The Secret Codes in Matthew: Examining Israel’s Messiah, Part 7: Matthew 8 – 11:5, by Kevin M. Williams
To fulfill these expectations meant one thing—the very purpose of Matthew’s gospel—Yeshua was the long awaited Messiah! Yet when we began this study in Matthew we discussed the p’shat (literal), remetz (deeper) and sod (spiritual) means of Scripture interpretation. Those same means can be applied here, and with some potentially profound revelations.
And when He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came to Him, and bowed down to Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest, and present the offering that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them” (Matthew 8:1-4).
In the literal or p’shat, we can see that one of the items among the expectations was for a leper to be—not healed—but cleansed. In the deeper or remetz level, we see that Yeshua did the forbidden—he touched someone unclean.
As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, “Unclean! Unclean!” He shall remain unclean all the days during which he has the infection; he is unclean. He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp (Leviticus 13:45-46).
The Messiah—the perfect keeper of the Torah—would never (according to contemporary theological thought) touch someone unclean. If the Pharisees and Scribes were out to lynch Yeshua, to bring Him up on charges, this was an opportunity handed to them on a silver platter. At the very least, they could have had him exiled outside the camp for a while.
Something remarkable happens however. The evidence is gone! We read that “immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” To charge Yeshua with contamination would require evidence and witnesses. There was no evidence, and as for the witnesses—they were telling a messianic story!1
As for the sod, or deeply spiritual interpretation, we shall examine that toward the end of the study.
Yeshua seemed to have a penchant for dealing with the unclean. In verses 5-13, Yeshua deals with a gentile Centurion (unclean). In versus 16-17 he commands the unclean spirits (likewise in versus 28-34, 9:32-34). In every case, the unclean gives way to the fount of purity.
By the time we reach versus 23-27, we have a short departure. Yeshua leaves His command of leprosy, disease, and unclean spirits and takes on the very elements themselves.
And behold, there arose a great storm in the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves; but He Himself was asleep. And they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” And He said to them, “Why are you timid, you men of little faith?” Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and it became perfectly calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” (Matthew 8:24-27).
“What kind of man” indeed? They had witnessed miracles so far, but this? Yet we find this God-like characteristic in Psalm 107:24-30, “They have seen the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep … Their soul melted away in their misery. They reeled and staggered like a drunken man, And were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, And He brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still, So that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet.”
“What kind of man?” “They have seen the works of the Lord!”
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Category: Biblical Studies, Fall 2002, Pneuma Review
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