“There Came a Leper And Worshipped” (Ready to Worship S12E6)

September 25, 2020

Ready to Worship Season 12, Episode 6 for Friday, September 25, 2020

This season on Ready to Worship, we are examining worship in the Gospel of Matthew. In this installment, we are examining a leper who came and worshipped. Matthew records, “When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them” (Mt. 8:1-4). The key trait of the leper’s worship was faith. We see his faith in three things – his prostration, his proclamation, and his presentation.

First, we see the leper’s faith in his prostration. Matthew records that he came and worshipped. It was faith that brought him and it was faith that bowed him. The Greek word that is translated as worship (proskuneo) means to kneel or to kiss the hand towards one in adoration. The leper knew that he was unclean. He knew that he was unworthy to approach Christ. He demonstrated his humility by prostration before Christ, who was both holy and worthy. This same contrite spirit was manifested by other great worshippers. Think about Isaiah’s reaction when he found himself in the presence of the Holy God. “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isa. 6:5). Second, we see the leper’s faith in his proclamation. Kneeling before the Lord, he declared, “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” The leper clearly believed that the Lord could cleanse him. Had he not believed, he would not have come. Faith moved his feet. Faith caused him to fall on his knees. Faith brought forth the confession – Lord. Faith submitted to the Master’s will. It was never a matter of what the Lord could do. It was only a matter of what the Lord would do (Dan. 3:16-18). The same confident faith must characterize our worship today. The Hebrew writer declared, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:22). Third, we see the leper’s faith in his presentation. According to the Law, Jesus told the man to go his way, to show himself to the priest, and to offer his gift (Mt. 8:4). By presenting himself and his gift to the priest, the leper was declaring his faith. It would serve as proof to the priests that the Messiah had come (Mt. 11:2-5). In like manner, we demonstrate our faith today by following the instructions of the New Law. We show our faith by presenting ourselves and our gifts to God (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:7). As we get ready to worship this week, let us come in faith. Let’s show our faith by the prostration of our hearts, the proclamation of our lips, and the presentation of our gifts.