s power? If God can and will do this for a stranger, will He not do this for a child?

This was not a gradual healing, but a sudden complete healing.

But the charm of this delightful incident is the manner in which our Lord grants the impassioned prayer. We might have expected a shudder, a natural recoil from the loathsome spectacle, and then a wonder-working word. But misery which He could relieve did not repel Jesus; it attracted Him. His impulse was to approach. He not only answered I will, -- and deep is the will to remove all anguish in the wonderful heart of Jesus, -- but He stretched forth an unshrinking hand, and touched that death in life. It is a parable of all His course, this laying of a clean hand on the sin of the world to cleanse it. At His touch, how was the morbid frame thrilled with delightful pulses of suddenly renovated health. And how was the despairing, joyless heart, incredulous of any real will to help him, soothed and healed by the pure delight of being loved.

This is the true lesson of the narrative. St. Mark treats the miraculous cure much more lightly than the tender compassion and the swift movement to relieve suffering. And he is right. The warm and generous nature revealed by this fine narrative is what, as we have seen, most impresses the doubter, and ought most to comfort the Church. For He is the same yesterday and today. And perhaps, if the divinity of love impressed men as much as that of power, there would be less denial of the true Godhead of our Lord.

Both this symbolic touch (cf. Mark 7:33; 8:22) and Jesus’ authoritative pronouncement - I am willing (pres. tense), be clean (aorist pass., decisive act received) - constituted the cure. It was immediate euthys; cf. Mark 1:10, complete, visible to all who saw him.

Book of Hosea Chapter 14 Vs. 6

 A Plea to Return to the Lord

His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. Hos. 14:6

His branches shall... As the well rooted cedars in Lebanon (see Num. 24:6). These branches respect the propagation of the church of God, and the interest of Christ in the world, as in the first times of the Gospel, and will be in the latter day, when the Gospel shall be spread everywhere. Churches set up in all places; the Jews converted, and the fullness of the Gentiles brought in; and these like spreading branches, and fruitful boughs, abounding in grace and good works.

יוֹנֶקֶת

yôneqeth

yo-neh'-keth

Feminine of H3126; a sprout: - (tender) branch, young twig.

הָלַךְ

hâlak

haw-lak'

Akin to H3212; a primitive root; to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively): - (all) along, apace, behave (self), come, (on) continually, be conversant, depart, + be eased, enter, exercise (self), + follow, forth, forward, get, go (about, abroad, along, away, forward, on, out, up and down), + greater, grow, be wont to haunt, lead, march, X more and more, move (self), needs, on, pass (away), be at the point, quite, run (along), + send, speedily, spread, still, surely, + tale-bearer, + travel (-ler), walk (abroad, on, to and fro, up and down, to places), wander, wax, [way-] faring man, X be weak, whirl.

and his beauty... Which lies in its being laden with excellent fruit and being always green; for which reasons particular believers, and the whole church of God, are sometimes compared to it. Having that fatness in them, with which God and men are honored. And that true grace, which is signified by oil in the vessels of the heart and is called the unction and anointing of the Holy One. And they are persevering in this grace to the end, which is evergreen and durable, immortal, and dies not (see Psm. 52:8). Here again it may be observed that the trees of Lebanon, though they had strong roots, and spreading branches, yet were not fruitful.

הוֹד

hôd

hode

From an unused root; grandeur (that is, an imposing form and appearance): - beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honour, majesty.

and his smell... The mountain famous for cedars, where also were the trees that afford the frankincense, which sweat out that excellent aromatic, and where many sweetest flowers grow and perfume the air.

רֵיחַ

rêyach

ray'-akh

From H7306; odor (as if blown): - savour, scent, smell.

God has completely turned away His anger from Israel and His blessings are upon him. The beauty of growth in the Lord is spoken of here.

Son. 2:13 "The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines [with] the tender grape give a [good] smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away."

Rom. 11:24 "For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?"

Israel in her prosperity is also compared to a cedar of Lebanon, whose deep roots, luxuriant growth, and aromatic smell (cf. Son. 4:11) were well known; and to an olive tree, widely recognized for its luxuriance (cf. Psm. 52:8; Jer. 11:16).

