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Matthew 8:1-4
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1When Jesus came down from
the mountainside, large crowds followed him.
2A man with leprosy came and
knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3Jesus reached out his hand
and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was
cleansed of his leprosy.
4Then Jesus said to him, “See
that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the
gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
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1)
What did the
leper kneeling before Jesus indicate?
o
It indicated
§
Humility.
§
And earnestness.
2)
According to
verses 2 and 3 did the leper break the socio-religious rules the way he
approached Jesus and why?
o
Yes, because he
came within close proximity of Jesus.
o
Such that
o
Jesus could touch
him.
3)
According to
verse 2 what made the leper consider himself to be unclean, given that he
equated the healing of his leprosy to making him clean?
o
He considered himself
to be unclean because of his leprosy.
4)
Was the leper’s
need for healing more psychological than physical and why?
o
Yes, because feeling
unclean is
§
Not a physical condition.
§
But a
psychological one.
5)
According to
verse 2 did the leper think that Jesus was able to heal him of his leprosy and
why?
o
Yes, because to
the leper it was a matter of whether Jesus was willing to heal him or not.
6)
According to
verse 2 did the leper’s faith in Jesus’ ability to heal him translate into his
confidence of Jesus’ willingness to heal and why?
o
No, because he
was expressing uncertainty about Jesus’ willingness to heal him in saying to
Jesus, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
7)
Why did the leper
come within close proximity of Jesus so that it would be possible for Jesus to
touch him, given that social acceptance is important for a leper?
o
The leper was
longing for social acceptance from Jesus.
8)
According to
verse 3 did Jesus break the socio-religious rules in the way he acted toward
the leper and why?
o
Yes, because he
touched the leper.
9)
According to
verse 3 did Jesus really need to touch the leper in order to heal him of his
leprosy and why?
o
No, Jesus could
have just said the words.
o
And the leper
would still have been healed.
o
Because
o
The leprosy
immediately left the man upon Jesus uttering those words.
10)
Why then did
Jesus touch the leper?
o
Jesus touched the
leper to show his social acceptance of him.
11)
Would the leper
have been healed emotionally if he had stayed at a distance and why?
o
No, because then
Jesus could not have
§
Touched the leper.
§
And accepted him
socially.
12)
What status
change would the former leper enjoy after showing
himself to the priest and offering the
gift Moses commanded?
o
He would be
§
Certified to be
free from leprosy.
§
And allowed to
live in the community again.
13)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 4 why did he tell the former leper not to tell anyone?
o
Jesus did not
want to draw attention to himself.
14)
Did the leper get
to know Jesus better and in what way?
o
Yes, the leper
realized that Jesus
§
Was not only
willing to heal him physically.
§
But also accept
him socially.
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Matthew 8:1-4
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