Review & Intro: In chapter 13, we looked at the way the priests were to determine if a person had leprosy or not. We saw that if a person was declared "unclean" because they had leprosy, they had to live outside the camp because they were contagious to others. We saw the devestating effects of leprosy and how it would completely destroy a person if God did not intervene and heal them. The lepers were always hopeful that the priest would come out and inspect them to find that they had been healed. There was no cure; their only hope was God's mercy upon them. In this chapter, chapter 14, we see what happens when a person has been healed and how the priest "cleanses" them to be brought back into the fellowship of the people and in the presence of God again. What an encouraging chapter this is! We belong to a God of hope and restoration. The God of comfort and endless grace. Jesus is willing to cleanse us from sin. Will we be "cleansed" today, whether by salvation or by renewing of regeneration of the Spirit? 
Leviticus Chapter 14 - "Be Cleansed"
1. What was the priest to verify before the cleansing of the leper? vs.1-3
2. What 5 things would the priest give orders to bring for the one who had been healed of leprosy and needed to be cleansed? vs. 4 - Name 5 things
3. One of the 2 clean birds was to be slain. What were the procedures to be followed? vs. 5
4. Do you see the picture of salvation in this? The first bird that is slain is a picture of our Lord who confined Himself to an earthenware vessel (a human form) to die on the cross for us. He told us He was the living water and if we believe in Him we not thirst any longer. Look up the following verses to see how this all points to the Lord Jesus.
- Philippians 2:6-8
- 2 Corinthians 4:7-10
6. I can see that this is a picture of our cleansing and freedom that come from being identified with the Lord, being dipped in His blood, identifying with His cross, and being set free from sin and death! See if these verses bring that truth home to you as well.
- Romans 6:1-7
- Romans 8:1-2
- John 8:36
- Galatians 3:26,27
8. Although the person could enter back into the camp of the sons of Israel, where was he not to enter for 7 days? vs. 8
9. What day was he suppose to shave, wash his clothes, and bathe his body to be cleaned? vs. 9
10. On the 8th day, he was to take: 1) 2 male lambs without defect ... 2) a yearling ewe lamb without defect ... 3) 3/10ths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, .... and 4) one log of oil (approx. 1 pint)...(vs.10) .......... The priest who prounounced him "clean" would present him before the Lord at the doorway of meeting (vs.11) ..........What was offered to the Lord first and what kind of offerings did these represent? vs. 12
11. What would be killed next and what offering was it? vs. 13
12. Where would the priest apply the blood of this offering to the person being cleansed? vs. 14 - Name 3 places on the body
13. Do you remember when these same places were applied to the priests when they entered the priesthood? Can you see that this could be symbolic of our entering the priesthood as believers in the Lord after we have been adopted into the family of God? We talked about the ear being one that "listens to God's counsel" ... the thumb being on the hand so that we would "serve in His kingdom's work" ... and the toe being on the foot, that we would "walk in His Spirit". Let's look at some verses to show we enter the priesthood and we are called to listen, serve, and walk in Him.
- 1 Peter 2:9
- Romans 10:17
- Colossians 3:23,24
- Colossians 1:10
- 1 Peter 4:10,11
15. Where did the priest apply the oil as he had applied the blood of the guilt offering? vs. 17 - Name 3 places
Note: It is easy to see this symbolism as not serving the Lord in the flesh, but in the spirit. We will look at some verses on this.
16. What did the priest do with the rest of the oil in his left palm? vs. 18
17. We know from so many Scriptures that oil represents the anointing we receive from the Lord in the filling of His Spirit within us and upon us as His children. Amen. Look up the following verses and comment:- John 14:16-17
- John 14:26
- John 15:26
- John 16:7
- 1 John 2:20
- 1 John 2:27
- James 5:14-16
Note: Remember Jesus is our Sin offering and the way we offer a burnt offering is by offering our bodies a living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable to Him as our spiritual worship (Romans 12:1,2)19. What if a person is too poor to bring all of this? What does this person need to bring if they are healed of leprosy and need to be cleansed and atoned for? vs. 22 - Name 4 things
20. How does this differ from the requirements listed in verse 12, which is listed on question number 10 above?
21. They came into the camp for 7 days in the same way and then the cleansing began on the 8th day also. Everything is the same in that there is a guilt offering of blood applied to the ear, thumb, and toe and the oil is applied to them in the same way. They are also required to offer a sin offering and a burnt offering with the 2 turtledoves or pigeons they have brought.(verses 23-32). It's so wonderful that God does not leave anyone out of the offer of salvation. The invitation to be healed and set free goes out to all of mankind. Comment on the following verses.
