Luke's precise description, "full of leprosy," highlights the severity of the man's condition, suggesting it was advanced and deeply ingrained, emphasizing the depth of his desperation and the extraordinary nature of Jesus's compassion. This wording also underscores the spiritual contagion of sin, which Jesus alone can cleanse.
While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is in a town, and a man suffering from a severe, contagious skin disease—leprosy—approaches him. This man, ostracized by society and desperate for healing, falls before Jesus, expressing both the perceived power of Jesus to heal him and a humble submission to His will. The Gospels show that Jesus will soon touch this man, an act forbidden by the Law because it would make Jesus ceremonially unclean.
Imagine a life of isolation, shame, and a slow decay. This was the reality for a leper in Jesus' day.
Leprosy wasn't just a skin disease; it was a complete societal and physical death sentence. Those afflicted were forced to live apart, their clothes torn, their heads uncovered, and their mouths covered as they cried out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' (Leviticus 13:45). This condition represented the deepest corruption and hopelessness, making a full recovery almost unimaginable in that era.
The description of this man as 'full of leprosy' emphasizes the severity and advanced stage of his illness. It suggests his entire body was affected, a living testament to the devastating power of the disease. His condition mirrored the spiritual state of sin—a pervasive corruption that separated people from God and community.
This leper didn't demand healing; he offered Jesus a choice. What does this 'if you will' reveal about his faith?
When this leper encountered Jesus, he didn't approach with arrogance or entitlement. Instead, he fell on his face, a posture of profound humility and worship. His plea, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean,' is incredibly powerful.
It demonstrates an extraordinary faith because it trusts in Jesus' ability ('you can') while acknowledging Jesus' sovereignty ('if you will'). This wasn't a guaranteed request; it was a desperate hope laid bare before the only One who might possibly help. He understood that Jesus possessed the power, but he also respected Jesus' divine will. This kind of faith doesn't demand, but rather surrenders, trusting that even if the answer isn't what is hoped for, the Healer is still God.
Ask a follow-up
Why did the Gospels use the word 'cleanse' instead of 'heal' when describing Jesus' interaction with the leper?
The choice of the word 'cleanse' (Greek: 'katharizo') is significant. Leprosy wasn't merely a physical ailment to be 'healed'; it was a state of ritual impurity that separated a person from God and the community according to the Law of Moses.
When Jesus 'cleansed' the leper, He wasn't just restoring health; He was restoring wholeness—physical, spiritual, and communal. He dealt with the root issue of uncleanness, demonstrating His authority over the very things that rendered people outcast. This act preempts Jesus' ultimate mission: to cleanse humanity from the spiritual leprosy of sin, making us truly clean and restoring our relationship with God.
Understand the original words
lepra · Greek Noun
A skin disease, or group of diseases, that in the Bible was often considered a state of ritual impurity. It resulted in social and religious isolation, requiring the person to be separated from the community and the temple.
kyrios · Greek Noun
A term of address conveying respect and authority, applied to masters, rulers, or divine beings. In the Gospels, it frequently acknowledges Jesus as having divine authority or being the Messiah.
katharizō · Greek Verb
A state of ritual purity required for approach to God and participation in the community. Cleansing involves the removal of defilement or sin through divine action or prescribed rituals.
Leprosy in ancient Israel was a dreaded, isolating disease governed by strict Mosaic laws. This man's encounter with Jesus highlights the profound social and ritual separation caused by the disease, making Jesus' compassionate healing a radical act of restoration and a powerful sign of the new covenant.
c. 1446 BC
Mosaic Law Given
God establishes detailed laws for Israel, including comprehensive regulations concerning diseases like leprosy, which rendered individuals ritually unclean and socially isolated.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah Prophesies Messiah's Suffering
Isaiah foretells a suffering servant who would bear the people's iniquities and diseases, foreshadowing the redemptive work of the Messiah.
c. AD 28
Jesus Begins Public Ministry
Jesus commences His itinerant ministry throughout Galilee, teaching, preaching, and performing miracles of healing.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus Heals a Leper
While ministering in a Galilean city, Jesus encounters a man with an advanced case of leprosy. The man, showing deep humility and faith, asks Jesus to make him clean.
c. AD 28
Jesus Heals Ten Lepers
Later in His ministry, Jesus encounters ten lepers who cry out to Him from a distance, and He miraculously heals them all, though only one returns to give thanks.
This Old Testament passage describes how lepers were to be identified and isolated, highlighting the severe social and ritual uncleanness associated with the disease that Jesus powerfully overcomes here.
2 Kings 5:1-14Naaman, a Syrian commander, also suffered from leprosy and sought cleansing from the prophet Elisha, showing a parallel in seeking miraculous healing from a divine messenger.
Matthew 8:2-4This passage recounts the same event from Matthew's perspective, emphasizing Jesus' willingness and power to cleanse the leper and directly linking the healing to a prophecy about Jesus bearing our infirmities.
Romans 5:8This verse speaks of God's love demonstrated by Christ's death for us while we were still sinners, reflecting the profound grace shown to the leper who was considered unclean and an outcast.
1 John 1:7This verse states that if we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin, paralleling the physical cleansing of the leper with the spiritual cleansing Jesus offers to all who come to Him.
cambridgeLuke 5:12: "And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."
12–16. The Healing of a Leper 12 . a certain city ] Probably the village of Hattîn, for we learn from St Matthew’s definite notice that this incident took place on descending from the Mount of Beatitudes ( Kurn Hattîn ), see Matthew 8:1-4 ; Mark 1:40-45 . Hence chronologically the call of Matthew…
vincentLuke 5:12: "And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean."
Full of leprosyMatthew and Mark have simply a leper. The expression, full of leprosy, seems to be used here with professional accuracy. Leprosy was known among physicians under three forms: the dull white, the clear white, and the black. Luke means to describe an aggravated case. The word full in…
Luke's precise description, "full of leprosy," highlights the severity of the man's condition, suggesting it was advanced and deeply ingrained, emphasizing the depth of his desperation and the extraordinary nature of Jesus's compassion. This wording also underscores the spiritual contagion of sin, which Jesus alone can cleanse.
Jesus is in a town, and a man suffering from a severe, contagious skin disease—leprosy—approaches him. This man, ostracized by society and desperate for healing, falls before Jesus, expressing both the perceived power of Jesus to heal him and a humble submission to His will. The Gospels show that Jesus will soon touch this man, an act forbidden by the Law because it would make Jesus ceremonially unclean.
Jesus is in a town, and a man suffering from a severe, contagious skin disease—leprosy—approaches him. This man, ostracized by society and desperate for healing, falls before Jesus, expressing both the perceived power of Jesus to heal him and a humble submission to His will. The Gospels show that Jesus will soon touch this man, an act forbidden by the Law because it would make Jesus ceremonially unclean.
"While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will;…" — Luke's precise description, "full of leprosy," highlights the severity of the man's condition, suggesting it was advanced and deeply ingrained, emphasizing the depth of his desperation and the extrao…
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Last reviewed October 2026
