Mark 1:44 Study Bible: and said to him, "See you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."

◄ Mark 1:44 ►

"See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."

Study Bible

“See that you don’t tell anyone.

This command from Jesus reflects a recurring theme in the Gospels known as the "Messianic Secret," where Jesus often instructs those He heals to remain silent about their healing. This could be to prevent misunderstandings about His mission or to avoid drawing premature attention that could hinder His ministry. It also highlights Jesus' humility and focus on fulfilling His mission rather than seeking fame.

Mrk 5:43 Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know…
Luk 8:56 Her parents were astounded, but Jesus ordered them…
Mat 9:30 And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly…

But go, show yourself to the priest

In the Jewish context, priests were responsible for declaring a person clean or unclean according to the Law of Moses, particularly in cases of leprosy (Leviticus 13-14). By instructing the healed man to show himself to the priest, Jesus is upholding the Law and ensuring the man is reintegrated into society. This act also serves as a witness to the religious authorities of Jesus' power and authority.

Lev 14:2-3 This is the law for the one afflicted with a skin disease…
Luk 17:14 When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves…
Lev 14:10-11 On the eighth day he is to bring two unblemished male lambs…

and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing,

The offering mentioned refers to the detailed sacrifices and rituals outlined in Leviticus 14:1-32 for the cleansing of a leper. This included offerings of birds, lambs, and grain, symbolizing purification and atonement. Jesus' instruction underscores His respect for the Mosaic Law and the importance of ritual purity in Jewish life.

Lev 14:19-20 Then the priest is to sacrifice the sin offering…
Lev 14:21-22 If, however, the person is poor and cannot afford…
Lev 14:30-32 Then he must sacrifice the turtledoves or young pigeons…

as a testimony to them.”

The testimony here serves multiple purposes. It is a witness to the priests and the community of the man's healing, validating Jesus' miraculous power. It also acts as a testimony to the fulfillment of the Law, as Jesus does not abolish it but fulfills it (Matthew 5:17). This phrase can also be seen as a foreshadowing of the broader testimony of Jesus' ministry to the Jewish leaders, pointing to His identity as the Messiah.

Luk 5:14 “Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him.…
Mat 8:4 Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone.”…
Deu 31:19 Now therefore, write down for yourselves this song…

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, Jesus has just healed a man with leprosy and is instructing him on what to do next.

2. The Leper
A man who was suffering from leprosy, a condition that made him ceremonially unclean and socially isolated.

3. The Priest
The religious authority who would verify the healing and declare the man clean according to the Law of Moses.

4. Moses
The lawgiver of Israel, whose laws regarding leprosy are referenced by Jesus.

5. The Sacrifices
Specific offerings required by the Mosaic Law for the cleansing of a leper, as outlined in Leviticus 14.

Teaching Points

Obedience to God's Law
Jesus emphasizes the importance of adhering to the Law of Moses, even after a miraculous healing. This underscores the value of obedience to God's commands.

Testimony to the Community
The instruction to show oneself to the priest serves as a public testimony of God's power and mercy. Our lives should similarly testify to God's work in us.

Fulfillment of the Law
Jesus' command points to the fulfillment of the Law in Him. While the Law required sacrifices, Jesus ultimately fulfills these requirements through His sacrifice.

The Role of Faith and Works
The healed leper is called to act on his faith by following Jesus' instructions. Our faith should also be accompanied by actions that reflect our trust in God.

Witnessing to Authority
By instructing the man to go to the priest, Jesus shows respect for established religious authority, teaching us to witness to those in authority with humility and respect.

Bible Study Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus instructed the healed leper not to tell anyone about his healing, and how does this apply to our own experiences of God's work in our lives?

2. How does the requirement to show oneself to the priest and offer sacrifices relate to the concept of public testimony in our faith journey?

3. In what ways does Jesus' adherence to the Law of Moses in this passage inform our understanding of the relationship between the Old and New Testaments?

4. How can we balance the need for personal faith with the call to obey God's commands, as seen in the leper's response to Jesus' instructions?

5. What lessons can we learn from Jesus' respect for religious authority, and how can we apply these lessons in our interactions with authority figures today?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Leviticus 14
This chapter provides the detailed instructions for the cleansing of a leper, which Jesus refers to in His command.

Matthew 8:4
A parallel account of the same event, reinforcing the importance of following the Law of Moses.

Luke 5:14
Another parallel account, emphasizing the testimony aspect of the healing.

Hebrews 10:1
Discusses the Law as a shadow of the good things to come, highlighting the fulfillment of the Law in Christ.

