The great outstanding type of cleansing in Leviticus is that of the leper, given in

chapter 14:--"The law of the leper in the day of his cleansing." Before we can hope to

appreciate the blessing of this typical cleansing we must have some understanding of the

nature of the defilement, and this necessitates a consideration of chapter 13: also. In

13: the priest pronounces the leper unclean, while in 14: he pronounces him clean.

Alongside the main subject of the leper and his cleansing are the related subjects of

leprosy in a garment or in a house. Leprosy in the person is typical of sin within, it is

indeed "deeper than the skin" (Lev. 13: 2). Leprosy in the garments is typical of our

"habits"--the English idiom retains the figure, for we still speak of some clothing as a

"habit", e.g., "a riding habit". Scripture uses the figure continually. "Be clothed with

humility." "The robe of righteousness." "Put on (as clothing) the new man." The house

speaks of relationships--home, witness, service, etc.,  "The house of God",  "The

household of God", "The household of faith". The subject matter of Lev. 13: and 14:

is disposed as follows:--

Upon reading Lev. 13: one of the first impressions received is the extraordinary care

that the priest must exercise in judging as to whether the person before him is, or is not,

suffering from leprosy. No hasty judgment is allowed. No indiscriminate generalizings,

for leprosy cuts a man off from fellowship with God and his neighbours, deprives him of

all visible means of grace, all domestic and social privileges, and consequently it must be

dealt with most carefully. The priest is given the most detailed account of the symptoms,

and his diagnosis does not depend upon his feelings or his reasoning, but upon the Word

of God. Then, observe the care that must be exercised whenever there is a doubt in the

mind of the priest.