Mark 1:40-45 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, If you will, you can make me clean.… Our Lord did not mean that the man should keep it only to himself, and that he should not at all make it known to any; for He knew that it was fit His miracles should be known, that by them His Divine power and the truth of His doctrine might be manifested to the world; and therefore we read that at another time He was willing a miracle of His should be made known (Mark 5:19). But Christ's purpose here is to restrain him — I. From publishing this miracle rashly or unadvisedly, and in an indiscreet manner. II. From revealing it to such persons as were likely to cavil or take exceptions at it. III. From publishing it at that time, which was unfit and unseasonable — (1) Because Christ was yet in the state of His abasement, and was so to continue till the time of His resurrection, and His Divine glory was to be manifested by degrees till then, and not all at once; (2) Because the people were too much addicted to the miracles of Christ, without due regard to His teaching. (G. Petter.)With the charge to tell it to the priest the Saviour gave the charge to tell it to no one else. I. Christ did not want a crowd of wonder seekers to clamour for a sign, but penitents to listen to the tidings of salvation. II. The man would be spiritually the better of thinking calmly and silently over His wondrous mercy, until at all events he had been to the Temple in Jerusalem and back. Do not tattle about your religious experience; nor, if you are a beginner, speak so much about God's mercy to you that you have not time to study it and learn its lesson. This man, had he but gone into some retired spot and mastered the meaning of His mercy, might have become an apostle. As it is, he becomes a sort of showman of himself. (R. Glover.) Parallel Verses KJV: And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. |
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