Jesus Cleanses a Leper

40 And there comes to him a leper, beseeching him, and falling on his knees to him, and saying to him, If thou wilt thou canst cleanse me. 41 But Jesus, moved with compassion, having stretched out his hand, touched him, and says to him, I will, be thou cleansed. 42 And as he spoke straightway the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And having sharply charged him, he straightway sent him away, 44 and says to him, See thou say nothing to any one, but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing what Moses ordained, for a testimony to them. 45 But he, having gone forth, began to proclaim [it] much, and to spread the matter abroad, so that he could no longer enter openly into the city, but was without in desert places, and they came to him from every side.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 1:40-45

Commentary on Mark 1:40-45

(Read Mark 1:40-45)

We have here Christ's cleansing of a leper. It teaches us to apply to the Saviour with great humility, and with full submission to his will, saying, "Lord, if thou wilt," without any doubt of Christ's readiness to help the distressed. See also what to expect from Christ; that according to our faith it shall be to us. The poor leper said, If thou wilt. Christ readily wills favours to those who readily refer themselves to his will. Christ would have nothing done that looked like seeking praise of the people. But no reasons now exist why we should hesitate to spread the praises of Christ.