The figure in the end of Hos. 14:6 seems forced to some critics, who have proposed various emendations, such as like the fast-rooted trees of Lebanon, but anyone who has seen how the mountain himself rises from great roots, cast out across the land like those of some giant oak, will not feel it necessary to mitigate the metaphor.

A promise of restoration

This is a complete reversal of the imagery used in Hos. 13:15. Israel in her prosperity is also compared to a cedar of Lebanon, whose deep roots, luxuriant growth, and aromatic smell (cf. Son. 4:11) were well known; and to an olive tree, widely recognized for its luxuriance (cf. Psm. 52:8; Jer. 11:16).

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 41

 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Mark 1:41 “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth [his] hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.”

moved with compassion... An additional detail to Mat. 8:3. Characteristic of God and Christ and should be of believers. Compassion is that drawing and agitation of the innermost parts at the sight of any distressed or miserable object. It causes revolting action in the innermost being to bring deliverance from such unlawful and inhuman misery and suffering. Used nine times of Christ (Mat. 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 5:19; 6:34; 8:2; Luke 7:13). See Mat. 9:36. Only Mark records Jesus’ emotional reaction to the leper’s desperate plight. The Greek word appears only in the synoptic gospels and (apart from parables) is used only in reference to Jesus.

and touched him... First of eight cases Jesus touched in healing people (Mat. 8:3, 8:15; 9:29; 17:7; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 7:33; Luke 5:13; 7:14; 22:51). Many others touched Him and were healed (Mat. 9:21; 14:36; Mark 3:10; 5:28; 6:56; 8:22; Luke 6:19). See, Mat. 8:3. Unlike rabbis, who avoided lepers lest they become ceremonially defiled, Jesus expressed His compassion with a physical gesture.

Jesus is moved with compassion to help. Mark’s picture of Jesus is not of an unmoved problem-solver sweeping serenely and unemotionally from incident to incident (see Heb. 4:15).

I will; be... God never did say No to any child of His who came to Him in faith and who asked according to the promises, and He never will. Every case of unanswered prayer in Scripture was one which could not be granted for reasons always given. It was something which did not concern anything God had promised or could have done and be just. The love that Jesus has for each of us is so far beyond what we can even comprehend that it is easy to understand the love He showed to this man of such great faith. Just one touch of the Master’s hand, and he was clean of leprosy, the most dreaded, incurable disease of that day.

Moved by compassion splanchnistheis, having deep pity, Jesus… touched the untouchable and cured the incurable. His touch showed that Jesus was not bound by Rabbinic regulations regarding ritual defilement. Both this symbolic touch (cf. Mark 7:33; 8:22) and Jesus’ authoritative pronouncement - I am willing pres. tense, be clean aorist pass., decisive act received - constituted the cure.

Book of Hosea Chapter 14 Vs. 5

 A Plea to Return to the Lord

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. Hos. 14:5

I will be... The Lord, who have pardoned, and am appeased, will be as the dew, refresh and water, that they may grow, and that they may be fruitful and flourish, as the dew in those countries, where it was more abundant than with us, and for some months together supplied the want of rain. God will refresh and comfort, and make fruitful in good works, through his grace, for those who return to him.

הָיָה

hâyâh

haw-yaw'

A primitive root (compare H1933); to exist, that is, be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary): - beacon, X altogether, be (-come, accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), continue, do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, X use.

unto Israel... Those that are trusting people who are not hypocritical; but those who confess, pray, and repent.

יִשְׂרָאֵל

yiśrâ'êl

yis-raw-ale'

From H8280 and H410; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity: - Israel.

he shall grow... Which grows apace, is fragrant, beautiful, and delights in valleys, often grows among thorns; so the Israel of God among troubles in low state, yet comely, and fragrant to the Lord, and grows up in him speedily.

פָּרַח

pârach

paw-rakh'

A primitive root; to break forth as a bud, that is, bloom; generally to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the wings); figuratively to flourish: - X abroad, X abundantly, blossom, break forth (out), bud, flourish, make fly, grow, spread, spring (up).

roots as Lebanon... Put for the trees of Lebanon; as those trees spread forth their roots, grow up to strength, are most beautiful, odoriferous, and durable, cedars in Lebanon are these trees. So shall the true Israel, converted backsliders, be blessed of God. So flourishing and happy shall the church be under Christ.

