The lepers who called for mercy Jesus sends to the priest (v14a). In Leviticus 13 & 14 there are instructions about those who have infectious skin diseases being excluded and reunited with their community. The priest was like a skin inspector declaring if someone was ‘clean’ and fit to be readmitted to God’s people. In sending these men to the priest Jesus was fulfilling the requirements of the law.

In dealing with sin, the requirements of the law must be satisfied (Matt. 5 v17-20; Col. 2 v13-24). God’s servants have the responsibility to declare what God’s word teaches about when a person is spiritually clean or unclean.

It was as the lepers began the journey to see the priest that healing came (v14b). As they exercised a level of faith in starting out God’s grace came.

This cleansing was a sovereign action of God, it was totally God’s activity. So it is with salvation. God’s grace steps in to change a hard heart of sin to make it into a tender heart of faith and obedience (see Ephesians 2 v1-5).

We must see salvation as something only God in Christ can do and not something we contribute to. It is by grace alone, received through faith alone.