The Verdict of A Priest

Ok. Leviticus 13 is a mind bender. Here's a sample:

Leviticus 13:24–28 (ESV) “Or, when the body has a burn on its skin and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a spot, reddish-white or white, 25 the priest shall examine it, and if the hair in the spot has turned white and it appears deeper than the skin, then it is a leprous disease. It has broken out in the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease. 26 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and it is no deeper than the skin, but has faded, the priest shall shut him up seven days, 27 and the priest shall examine him the seventh day. If it is spreading in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease. 28 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread in the skin, but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar of the burn.

Now, if you don't feel blessed after reading that portion of the Bible, you're not alone. It's a hard read. In fact, this is one of the passages of the Bible we no longer practice. For one, leprosy is a disease that now can be cured. For two, we don't see priests when dealing with diseases, we see doctors and specialists. 

Why didn't God give them doctors???

But once again, God is speaking to an ancient people through their context about His plan of redemption. And the text teaches us this:

A priest examines us.

A priest judges us rightly.

A priest will speak to us. 

That's true for everyone - with or without leprosy. 

Twenty times Leviticus mentions a priest examining something. NINETEEN of them are here in Chapter 13 regarding skin diseases. The funny thing about skin disease is that the surface issue is just the beginning. Here's the deal. Jesus is our priest. He is the one who properly examines our hearts. He sees past the surface of our hearts and knows us fully. He knows the sin that is deeper than the skin.

How many times in the New Testament does Jesus "know their thoughts?"

Matthew 9:4 (ESV) But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?

Matthew 12:25 (ESV) Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.

Luke 11:17 (ESV) But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.

Secondly, Jesus is the righteous judge of the sin beneath our skin. How does Hebrews describe it? Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Notice the interesting language that talks about going deeper - cutting down into the underbelly of what is really going on in our lives. It "discerns" or "judges" what is beneath the skin. This is the work of the Word of God. Jesus is our judge. We do not stand or fall on the opinions of man, we stand before the God of all flesh and are fully exposed. The priest in the Old Testament had to wait to see what happened to the rash or spot. Jesus knows and judges already - and rightly. 

But thirdly, just when you think all hope is lost, we are introduced to our true priest in the book of Hebrews... and in His work and Word, we find our hope: Hebrews 4:14 (ESV) Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Notice the offer:

Hebrews 4:15–16 (ESV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The priest of the Old Covenant watched over the skin issues of the people. I assume that seeing all those sick people made him SYMPATHIZE with their plight. However, as sympathetic as he may have been, he was blind to the reality of what lay beneath the surface of men's skin. His basic job was to exclude the unclean. 

The priest of the New Covenant sympathizes with our weaknesses but has no sin. Instead, He bears our sins upon himself. He who has no sin becomes sin for us so that in Him we become the righteousness of God. Now we can all come - when we need grace (for sin) and mercy (for sin) which is always. 

Jesus is the priest who is the door who is always open to you.