Sermons

Can and Will	H. Smith., Quesnel.	Mark 1:40-45
Christ Touches Corruption Without Taint	A. McLaren, D. D.	Mark 1:40-45
Christ's Mission a Protest Against Death	Dr. Parker.	Mark 1:40-45
Christ's Pity Shown More in Deeds than in Words	R. W. Dale, LL. D.	Mark 1:40-45
Christ's Relation to Human Suffering	A. G. Churchill.	Mark 1:40-45
Christ's Saving Touch	J. G. Greenhough, M. A.	Mark 1:40-45
Christ's Touch	A. McLaren, D. D.	Mark 1:40-45
Cleansed by Christ	Sunday School Times	Mark 1:40-45
Cleansing of the Leper	Expository Outlines	Mark 1:40-45
Leprosy	R. Glover.	Mark 1:40-45
Leprosy a Symbol of Sin	Anon.	Mark 1:40-45
Reasons for Silence Respecting Christ's Miracles	G. Petter., R. Glover.	Mark 1:40-45
Show Thyself to the Priest	Dean Plumptre.	Mark 1:40-45
The Approach of a Needy Life to Christ	J. S. Exell, M. A.	Mark 1:40-45
The Cleansing of the Leper	W. G. Barrett.	Mark 1:40-45
The Cleansing of the Leper	J. Richardson, M. A.	Mark 1:40-45
The Cleansing of the Leper	T. Whitelaw, M. A.	Mark 1:40-45
The Cleansing of the Leper	R. Green	Mark 1:40-45
The Cure of a Leper	J.J. Given	Mark 1:40-45
The Cured Leper Still Rebellious	D. Davies, M. A.	Mark 1:40-45
The Judicious Reserve Which Should Characterize the Speech of the Newly Converted	J. S. Exell, M. A.	Mark 1:40-45
The Leper	E. Johnson	Mark 1:40-45
The Leper Cleansed	Dr. Parker.	Mark 1:40-45
The Leper's Petition	A.F. Muir	Mark 1:40-45
The Leper's Prayer	R. Glover.	Mark 1:40-45
The Method of Spiritual Salvation Illustrated	J. Parker, D. D.	Mark 1:40-45
The Saviour and the Leper	Andrew A. Bonar.	Mark 1:40-45
The Use of Personal Contact	J. G. Greenhough, M. A.	Mark 1:40-45
The World's Treatment of Lepers, and Christ's	J. G. Greenhough, M. A.	Mark 1:40-45
Unostentatious Philanthropy	J. S. Exell, M. A.	Mark 1:40-45

People

Andrew, Ephah, Isaiah, James, Jesus, John, Simon, Zabdi, Zebedee

Places

Capernaum, Galilee, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Judea, Nazareth, Sea of Galilee, Wilderness of Judea

Topics

Anybody, Anyone, Appointed, Bring, Careful, Clean, Cleansing, Commanded, Directed, Evidence, Mayest, Nothing, Offer, Offering, Offerings, Ordained, Ordered, Present, Priest, Proof, Purification, Sacrifices, Saying, Says, Shew, Testimony, Thyself, Witness

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Mark 1:44

     2333   Christ, attitude to OT
     7414   priesthood, NT
     7444   sin offering
     7770   priests, NT tasks
     8405   commands, in NT

Mark 1:40-44

     5285   cures
     7340   clean and unclean
     8325   purity, nature of

Mark 1:40-45

8496 witnessing, importance

Library

What 'the Gospel' Is
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.--Mark i. 1 My purpose now is to point out some of the various connections in which the New Testament uses that familiar phrase, 'the gospel,' and briefly to gather some of the important thoughts which these suggest. Possibly the process may help to restore freshness to a word so well worn that it slips over our tongues almost unnoticed and excites little thought. The history of the word in the New Testament books is worth notice. It seldom occurs in those …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Christ's Touch
'Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him.'--Mark i. 41. Behold the servant of the Lord' might be the motto of this Gospel, and 'He went about doing good and healing' the summing up of its facts. We have in it comparatively few of our Lord's discourses, none of His longer, and not very many of His briefer ones. It contains but four parables. This Evangelist gives no miraculous birth as in Matthew, no angels adoring there as in Luke, no gazing into the secrets of Eternity, where the Word who afterwards …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Strong Forerunner and the Stronger Son
'The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2. As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send My messenger before Thy face, which shall prepare Thy way before Thee. 3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. 4. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Mighty in Word and Deed
'And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22. And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24. Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God. 25. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Healing and Service
'Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell Him of her: 31. And He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.'--Mark i. 30, 31, R. V. This miracle is told us by three of the four Evangelists, and the comparison of their brief narratives is very interesting and instructive. We all know, I suppose, that the common tradition is that Mark was, in some sense, Peter's mouthpiece in this Gospel. The truthfulness of that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Parable in a Miracle
'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. 41. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; he thou clean. 42. And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.'--Mark i. 40-42. Christ's miracles are called wonders--that is, deeds which, by their exceptional character, arrest attention and excite surprise. Further, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Composite Picture.
It may be helpful to make the following summary of these allusions. 1. His times of prayer: His regular habit seems plainly to have been to devote the early morning hour to communion with His Father, and to depend upon that for constant guidance and instruction. This is suggested especially by Mark 1:35; and also by Isaiah 50:4-6 coupled with John 7:16 l.c., 8:28, and 12:49. In addition to this regular appointment, He sought other opportunities for secret prayer as special need arose; late at night …
S. D. (Samuel Dickey) Gordon—Quiet Talks on Prayer

