Yet again the list maker is referencing a biblical source that is not prophecy, let alone a messianic prophecy. The cleansing of a leper is not a sign of priesthood; it is part of the office of priesthood. Plus this chapter is not speaking of lepers – that is simply the English word chosen by translators for the Hebrew word צרעת / tzara’at -- it is spiritual in nature – caused by sin (not a physical cause). It can refer to discoloration on garments (Vayikra / Leviticus 13:47-59), homes (Vayikra / Leviticus 14:33-57) and body / skin (Vayikra / Leviticus 13-14). The Talmud lists seven reasons one might be afflicted with the disease: gossip, murder, perjury, forbidden sexual relationships, arrogance, theft, and envy (Arakhin 16a). Vayikra / Leviticus 13-14 discuss the rituals by the priests for the cleansing of people, homes and clothing who / which have acquired צרעת / tzara’at. The Torah is very specific on how a Jewish priest (which Jesus was not, since he was not from the tribe of Levi and descended from Moses’ brother Aaron on his father’s side) both diagnosed this disease and treated it. The treatment, once it was determined that a person did indeed suffer from צרעת / tzara’at, were three separate ceremonies were required on three different days: “the person undergoing purification takes two live kosher birds, a piece of cedar, some crimson [wool], and a hyssop branch. The priest shall give orders that one bird be slaughtered over fresh spring water in a clay bowl. He shall then take the live bird together with the piece of cedar, the crimson wool, and the hyssop. Along with the live bird, he shall dip [the other articles] into the spring water mixed with the blood of the slaughtered bird. He shall then sprinkle [this mixture] seven times on the person undergoing purification . . . The person undergoing purification shall then immerse his clothing, and [the priest] shall shave off all the person's hair. He shall then immerse in a mikvah and thus complete [the first part] of the purification process. . .” Vayikra / Leviticus 14 I’m only quoting a brief part of the rituals required so that you can see that in neither Luke nor Acts does Jesus fulfill the requirements of Vayikra / Leviticus 14. Now, Luke 5:12-14 says that Jesus cured a man from leprosy without performing any of these purifications – and then for some odd reason he tells the man to go to the priests “Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” If Jesus healed the man good for him – but why would he then tell the man to fulfill the ritual process as proscribed in the Torah? If Jesus was a priest (and his curing this man was "proof" of his being a priest) why would he then tell the man to show himself to the priest and perform the necessary sacrifices (with the priest)? Why don’t Christians today follow the example of Jesus in Luke 5? And why, if Jesus told the man not to tell the priests that he (Jesus) cured the man, how can the list maker then insist that in Acts 6 when some priests supposedly become Christians it is BECAUSE of this healing? Needless to say – the messiah is not required to perform any of these purifications, and the messiah will not be a priest (he will be of the tribe of Judah, through the lines of Kings David and Solomon). Thus already we can see that the list maker has yet again presented us with a supposed messianic prophecy which is nothing of the sort. “So what” if Jesus “cured” someone from צרעת / tzara’at (translated as leprosy). This does not make him the messiah any more than it made any of the priests who properly fulfilled the mitzvot of curing people of this ailment the messiah. What about the second part of the claimed prophecy (a sign to the priests). The reference given is Acts 6:7 “So the word of G-d spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” Do you see a reference to the priests following Jesus because he cured lepers (victims of צרעת / tzara’at)? Me neither. Thus we have the list maker jumping to conclusions again. Again I must repeat “so what”? It is easy to claim that priests became followers of Jesus – but who were they? Do we have any names, let alone any proof that priests left their priestly duties and followed Jesus other than the words of the anonymous author of Acts telling us this happened? Keep in mind that there have always been Jews who have turned to idolatry – the T’nach is replete with stories of people who followed false gods. It wouldn’t mean a thing if some priests rejected G-d and became Christians – and again this is not a messianic prophecy (that priests will leave Judaism and become Christians (aka “obedient to the faith” of Jesus). These proof texts are built on passages which are not messianic prophecies – the only way they “work” is if one is already a Christian and one seemly gleans through the T’nach for a word here or there that seems to fit (“hey, look – Vayikra / Leviticus 14 is speaking of lepers and Luke 5 speaks of lepers – this HAS to be about Jesus!”). Not so much. Vayikra / Leviticus 14 is not about Jesus and it is not a messianic prophecy – neither the curing of a sufferer of צרעת / tzara’at or if some Jews (including priests) decide to follower a non-Jewish god (in this case, Jesus).
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