40 A leper [1] came to him begging him, and kneeling [2] he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." 41 Moved with pity, [3] Jesus [4] stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy [5] left him, and he was made clean. 43 After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44 saying to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus [6] could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 1:40-45
Commentary on Mark 1:40-45
(Read Mark 1:40-45)
We have here Christ's cleansing of a leper. It teaches us to apply to the Saviour with great humility, and with full submission to his will, saying, "Lord, if thou wilt," without any doubt of Christ's readiness to help the distressed. See also what to expect from Christ; that according to our faith it shall be to us. The poor leper said, If thou wilt. Christ readily wills favours to those who readily refer themselves to his will. Christ would have nothing done that looked like seeking praise of the people. But no reasons now exist why we should hesitate to spread the praises of Christ.