- John 1:12,13
- 1 Corinthians 12:13
- John 3:16-18
- Galatians 3:28,29
- Romans 10:8-13
Note: Have you accepted the Lord's cleansing blood and His precious Spirit into your life? If not, read the verses above again and confess your sins to Him, asking Him to save you, to change you, to cleanse you, and you will be set free just like the bird that was dipped in the blood of the one that was slain. Please comment if you want to share with us about this !!Next Note: Back to Leviticus 14 - God covers the law of cleansing a house that has the mark of leprosy on it when they enter the land of Canaan to possess it. (vs.33-53). Let's review some of the steps they will need to go through.
22. Who will go ahead and inspect the homes and put a mark on them for the priests to cleanse when they reach the Promised Land of Canaan? vs.33,34 -
23. When the person who owns the home saw the "mark of leprosy", they were to go to the priest and tell him; ... confession ... (vs.35). The priest would then "empty" the house and look for the mark. This was so that not everything in the house would become unclean. (vs.36) ... (church discipline) ... If the mark on the wall was deeper than the surface, the house would be quarantined for 7 days. (vs.37,38) ... The priest returned to the house to inspect it on the 7th day. (vs.39) ... The priest would order that they tear out the stones with the mark on it and take them to an unclean place outside the city. (vs. 40) .... What would be done to the house next? vs. 41 -
24. Where would they dump the "old" plaster? vs. 42 -
25. After this, they would put new stones in the place of the old ones, and take new plaster and put in place of the old plaster. Note: This reminds of us Jesus telling the Pharisees clean up the inside and stop being hypocrits. It also reminds us of Him telling His disciples that new wine could not be put into old wineskins. Comment on the following verses.
- Matthew 23:27,28 -
- Matthew 9:17 -
27. Obviously, the stones that replaced the old ones were good stones. Just like the seed that is sown, the seed is "good" for it is the Gospel; it is Jesus. It all depends on the soils that receive the seed. Sometimes, it does not fall on good soil. What did Jesus say about 4 types of soil that the seed fell upon in the following parable?
- Luke 8:11-15
29. If a person laid down or ate in the house, while it was being quarantined, what were they to do? vs. 47
30. What would happen if the priest came to make an inspection after the stones were new and the plaster was new and there was not any spreading of the mark? vs. 45
31. The seed was obviously sown into good soil ! Comment on the following verses.
- Matthew 13:8
- Luke 8:15
33. How many times was he to sprinkle the house? vs. 51
34. What was he to do with the live bird after this? vs. 53
35. What paralels can be drawn between the house with the mark of leprosy and a church with the mark of unrepentant sin there? ... First of all, we are called a house of living stones. Comment on the following verse.
- 1 Peter 2:4,5
- 1 Corinthians 15:33 -
- 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 -
- 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 -
- 1 Corinthians 6:1-3 -
- 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 -
- 1 Corinthians 11:26-32 -
- 2 Corinthians 2:5-8 -
- 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 -
- 2 Corinthians 7:1 -
- 2 Timothy 2:23-26 -
- 1 Timothy 5:19-22 -
- Hebrews 12:7-13 -
- Galatians 6:1-5 -
- Gal. 6:7-8 -
Application - Do You Need Cleansing?
38. The purpose of all of this is to know whether a person is clean or unclean. (vs.57) Yes, this refers to leprosy, but we have seen in these last 2 chapters, it can easily be seen as a life without Christ or one that has been disjointed from the body and needs to be cleansed and put back in the place of fellowship again ..... Do you know if you are clean or unclean? If you are a believer, you are clean, but you need to wash your hands and feet (remember where the blood and oil were applied?) ... Read what Jesus said to Peter about this:
- John 13:10,11 -
- 1 John 1:9 -
Lesson Application:
40. If you don't have time to read these stories of lepers that were cleansed, please return and read them soon. It will help you to see the steps that were taken, how it is related to sin, and how to be restored into fellowship with the Lord and one another. When you can, comment on the following stories and what you learn from them:
- Naaman - 2 Kings Chapter 5 - entire chapter
- King Uzziah - 2 Chronicles 26 - entire chapter
- Miriam - Numbers Chapter 12 - entire chapter
41. We have an account in the New Testament of when 10 lepers cried out to Jesus to have mercy upon them. He told them to go to the priests and show themselves. You have learned from these chapters what all that would entail. They realized they were actually cleansed (healed) as they began to go to the priests. Out of 10, only one of them returned to Jesus to thank Him for His cleansing. What about you? Read the account below and then spend time thanking Jesus for dying for us, for identifying with us, for our identification with Him, for His Holy Spirit's help and anointing, and for all that He does in us and through us to serve the body of Christ. Praise God !!
- Luke 17:11-19
42. Summarize the lesson and post a prayer if you would like.
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