LEVITICUS 34


     We have been studying in the last few lessons about leprosy. We
will pick up the lesson in Leviticus 13:50 "And the priest shall look
upon the plague, and shut up [it that hath] the plague seven days:"

     We have discussed, over and over, that 7 stands for spiritual
completeness. This period of time then is to see the truth about this
person. Is this person truly a sinner as it appears, or is he a true
believer?

     Leviticus 13:51 "And he shall look on the plague on the seventh
day: if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in
the woof, or in a skin, [or] in any work that is made of skin; the
plague [is] a fretting leprosy; it [is] unclean."

     The word fretting, in this particular Scripture, means bitter,
cause to embitter, or painful. From the spiritual standpoint, our
garments that we wear could, perhaps, mean the immediate surroundings.
Such as those of your own household, or those who live nearby. We
sometimes become embittered by these very people that mean the most to
us. Sometimes we cause them to be bitter, as well. Nothing hurts as
deeply as a loved one gone wrong. There are so many things that
embitter us, or cause us to embitter others. We spoke of it in the
previous lesson, but what we put into our brain affects our life. A
person could get caught in a job that was not morally sound, and it
could embitter them. I really believe the worst thing to embitter a
person, to my recollection, has been people turned against the church
because of hypocrites in the church. It seems the bitterness of this
sort is the hardest to stop. We, too, many times, forget that the
things we do might run someone away from God and make them bitter.

     Leviticus 13:52 "He shall therefore burn that garment, whether
warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein
the plague is: for it [is] a fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in
the fire."

     The sin of bitterness is possibly the hardest sin of all to get
rid of. This, I believe, is what intended by burning this up, so there
will not be anything left to spring up again. Bitterness has even been
known to cause crippling disease. Hebrews 12:15 "Looking diligently
lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness
springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;"  Bitterness
destroys the person who is bitter. Give it to Jesus, and let Him burn
it out of your soul.

     Leviticus 13:53 "And if the priest shall look, and, behold, the
plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the
woof, or in any thing of skin;" Leviticus 13:54 "Then the priest shall
command that they wash [the thing] wherein the plague [is], and he
shall shut it up seven days more:"

     This separation for the seven days is the same as in the other
times it was mentioned. The separation is to see if the washing will
be sufficient to remove this sin. We are told, if we have ought
against anyone, to leave our gift and go and make it right and then
come back and offer. Matthew 5:24 "Leave there thy gift before the
altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then
come and offer thy gift." It is a very dangerous thing to take
communion with bitterness in our heart toward anyone. I Corinthians
11:27 "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink [this] cup
of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the
Lord." I Corinthians 11:28 "But let a man examine himself, and so let
him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup."  I Corinthians
11:29 "For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh
damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."  I Corinthians
11:30 "For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many
sleep."  We can see from all this, how serious it is to hold a grudge.

     Leviticus 13:55 "And the priest shall look on the plague, after
that it is washed: and, behold, [if] the plague have not changed his
colour, and the plague be not spread; it [is] unclean; thou shalt burn
it in the fire; it [is] fret inward, [whether] it [be] bare within or
without."

     The best way to say this, in the spiritual realm, is to say we
must crucify our flesh that our spirit might live. Galatians 5:24 "And
they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts."  Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless
I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,
and gave himself for me."  This bitterness from within must be
destroyed.

     Leviticus 13:56 "And if the priest look, and, behold, the plague
[be] somewhat dark after the washing of it; then he shall rend it out
of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the
woof:"

     The explanation of this can be found in Jesus' own words when He
said, if a member of your body keep you from God, do away with it.
Matthew 5:29 "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast
[it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members
should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast into
hell." Matthew 5:30 "And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off,
and cast [it] from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy
members should perish, and not [that] thy whole body should be cast
into hell." This seems so drastic, but we must not miss heaven at any
cost.

     Leviticus 13:57 "And if it appear still in the garment, either in
the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it [is] a spreading
[plague]: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague [is] with fire."


     I almost hate to comment on this. If all efforts fail, then they
are lost. The fire of hell is the sure outcome of this individual.
     Leviticus 13:58 "And the garment, either warp, or woof, or
whatsoever thing of skin [it be], which thou shalt wash, if the plague
be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and
shall be clean."

     This washing certainly has to do with the washing in the blood of
the Lamb. We see in the Scriptures that it is by blood and water. Both
are to be washed in, to be Jesus'. I John 5:6 "This is he that came by
water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water
and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the
Spirit is truth."

     We see, in this, that baptism in water is not enough, we must be
washed in the blood of the Lamb and made white as snow. This is when
we repent {turn from our wicked ways} and begin a new life in Jesus.
We receive His robe of righteousness when He takes our sin. We
certainly get the best end of this trade.

     Leviticus 13:59 "This [is] the law of the plague of leprosy in a
garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing
of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean."

     The main thing that we must remember, in this, is that these
garments symbolize the flesh of mankind. Our flesh is our worst enemy.
The lust of our flesh is the cause of our sin. Sin is anything that
displeases God, or the breaking of the law. I John 3:4 "Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law."  This is not just any law, but the law of
God. God has given us a substitute for our sin, Jesus Christ the
Righteous. It is our own fault if we wind up in hell. God made
provision for us, but we must avail ourselves of it.























                             Questions 34

1.  How long is the one suspected of leprosy shut up?
2.  What truth is trying to be determined by this time of separation?
3.  What does the word fretting mean?
4.  What is meant spiritually by the garments?
5.  What is about the worst hurt that we feel?
6.  What are some of the things that could happen to you and make you
    bitter?
7.  Why are many people bitter toward the church?
8.  What is to be done with a garment of fretting leprosy?
9.  What does Hebrews chapter 12 verse 15 say about bitterness?
10. Who does bitterness destroy?
11. What is the washing in Leviticus chapter 13 verse 53 symbolic of?
12. What does Matthew chapter 5 verse 24 teach about bitterness?
13. What might happen to you, if you took communion with bitterness in
    your heart?
14. What does Leviticus chapter 13 verse 55 tell us we must do?
15. I am crucified with _______.
16. I live by the faith of the ______ ___ ______.
17. If thy right eye offend thee, ______ __ ___.
18. If thy right hand offend thee, ___ __ ___.
19. If all efforts fail to cleanse a person, then they are ______.
20. What did the 2 washings indicate?
21. Quote the Scripture that says by water and blood.
22. How can we be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
23. What is the main thing to remember in this lesson?
24. What is our worst enemy?
25. What is the cause of our sin?
26. Sin is the transgression of the ___.
27. What law is this?
28. Who is our Substitute for our sin?