שֶׁרֶשׁ

sheresh

sheh'-resh

From H8327; a root (literally or figuratively): - bottom, deep, heel, root.

לְבָנוֹן

l^ebânôn

leb-aw-nohn'

From H3825; (the) white mountain (from its snow); Lebanon, a mountain range in Israel: - Lebanon.

This speaks of total restoration.

Luke 12:27 "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

Dew, it will cause the nation to blossom like a lily which was renowned for its beauty (cf. Son. 2:2). This is a complete reversal of the imagery used in Hos. 13:15. Israel in her prosperity is also compared to a cedar of Lebanon.

No wonder then that our northern prophet painted the blessed future in the poetry of the mountain-its air, its dew, and its trees. Other seers were to behold, in the same latter days, the mountain of the Lord above the tops of the mountains; the ordered cite, her steadfast walls salvation, and her open gates praise; the wealth of the Gentiles flowing into her, profusion of flocks for sacrifice, profusion of pilgrims; the great Temple and its solemn services; and the glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, fir-tree and pine and box-tree together, to beautify the place of My Sanctuary. (Isa. 60:13) But, with his home in the north, and weary of sacrifice and ritual, weary of everything artificial, whether it were idols or puppet-kings, Hosea turns to the glory of Lebanon as it lies, untouched by human tool or art, fresh and full of peace from God’s own hand. Like that other seer of Galilee, Hosea in his vision of the future saw no temple therein. (Rev. 21:22) His sacraments are the open air, the mountain breeze, the dew, the vine, the lilies, the pines; and what God asks of men are not rites nor sacrifices, but life and health, fragrance and fruitfulness, beneath the shadow and the Dew of His Presence.

A promise of restoration

In the day of Israel’s repentance the Lord will turn from His anger and demonstrate His love by healing her (cf. Hos. 6:1). At that time the Lord’s blessing will return to Israel. Like… dew it will cause the nation to blossom like a lily which was renowned for its beauty (cf. Son. 2:2). This is a complete reversal of the imagery used in Hos. 13:15. Israel in her prosperity is also compared to a cedar of Lebanon, whose deep roots, luxuriant growth, and aromatic smell (cf. Son. 4:11) were well known; and to an olive tree, widely recognized for its luxuriance (cf. Psm. 52:8; Jer. 11:16).

Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Vs. 40

 Jesus Cleanses a Leper

Mark 1:40 “And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”

Leper: Lepers were considered ceremonially unclean and were outcasts from society (Lev. 13:11). While the Old Testament term for leprosy included other skin diseases, this man may have actually had true leprosy (Hanson’s Disease), or else his cure would not have created such a sensation (verse 45).

The leper assumes a respectful, if plaintive, posture. His beseeching is not based on Jesus’ ability but on His willingness.

Leprosy was a dreaded disease. These people were not even allowed to be near the rest of the community. This man was taking his life in his own hands to get to Jesus. The thing that would help him with Jesus was his great faith and humility.

He did not doubt that Jesus could heal him. He said to Jesus, If you will, you can heal me. Sometimes sin is spoken of as spiritual leprosy. Jesus is the healer of physical or spiritual leprosy.

If thou wilt... Few if any doubt the ability of God, but many doubt the willingness and love of God to do all things for His children today. The reason Christ healed this man, and all others was because it was the will of God. He did nothing that was not the will of God (see, John 8:28).

The disease of leprosy was peculiarly fearful to a Jew. In its stealthy beginning, its irresistible advance, the utter ruin which it wrought from the blood outward until the flesh was corroded and fell away, it was a fit type of sin, at first so trivial in its indications, but gradually usurping all the nature and corrupting it. And the terrible fact, that the children of its victims were also doomed, reminded the Israelite of the transmission of the taint of Adam.

