12 And it came about that while he was in one of the towns, there was a leper there: and when he saw Jesus he went down on his face in prayer to him, saying, Lord, if it is your pleasure, you have power to make me clean. 13 And he put out his hand to him and said, It is my pleasure; be clean. And straight away his disease went from him. 14 And he gave him orders: Say nothing to any man, but let the priest see you and give an offering so that you may be made clean, as the law of Moses says, and for a witness to them. 15 But news of him went out all the more, in every direction, and great numbers of people came together to give hearing to his words and to be made well from their diseases. 16 But he went away by himself to a waste place for prayer.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 5:12-16
Commentary on Luke 5:12-16
(Read Luke 5:12-16)
This man is said to be full of leprosy; he had that distemper in a high degree, which represents our natural pollution by sin; we are full of that leprosy; from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot there is no soundness in us. Strong confidence and deep humility are united in the words of this leper. And if any sinner, from a deep sense of vileness, says, I know the Lord can cleanse, but will he look upon such a one as me? will he apply his own precious blood for my cleansing and healing? Yes, he will. Speak not as doubting, but as humbly referring the matter to Christ. And being saved from the guilt and power of our sins, let us spread abroad Christ's fame, and bring others to hear him and to be healed.