This sermon explores a powerful encounter that took place immediately after Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. It is a story of a man who moved from the margins of society to the center of God's grace through a simple, yet profound, act of faith.
The Touch of the Untouchable: Lessons from the Leper’s Healing
Base Text: Matthew 8:1–4
Proposition: Just as the leper approached Jesus with faith and humility, we can find healing and restoration when we bring our deepest needs to the feet of the Savior.
Introduction
As Jesus descended from the mountainside, a massive crowd followed Him (Matthew 8:1). But out of that crowd emerged a man who had no business being there. He was a leper.
In the ancient world, leprosy was a death sentence—physically, socially, and spiritually. It was a disease that caused slow decay, but the social cost was even worse. According to the Law (Leviticus 13–14), lepers were "unclean." They were excluded from their families, banished from the city, and barred from worship. To touch a leper was to become ceremonially defiled.
Yet, this unnamed man broke every social protocol to reach Jesus. His story reveals a blueprint for how we should approach God today.
I. The Leper Came to Jesus
Text: Matthew 8:2
The first thing we notice is that the leper did not wait for the solution to find him; he sought the Solution.
• Proactive Faith: He didn't wait in the shadows hoping Jesus would notice him. He stepped out.
• The Invitation: Jesus is always calling us—"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden" (Matthew 11:28)—but we must respond.
• Application: God knows our needs before we ask, but He invites us to approach the "Throne of Grace" with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). Without the approach, there is no encounter. Are you waiting for a miracle, or are you moving toward the Miracle Worker?
II. The Reverence of the Leper
Text: Matthew 8:2
When the leper finally stood before Jesus, his posture was just as important as his presence. The Bible says he postrated himself (or knelt) before Him.
• Submission and Honor: By calling Him "Lord" and bowing down, he recognized Jesus' authority. He didn't come with a list of demands; he came with a spirit of worship.
• Contrast with Pride: We cannot approach God with a spirit of entitlement. Like the tax collector who wouldn't even lift his eyes to heaven (Luke 18:13), true faith is always wrapped in humility.
• Application: Our prayers should begin with "Lord," not just as a title, but as a recognition of His sovereignty over our lives.
III. The Confidence of the Leper
Text: Matthew 8:2–3
The leper’s request is one of the most beautiful expressions of faith in the Gospels: "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
• No Doubt in Power: Notice he didn't say, "If you can." He knew Jesus had the power. His only question was whether it aligned with Jesus' heart.
• Submission to Will: This is mature faith—trusting God’s power while submitting to His timing and will (1 John 5:14).
• The Scandalous Touch: Jesus did something unthinkable: He reached out and touched him. Jesus didn't just heal him with a word; He restored his humanity with a touch. Immediately, the "death" of leprosy was replaced by the life of Christ.
IV. What the Leper Had to Do Afterward
Text: Matthew 8:4
Jesus often followed a miracle with a mandate. Healing wasn't the end of the story; obedience was the next chapter.
1. Obedience in Silence: Jesus told him, "See that you tell no one." Sometimes, our greatest testimony is our quiet obedience to Christ’s specific instructions for our lives.
2. Obedience to the Word: He was told to show himself to the priest. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. He wanted the man’s healing to be "official" so he could be fully restored to society.
3. The Sacrifice of Gratitude: He was to offer the gift prescribed by Moses. Healing should always lead to a life of gratitude and offering. We must not be like the nine lepers who were healed but never returned to say "thank you" (Luke 17:17–18).
See Also
- Preaching on Matthew 24:12 - The love of many will grow cold
- Preaching on Noah: A Pattern of Exact Obedience
- Preaching on Micah 4:1–8 A Future Vision of the Kingdom
Conclusion
Maybe you don’t have physical leprosy today, but perhaps you feel "untouchable" because of your past, your mistakes, or your current struggles.
This man shows us the way home. He came with faith, he bowed with reverence, he spoke with confidence, and he left in obedience. Jesus is still the one who reaches out His hand to the broken. He is willing. He is able. And He is waiting for you to come to Him.