The story of Naaman and that of Gehazi make it almost certain that the leprosy of Scripture was not contagious, for they were intimate with kings. But, apparently to complete the type, the law gave to it the artificial contagion of ceremonial uncleanness and banished the unhappy sufferer from the dwellings of men. Thus, he came to be regarded as under an especial ban, and the prophecy which announced that the illustrious Man of Sorrows would be esteemed "stricken of God," was taken to mean that He should be a leper. This banishment of the leper was indeed a remarkable exception to the humanity of the ancient law, but when his distress began to be extreme, and "the plague was turned into white," he was released from his uncleanness (Lev. 13:17). And this may teach us that sin is to be dreaded most while it is yet insidious; when developed it gives a sufficient warning against itself. And now such a sufferer appeals to Jesus. The incident is one of the most pathetic in the Gospel; and its graphic details, and the shining character which it reveals, make it very perplexing to moderate and thoughtful skeptics.

The Cleansing of a Leper

On Jesus’ Galilean tour, a man with leprosy came to Him a bold move for a leper. Leprosy included a variety of serious skin diseases ranging from ringworm to true leprosy Hanson’s bacillus, a progressively disfiguring disease. This man experienced a pitiful existence due not only to the physical ravages of the disease but also to ritual uncleanness (cf. Lev. 13-14) and exclusion from society. Leprosy brought anguish at all levels: physical, mental, social, and religious. It serves as an illustration of sin.

The Rabbis regarded leprosy as humanly incurable. Only twice does the Old Testament record that God cleansed a leper (Num. 12:10-15; 2Kgs. 5:1-14). Yet this leper was convinced that Jesus could cleanse him. Without presumption If You are willing and without doubting Jesus’ ability You can make me clean, he humbly begged Jesus to heal him.

Book of Hosea Chapter 14 Vs. 4

A Plea to Return to the Lord

 

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. Hos. 14:4

I will heal... Apostasy, Backsliding is listening to the lust of our own flesh. We are in a battle of the flesh against the spirit. To walk before God in a pleasing way and be satisfied with our own walk, we must put the flesh under the rule of the spirit.

רָפָה רָפָא

râphâ' râphâh

raw-faw', raw-faw'

A primitive root; properly to mend (by stitching), that is, (figuratively) to cure: - cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, X thoroughly, make whole.

The term backslider in heart was a term so often used by the prophets and is here used in such a way as to clarify who is a backslider. He belongs in the category of the fool, the wicked, and the disobedient and he is contrasted with the godly wise. It is a word that the prophets used of apostate unbelievers. (Proverbs 14:14).

מְשֻׁבָה מְשׁוּבָה

m^eshûbâh meshûbâh

mesh-oo-baw', mesh-oo-baw'

From H7725; apostasy: - backsliding, turning away.

I will love... This speaks of God, who has accepted their repentance, and set them in right standing with Himself. It is God's mercy and grace that saves them. God will cause them to love Him. They will no longer be tempted to backslide. They will rest in God, this again during the Millennial period.

Eph. 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:" "Not of works, lest any man should boast."

2Cor. 5:21 "For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

אָהֵב אָהַב

'âhab 'âhêb

aw-hab', aw-habe'

A primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise): - (be-) love (-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.

אַף

'aph

af

From H599; properly the nose or nostril; hence the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire: - anger (-gry), + before, countenance, face, + forbearing, forehead, + [long-] suffering, nose, nostril, snout, X worthy, wrath.

שׁוּב

shûb

shoob

A primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbially again: - ([break, build, circumcise, dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge, make, rejoice, send, take, weep]) X again, (cause to) answer (+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring (again, back, home again), call [to mind], carry again (back), cease, X certainly, come again (back) X consider, + continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back, fetch home again, X fro, get [oneself] (back) again, X give (again), go again (back, home), [go] out, hinder, let, [see] more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put (again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh, relieve, render (again), X repent, requite, rescue, restore, retrieve, (cause to, make to) return, reverse, reward, + say nay, send back, set again, slide back, still, X surely, take back (off), (cause to, make to) turn (again, self again, away, back, back again, backward, from, off), withdraw.

A promise of restoration

In the day of Israel’s repentance the Lord will turn from His anger and demonstrate His love by healing her (cf. Hos. 6:1). At that time the Lord’s blessing will return to Israel during the tribulation of days.