The Way to the Kingdom
"The kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15 These words naturally lead us to consider, First, the nature of true religion, here termed by our Lord, "the kingdom of God," which, saith he, "is at hand;" and, Secondly, the way thereto, which he points out in those words, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." I. 1. We are, First, to consider the nature of true religion, here termed by our Lord, "the kingdom of God." The same expression the great Apostle uses in his Epistle …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Repentance of Believers
"Repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15. 1. It is generally supposed, that repentance and faith are only the gate of religion; that they are necessary only at the beginning of our Christian course, when we are setting out in the way to the kingdom. And this may seem to be confirmed by the great Apostle, where, exhorting the Hebrew Christians to "go on to perfection," he teaches them to leave these first "principles of the doctrine of Christ;" "not laying again the foundation of repentance …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

The Lord and the Leper
The Lord Jesus Christ at this day has all power in heaven and in earth. He is charged with a divine energy to bless all who come to him for healing. Oh, that we may see today some great wonder of his power and grace! Oh, for one of the days of the Son of Man here and now! To that end it is absolutely needful that we should find a case for his spiritual power to work upon. Is there not one here in whom his grace may prove its omnipotence? Not you, ye good, ye self-righteous! You yield him no space …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 34: 1888

Faith and Repentance Inseparable
I. I shall commence my remarking that the gospel which Christ preached was, very plainly, a command. "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." Our Lord does condescend to reason. Often his ministry graciously acted out the old text, "Come, now, and let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as wool." He does persuade men by telling and forcible arguments, which should lead them to seek the salvation of their souls. He does invite men, and oh, how lovingly he woos them to be …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 8: 1863

Answer to Mr. W's First Objection.
I WILL first consider all Mr. W's objections to these literal stories. Mr. W. says in his preamble, before he comes to propose his objections in form: That these three miracles are not equally great, but differ in degree, is visible enough to every one that but cursorily reads, and compares their stories one with another.--The greatest of the three, and indeed the greatest miracle, that Jesus is supposed to have wrought, is that of Lazarus's resurrection; which, in truth, was a most prodigious miracle, …
Nathaniel Lardner—A Vindication of Three of Our Blessed Saviour's Miracles

The Fellowship of Prayer
THE FELLOWSHIP OF PRAYER "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." -- Phil. 4:6 This timely exhortation stresses the fact that God's people should consult with Him in every matter pertaining to life. Unless they see the imperative necessity of prayer, and give it an important place in daily life, they cannot expect to be maintained by the ample resources of a generous Saviour. It is apparent that we cannot obtain …
T. M. Anderson—Prayer Availeth Much

Healing a Demoniac in a Synagogue.
(at Capernaum.) ^B Mark I. 21-28; ^C Luke . IV. 31-37. ^b 21 And they [Jesus and the four fishermen whom he called] go into { ^c he came down to} Capernaum, a city of Galilee. [Luke has just spoken of Nazareth, and he uses the expression "down to Capernaum" because the latter was on the lake shore while Nazareth was up in the mountains.] And ^b straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. { ^c was teaching them} ^b 22 And they were astonished at his teaching: for he taught …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Heals a Leper and Creates Much Excitement.
^A Matt.VIII. 2-4; ^B Mark I. 40-45; ^C Luke V. 12-16. ^c 12 And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities [it was a city of Galilee, but as it was not named, it is idle to conjecture which city it was], behold, ^b there cometh { ^a came} ^b to him a leper [There is much discussion as to what is here meant by leprosy. Two diseases now go by that name; viz., psoriasis and elephantiasis. There are also three varieties of psoriasis, namely, white, black and red. There are also three varieties …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Way from Sin to Perfect Salvation.
We have learned that sin entered this world and that all mankind have sinned. We have also learned that Jesus came to save man from his sins. Now the question may arise in the mind of some, what must I do to be saved? We hope in this chapter to quote such scriptures as will plainly teach you the way of salvation, or how to be fully saved, and also the scriptures describing each experience. Repentance. The first step for the sinner is to repent. When on Pentecost men were pricked in their hearts …
Charles Ebert Orr—The Gospel Day

Jesus' Conception of Himself
252. When Jesus called forth the confession of Peter at Caesarea Philippi he brought into prominence the question which during the earlier stages of the Galilean ministry he had studiously kept in the background. This is no indication, however, that he was late in reaching a conclusion for himself concerning his relation to the kingdom which he was preaching. From the time of his baptism and temptation every manifestation of the inner facts of his life shows unhesitating confidence in the reality …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

John the Baptist
Matt. iii. 1-17; iv. 12; xiv. 1-12; Mark i. 1-14; vi. 14-29; Luke i. 5-25, 57-80; iii. 1-22; ix. 7-9; John i. 19-37; iii. 22-30. 72. The first reappearance of Jesus in the gospel story, after the temple scene in his twelfth year, is on the banks of the Jordan seeking baptism from the new prophet. One of the silent evidences of the greatness of Jesus is the fact that so great a character as John the Baptist stands in our thought simply as accessory to his life. For that the prophet of the wilderness …
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

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