Jesus Cleanses a Leper
Matthew 8:1-4
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Matt.8.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Καταβαντος: PART,aor,act,gen,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- απο: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,m
- ορους: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- ηκολουθησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- οχλοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- πολλοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
Parallels
- Matt.5.1 (structural): Immediate literary pair in Matthew: he went up the mountain to teach (Sermon on the Mount) and here 'came down'—sets scene change and explains why crowds follow.
- Luke.6.17 (verbal): Luke 6:17–19 describes Jesus 'coming down' and standing on a level place with great multitudes—parallel wording and similar narrative placement after a teaching episode.
- Mark.3.7-8 (thematic): Mark describes great multitudes from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumaea, beyond the Jordan and Tyre/Sidon following Jesus—same motif of widespread crowds drawn to him.
- Matt.4.25 (verbal): Earlier Matthean summary of large multitudes following Jesus from various regions—repeats the theme of broad popular attraction to Jesus' ministry.
- John.6.2 (thematic): John notes a great multitude following Jesus because of the signs he performed—connects the crowd motif with popular response to Jesus' works.
Alternative generated candidates
- When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
- When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
Matt.8.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ιδου: INTJ
- λεπρος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- προσελθων: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- προσεκυνει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- λεγων·Κυριε: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m;NOUN,voc,sg,m
- εαν: CONJ
- θελης: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- δυνασαι: VERB,pres,mid,ind,2,sg
- με: PRON,acc,sg,1
- καθαρισαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
Parallels
- Mark 1:40-45 (verbal): Closest Synoptic parallel: the leper similarly approaches Jesus, implores him with the phrase 'If you will, you can make me clean,' and Jesus responds with compassion and healing (similar wording and sequence).
- Luke 5:12-13 (verbal): Lukan parallel: the leper's petition and Jesus' act of touching and cleansing are narrated with the same core elements—petition, command, and immediate cleansing.
- Matt.8:3 (structural): Immediate continuation in Matthew: Jesus' reply ('I will; be clean'), his touch, and the instant cleansing form the direct narrative resolution of v.2.
- Leviticus 13:45-46 (allusion): OT background: laws describing the leper's uncleanness and social isolation underscore the boldness and significance of a leper approaching and worshiping Jesus and the social/theological implications of his cleansing.
- Matt.9:20-22 (thematic): Thematic parallel of faith-initiated healing: the woman who touches Jesus' garment also approaches in faith and receives healing, highlighting the motif of personal faith and Jesus' responsive power.
Alternative generated candidates
- And behold, a leper came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
- And behold, a man with leprosy came up to him and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.'
Matt.8.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εκτεινας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- χειρα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ηψατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- λεγων·Θελω: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m+VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- καθαρισθητι·και: VERB,aor,pass,imp,2,sg+CONJ
- ευθεως: ADV
- εκαθαρισθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- λεπρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- Mark 1:40-42 (verbal): Near-identical account: Jesus, moved with compassion, stretches out his hand, touches the leper and says 'I will; be clean,' and the leprosy immediately departs.
- Luke 5:12-13 (verbal): Parallel narrative in Luke: Jesus touches the man with leprosy, declares 'I will; be clean,' and the disease is instantly healed.
- Matthew 11:5 (thematic): Jesus lists 'lepers are cleansed' among the messianic signs he performs—connecting individual healings like Matt 8:3 to his messianic mission.
- 2 Kings 5:10,14 (thematic): Naaman's cleansing from leprosy on the prophet Elisha's instruction (washing in the Jordan) reflects the OT motif of prophetic/ritual removal of leprosy, a backdrop for Jesus' acts of cleansing.
- Isaiah 53:4-5 (allusion): Prophetic theme of one who bears our diseases and brings healing; the NT (e.g., Matt 8:16–17) reads Jesus' healings as fulfillment of this prophecy.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be clean." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
- And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matt.8.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- λεγει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιησους·Ορα: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μηδενι: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ειπης: VERB,aor,act,subj,2,sg
- αλλα: CONJ
- υπαγε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,sg
- σεαυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- δειξον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ιερει: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- προσενεγκον: VERB,aor,act,imp,2,sg
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- δωρον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- προσεταξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- Μωυσης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- μαρτυριον: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,3
Parallels
- Mark 1:40-45 (verbal): Parallel account of the cleansing of the leper with nearly identical wording — Jesus charges silence and instructs the man to show himself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded as a testimony.
- Luke 5:12-14 (verbal): Luke's version of the healing likewise records Jesus' command to tell no one, to show himself to the priest, and to make the offering prescribed by Moses, echoing Matthew's instruction.
- Leviticus 14:2, 10-20 (see esp. vv. 2, 10-14) (allusion): The Mosaic law governing the cleansing of a healed leper — showing oneself to the priest and offering prescribed sacrifices — is the legal background Jesus cites in his instruction.
- Matthew 8:2-3 (structural): Immediate narrative context: verses 2–3 describe the leper's plea and Jesus' act of cleansing, which Matthew follows by recording Jesus' subsequent command in v.4.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Jesus said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."
- Then Jesus said to him, 'See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.'
When Jesus came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. And behold, a man with leprosy came up and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.' And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, 'I am willing; be clean.' And immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.
Then Jesus said to him, 'See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.'