Note 1 at Lk. 5:12: Leprosy was a hated disease which has its symptoms described in detail in Leviticus 13:1-46. Scholars today disagree on what present day disease is the leprosy spoken of in the Old Testament. There are at least three diseases which are believed to be the Old Testament leprosy, and it is possible that the term "leprosy" as used in the Old Testament might have been a generic term applied to all of these diseases.

In the Middle Ages, leprosy was believed to be the disease, Elephantiasis Graecorum (elephant disease of the Greeks), and many scholars still hold that view today. Elephantiasis Graecorum comes in two forms: (1) the tuberculated or black leprosy and (2) anaesthetic or white leprosy. In extreme cases of this disease, the joints of the fingers and toes gradually shrink up and fall off. The gums are absorbed, and therefore the teeth fall out. The eyes, nose, tongue, and palate are also slowly consumed.

Josephus, a first century Jewish historian, describes leprosy as a disease called Psoriasis guttata which was simply an external skin disorder with no severe consequences. He mentions that Gentile lepers were still allowed to function in important positions in society because this leprosy was not contagious.

In the Old Testament, Naaman, who had leprosy, was a general in the army of the king of Syria (2 Ki. 5). He was accepted by the people he governed and was not considered an outcast. It appears that only Jewish lepers were shunned socially. This was because of the commandment under the Mosaic law in Leviticus 13:46. Jewish lepers were to live outside the camp, away from the rest of the Jewish community.

In all probability, Jewish lepers were not to be shunned simply because of being contagious. Leprosy was a biblical symbol of sin. In the New Testament, believers are instructed to shun another believer who is knowingly living in sin even to the point of not eating with him or her (1 Cor. 5:11).

The self-righteous Pharisees probably carried the Levitical commandment too far. They slandered Jesus for going to the lepers even though His purpose was to save and heal them. Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they "omitted the weightier matters of the law" including mercy (Mt. 23:23).

Note 2 at Lk. 5:12: This leper believed Jesus could heal him but doubted His willingness to heal him. Jesus showed him His willingness to heal, and since He is no respecter of persons (Rom. 2:11), He established a precedent for us. This leper did not know God's will concerning healing, but that is not the case with us. The Word of God is the will of God, and it reveals that it is always God's will to heal (see notes 1-2 at Mt. 8:16-17, p. 68).