When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him,“ See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” (Matthew 8:1-4)
What is 'the gift that Moses commanded'?
What was the gift Jesus wanted the man to offer? And why would something Moses commanded be considered a gift?This is a poor and confusing translation. The word "gift" is being translated from the Greek word δῶρον (dōron) which means, "the offering of a gift" according to the lexicon. This means Jesus is not referring to "the gift" itself but the offering of a gift.
In other words, Jesus is referring to making an offering to the Supreme Being through a priest:
Why is this important? When we make an offering to someone, we are saying that we want to have a relationship with them. We like them and want to be with them. Offering to the Supreme Being is not so different.Now the word "commanded" comes from the Greek word προστάσσω (prostassō) which means, again according to the lexicon, to enjoin, order, prescribe, command. So "commanded" would not be a mistranslation, but it does not fit the context, because it is not that someone would command or order a person to make an offering. After all, an offering by necessity is done voluntarily.
Thus a better translation of this phrase would be something like "making an offering as Moses prescribed."
They are to bring it to the priest, who shall take a handful of it as a memorial portion and burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the LORD.’ ” (Leviticus 5:12-13)
Making an offering to God is an exercise of connecting with the Supreme Being in the mood of that instruction emphasized by Moses multiple times:
Making offerings to God is an ancient practice, and we know from Jesus' statement that he maintained and suggested this practice to his followers.
In other words, Jesus did not want to bring attention to the man's healing. He had just left a crowd of people who "were amazed at his teaching" and he didn't want to attract further throngs of people wanting to be healed.
Why not? Why wouldn't Jesus want to heal everyone?
This indicates that Jesus' mission was not to be a doctor. His objective wasn't to heal everyone's physical body. His mission was to teach people about the Supreme Being.
Jesus wanted us to reconnect with the Supreme Being.
This is describing the authority of God. Jesus was the messenger and representative of God. Some sectarians who claim to follow Jesus will criticize this statement, thinking that somehow being empowered by God and given authority by God denigrates Jesus’ position.
But they must be asked: What higher authority could Jesus possibly have, if not the authority of the Supreme Being? Could there be any higher source of authority?
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)Making an offering to God with love is saying we want to have a relationship with Him. It is the extending of ourselves to Him with love and friendship.
Making offerings to God is an ancient practice, and we know from Jesus' statement that he maintained and suggested this practice to his followers.
Why did Jesus ask him not to tell anyone?
Remember another statement by Jesus:
This confirms that Jesus was not interested in public appearances. He was not interested in claiming many followers or impressing crowds with his authority. He simply wanted to personally please the Supreme Being, and wanted each of us to develop our own loving relationship with the Supreme Being."When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:5-6)
In other words, Jesus did not want to bring attention to the man's healing. He had just left a crowd of people who "were amazed at his teaching" and he didn't want to attract further throngs of people wanting to be healed.
Why not? Why wouldn't Jesus want to heal everyone?
This indicates that Jesus' mission was not to be a doctor. His objective wasn't to heal everyone's physical body. His mission was to teach people about the Supreme Being.
Jesus wanted us to reconnect with the Supreme Being.
But isn't Jesus God?
The scriptures indicate otherwise. They indicate that Jesus taught about God but he wasn't himself God. Matthew, for example, indicates that Jesus spoke with authority, but that authority was given to him by God.When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. (Matthew 7:28-29)What kind of authority is this referring to? Consider that “teachers of the law” is describing those institutional teachers of the temple institution at that time. This statement in Matthew describes that Jesus had greater authority than these “teachers of the law.”
This is describing the authority of God. Jesus was the messenger and representative of God. Some sectarians who claim to follow Jesus will criticize this statement, thinking that somehow being empowered by God and given authority by God denigrates Jesus’ position.
But they must be asked: What higher authority could Jesus possibly have, if not the authority of the Supreme Being? Could there be any higher source of authority?
Where did Jesus get his authority?
Jesus' authority, according to Jesus, came from the Supreme Being. He clarified this many times during his teachings:"By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me.
“I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me." (John 5:36)
"And the Father who sent me has Himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form" (John 5:37)
"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me." (John 6:38)
"And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given me, but raise them up at the last day." (John 6:39)
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day." (John 6:44)
"Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. (John 6:57)
Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the One who sent me." (John 7:16)
Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts, cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from. I am not here on my own authority, but He who sent me is true. You do not know Him, but I know Him because I am from Him and He sent me.” (John 7:28-29)
Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the One who sent me." (John 7:33)
"But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me." (John 8:16)
"I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” (John 8:18)
“I have much to say in judgment of you. But He who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from Him I tell the world.” (John 8:26)
"The One who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.” (John 8:29)
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me." (John 8:42)
"As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." (John 9:4)
"I knew that You always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent me.” (John 11:42)
Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the One who sent me." (John 12:44)
"The one who looks at me is seeing the One who sent me. (John 12:45)
"For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken." (John 12:49)
"Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the One who sent me.” (John 13:20)
"Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me." (John 14:24)
"They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.:" (John 15:21)
"but now I am going to Him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ (John 16:5)
"For I gave them the words You gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent me." (John 17:8)
"As You sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." (John 17:18)
"Then the world will know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me." (John 17:23)
“Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent me." (John 17:25)
Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
But didn't Jesus die for our sins?
Some claim that Jesus was the Supreme Being, coming embodied onto the earth to die for our sins. This is clearly negated by Jesus in the verses above. Furthermore, the Supreme Being never dies.
The Supreme Being controls both the physical and the spiritual kingdoms, and the Supreme Being does not need to "die" to cleanse our sins.
The Supreme Being already has the ability to cleanse our sins. This is why Jesus recommended in his Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) that we ask the Supreme Being to forgive our sins.
God has the authority and power to cleanse our sins immediately and effectively, just by willing it. In fact, by simply sincerely thinking of Him, praying to Him, and praising Him, we can become purified. This is because God is pure, and we simply have to come into contact with Him to become purified.
Jesus' teachings indicate that God remains God. He does not become affected by or subjected to the sins of others. Nor does He succumb to sacrifice. The Supreme Being is the controller of the universe. He is not subject to any rules of sacrifice.
Likewise, because Jesus is the servant, messenger, and representative of the Supreme Being, his direct presence, his words, and his touch can be purifying. Because Jesus’ thoughts and his entire life were centered around doing God’s will, he is pure, and those who came into contact with him became purified.
The Supreme Being controls both the physical and the spiritual kingdoms, and the Supreme Being does not need to "die" to cleanse our sins.
The Supreme Being already has the ability to cleanse our sins. This is why Jesus recommended in his Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) that we ask the Supreme Being to forgive our sins.
God has the authority and power to cleanse our sins immediately and effectively, just by willing it. In fact, by simply sincerely thinking of Him, praying to Him, and praising Him, we can become purified. This is because God is pure, and we simply have to come into contact with Him to become purified.
Jesus' teachings indicate that God remains God. He does not become affected by or subjected to the sins of others. Nor does He succumb to sacrifice. The Supreme Being is the controller of the universe. He is not subject to any rules of sacrifice.
Likewise, because Jesus is the servant, messenger, and representative of the Supreme Being, his direct presence, his words, and his touch can be purifying. Because Jesus’ thoughts and his entire life were centered around doing God’s will, he is pure, and those who came into contact with him became purified.
It is for this reason that Jesus was able to cleanse people and heal people. It was not Jesus’ power or authority that rendered this ability: It was his devotion to the Supreme Being that gave him this purification power.