In the episode of the healing of the leper, the most remarkable thing is the dialogue between Jesus and the man He healed...
In the episode of the healing of the leper, the most remarkable thing is the dialogue between Jesus and the man He healed. "If You are willing, You can make me clean." "I am willing; be made clean." How should this be understood? Is it not the sick man who comes to the Savior seeking healing from Him? On the one hand, that is exactly how it is. But the leper, as we see, evaluates his condition not only from the standpoint of physical health, but also from the standpoint of his spiritual state, from the standpoint of the Torah, which defines leprosy not only as an illness but also as a state of impurity. And, as we see, the chief thing troubling the man who turns to Jesus is precisely his impurity. Of course, impurity also prevented a full spiritual and religious life: a leper, remaining unclean for the whole time of his illness, could not take part in sacrifice, could not approach the altar, and therefore could not be sanctified.
But the man who turned to Jesus most likely understood his impurity not only in a religious sense, but also in a spiritual one. Perhaps through the experience of his own illness he understood what John the Baptist had tried to convey to the people who listened to him: no one is ready to enter the Kingdom; everyone needs conversion, cleansing from his sins, and a new sanctification, a sanctification of a measure that had previously been unattainable. And now this man defiled by leprosy understood that he would be able to be rid of his illness and enter the Kingdom only if the mysterious Stranger, of whom some thought that He was the Messiah promised by God, opened the door to him.
If that is so, then he needs to ask Him: does He want to open the door to the leper? Does He want to cleanse him? And the leper, turning to Jesus, asks Him the main question: do You need me in Your Kingdom? Do You want to cleanse me?
It is no surprise that Jesus answers "yes" to a question asked in this way. He came so that everyone who seeks the Kingdom might enter it. In such a situation there simply could be no other answer.
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5:20 Giving thanks - At all times and places. And for all things - Prosperous or adverse, since al] work together for good.In the name of, or through, our Lord Jesus Christ - By whom we receive all good things.
5:22 In the following directions concerning relative duties, the inferiors are all along placed before the superiors, because the general proposition is concerning submission; and inferiors ought to do their duty, whatever their superiors do. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands - Unless where God forbids. Otherwise, in all indifferent things, the will of the husband is a law to the wife. As unto the Lord - The obedience a wife pays to her husband is at the same time paid to Christ himself; he being head of the wife, as Christ is head of the church.
5:23 The head - The governor, guide, and guardian of the wife.And he is the Saviour of the body - The church, from all sin and misery.
5:24 In everything - Which is not contrary to any command of God.
5:25 Even as Christ loved the church - Here is the true model of conjugal affection. With this kind of affection, with this degree of it, and to this end, should husbands love their wives.
5:26 That he might sanctify it through the word - The ordinary channel of all blessings. Having cleansed it - From the guilt and power of sin.By the washing of water - In baptism; if, with "the outward and visible sign," we receive the "inward and spiritual grace."