LEVITICUS 32


     We will continue on with the leper from the last lesson. We had
decided that this is not only speaking of a physical disease but
spiritual, as well.

     We will begin now in Leviticus 13:20 "And if, when the priest
seeth it, behold, it [be] in sight lower than the skin, and the hair
thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it
[is] a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil."

     We have been discussing the similarity between leprosy, as a
disease, and sin. Sin is spoken of as corruption. This is always a
repulsive thing. The examining of this by the high priest is like the
leader of the church examining the actions of someone who has erred.
Was the thing they did in ignorance, was it a sin done with no intent
of harm, or was it a sin from within? If this sin was a sin formed in
the inside of man, then we see the worst kind of sin. This type sin,
would separate the person from the flock. The leader of the church
must decide which type of transgression this is. Is the sin to be
forgiven and just go on, should there be some kind of restitution to
the offended, or should the sinner be cut off from the flock?

     Leviticus 13:21 "But if the priest look on it, and, behold,
[there be] no white hairs therein, and [if] it [be] not lower than the
skin, but [be] somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven
days:"

     To look at this spiritually, this would be like the head of the
church, telling the sinner to make restitution to the person wronged
and come back to the church. The head of the church would then decide
whether this person is truly repentant, and whether he would recommend
him being brought back in as a member of the church.

     Leviticus 13:22 "And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then
the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] a plague."

     Leprosy is probably the most dreaded disease. In some cases,
great portions of flesh fall off. This is the description of rampant
sin, as well. Especially when it sweeps through a church. The head of
the church has to remove a habitual sinner from the membership to keep
the sin from overwhelming the other members.

     Leviticus 13:23 "But if the bright spot stay in his place, [and]
spread not, it [is] a burning boil; and the priest shall pronounce him
clean."

     Sometimes a person is accused of sin, when they are not guilty.
The head of the church has to decide, whether this just looks like sin
on the surface, or if this is really sin. Just because a person is
accused of sin is not enough, there must be proof for the head of the
church to move upon it.

     Leviticus 13:24  "Or if there be [any] flesh, in the skin whereof
[there is] a hot burning, and the quick [flesh] that burneth have a
white bright spot, somewhat reddish, or white;" Leviticus 13:25 "Then
the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, [if] the hair in the
bright spot be turned white, and it [be in] sight deeper than the
skin; it [is] a leprosy broken out of the burning: wherefore the
priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] the plague of leprosy."

     This sin mentioned here is more than skin deep. This is something
very serious in nature. Christians, whose desire of their heart is to
do right, will not have sin imputed to them. I John 2:1 "My little
children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any
man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous:" I John 2:2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and
not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world."
Habitual sin is a sin of the heart, and Jesus will not take care of
habitual sin for us. The sickness has gone too deep when the sin is
habitual. Hebrews 6:4 "For [it is] impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made
partakers of the Holy Ghost," Hebrews 6:5 "And have tasted the good
word of God, and the powers of the world to come," Hebrews 6:6 "If
they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they
crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open
shame."  The Scripture in Hebrews chapter 6 and the Scripture above in
Leviticus where the person is declared unclean, are both speaking of
someone who habitually sins after they have been saved.

     Leviticus 13:26 "But if the priest look on it, and, behold,
[there be] no white hair in the bright spot, and it [be] no lower than
the [other] skin, but [be] somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut
him up seven days:" Leviticus 13:27 "And the priest shall look upon
him the seventh day: [and] if it be spread much abroad in the skin,
then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it [is] the plague of
leprosy."

     Leprosy, in the beginning, is a hidden disease. Sometimes the
first indication that a person had it, would be a harmless looking
little bump would surface. Many times, for literally years, that would
be all you would see. Then, when you least expect it, the thing would
burst into a full blown sore. Sin is sometimes hidden for a long time,
then all of a sudden, it will show its ugly face. We may hide our sin
from the world, but the great High Priest [Jesus] knows all about our
sin, and some time we will have to stand before Him and be judged.

     Leviticus 13:28 "And if the bright spot stay in his place, [and]
spread not in the skin, but it [be] somewhat dark; it [is] a rising of
the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean: for it [is] an
inflammation of the burning."

