9 So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha . 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying , " Go and wash in the Jordan seven times , and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean ." 11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said , "Behold , I thought , 'He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God , and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper .' 12 "Are not Abanah and Pharpar , the rivers of Damascus , better than all the waters of Israel ? Could I not wash in them and be clean ?" So he turned and went away in a rage . 13 Then his servants came near and spoke to him and said , " My father , had the prophet told you to do some great thing , would you not have done it? How much e more e then, when he says to you, 'Wash , and be clean '?" 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan , according to the word of the man of God ; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Kings 5:9-14
Commentary on 2 Kings 5:9-14
(Read 2 Kings 5:9-14)
Elisha knew Naaman to be a proud man, and he would let him know, that before the great God all men stand upon the same level. All God's commands make trial of men's spirits, especially those which direct a sinner how to apply for the blessings of salvation. See in Naaman the folly of pride; a cure will not content him, unless he be cured with pomp and parade. He scorns to be healed, unless he be humoured. The way by which a sinner is received and made holy, through the blood, and by the Spirit of Christ, through faith alone in his name, does not sufficiently humour or employ self, to please the sinner's heart. Human wisdom thinks it can supply wiser and better methods of cleansing. Observe, masters should be willing to hear reason. As we should be deaf to the counsel of the ungodly, though given by great and respected names, so we are to have our ears open to good advice, though brought by those below us. Wouldst thou not do any thing? When diseased sinners are content to do any thing, to submit to any thing, to part with any thing, for a cure, then, and not till then, is there any hope of them. The methods for the healing of the leprosy of sin, are so plain, that we are without excuse if we do not observe them. It is but, Believe, and be saved; Repent, and be pardoned; Wash, and be clean. The believer applies for salvation, not neglecting, altering, or adding to the Saviour's directions; he is thus made clean from guilt, while others, who neglect them, live and die in the leprosy of sin.