And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:2-3)

During Biblical times, leprosy was a very fearful thing. Anyone suspected of contracting leprosy would first have to go to the priest for an examination. If leprosy was confirmed, that person was then required to leave his family and community. Ostracized from society, the leper would have to suffer further indignity of showing people he had the disease by wearing torn clothes, keeping his hair unkempt, covering the lower part of his face and crying out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as he had the disease, he remained unclean and had to live alone, away from others. (Lev 13:45-46).

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