     We can see, here, very clearly that the High Priest is the final
Judge. He is the only one that can declare us saved or unsaved. Many
professing Christians will be surprised, when He says {get away from
me I never knew you}.

     Leviticus 13:29  "If a man or woman have a plague upon the head
or the beard;"  Leviticus 13:30 "Then the priest shall see the plague:
and, behold, if it [be] in sight deeper than the skin; [and there be]
in it a yellow thin hair; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean:
it [is] a dry scall, [even] a leprosy upon the head or beard."

     The primary difference, in this case, is that the hair turns
yellowish red, rather than white. Looking at this from the spiritual
standpoint, we could see in the beard; age, or someone who has been a
believer for a long time. The head could possibly mean someone of
authority in the church. Judgement begins at the house of God. In the
verse above, it appears to me that the person did not come to the high
priest to be examined, but the high priest noticed this problem and
mentioned it. Again, this is a deep-seated sin, because it was deeper
than the flesh. Notice, also, that this leader can be male or female.

     Leviticus 13:31 "And if the priest look on the plague of the
scall, and, behold, it [be] not in sight deeper than the skin, and
[that there is] no black hair in it; then the priest shall shut up
[him that hath] the plague of the scall seven days:"

     This must be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, if this is an
elder or leader who has been accused. I Timothy 5:19 "Against an elder
receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses."
This has to be proven beyond a shadow of doubt.

     Leviticus 13:32 "And in the seventh day the priest shall look on
the plague: and, behold, [if] the scall spread not, and there be in it
no yellow hair, and the scall [be] not in sight deeper than the skin;"
Leviticus 13:33 "He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave;
and the priest shall shut up [him that hath] the scall seven days
more:"

     Judgement of sin many times must be postponed until all the facts
are in and the accused has a chance to defend himself. This being
shaven could have a number of implications. It could be that even the
very appearance of evil was to be removed. The shaving of the head
could, also, be a momentary loss of authority, until the accusation
died down. The seven still means spiritually complete. This waiting
seven days, here, could also mean, until the church is satisfied there
is no sin, only the appearance of sin. We are cautioned to not give
even the appearance of evil. This would be doubly important for people
in authority.

     Leviticus 13:34 "And in the seventh day the priest shall look on
the scall: and, behold, [if] the scall be not spread in the skin, nor
[be] in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce
him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean."

     This is a reprieve. The cleanliness of this leader is because the
robe has been washed in the blood of the Lamb and made every whit
whole. Sometimes, just for appearances sake, the person might be
rebaptized.

                             Questions 32

1.  What 2 kinds of disease have we decided these lessons on leprosy
    are about?
2.  What does the statement {lower than the skin indicate}?
3.  What is sometimes called corruption?
4.  When someone is accused of sin in the church, what 3 ways will the
    leader judge the sin?
5.  Which one is the worst kind of sin?
6.  What are the three punishments for the three transgressions?
7.  How long shall the priest shut him up for, if the priest is not
    certain of his leprosy?
8.  What is probably the most dreaded disease?
9.  What is one of the terrible things that might happen to a leper in
    the last stages of leprosy.
10. What does the head of a church have to do to a habitual leper?
11. Why must that be done?
12. Sometimes a person is accused of sin, when they are not _______.
13. A person can not be thrown out of the church on hearsay, what must
    happen first?
14. The sin in verse 24 and 25 is more than _____ _____.
15. Who will not have sin imputed to them?
16. Who is the Christian's advocate with the Father?
17. What is habitual sin?
18. What do we learn from Hebrews chapter 6 about habitual sin?
19. Leprosy, in the beginning, is a ________ disease.
20. We may hide our sin from the world, but who always knows?
21. Who is the great High Priest who will eventually judge all?
22. Who declares everyone either saved, or unsaved?
23. What does a beard mean symbolically?
24. What does the head mean symbolically?
25. Where does judgement begin?
26. Leviticus chapter 13 verse 29 and 30 indicate that both _____ and
    ________ can be leaders in the church.
27. What does first Timothy chapter 5 verse 19 teach us?
28. Why does judgement need to be postponed sometimes?
29. What things could the shaving of the head mean?
30. What would be doubly important for the leaders of the church to
    do?