Leviticus 14:35
the owner of the house shall come and tell the priest, 'Something like mildew has appeared in my house.'
the owner of the house
In Leviticus 14:35, the phrase "the owner of the house" refers to the individual who holds responsibility for the dwelling. In ancient Israel, property ownership was a significant aspect of one's identity and social standing. The Hebrew word for "owner" is "בַּעַל" (ba'al), which can also mean "master" or "lord." This highlights the authority and responsibility the owner has over the property. In a spiritual sense, this can be seen as a reminder of the stewardship entrusted to us by God over the resources and blessings He provides.

shall come and tell the priest
The directive for the owner to "come and tell the priest" underscores the role of the priest as an intermediary between God and the people. The Hebrew verb "בּוֹא" (bo) means "to come" or "to enter," indicating an intentional action of seeking guidance. This reflects the importance of involving spiritual authority in matters of concern, especially those that may affect the community's purity and holiness. It is a call to seek divine wisdom and intervention in times of trouble.

Something like mildew
The phrase "something like mildew" refers to a suspicious growth or discoloration in the house. The Hebrew term "נֶגַע" (nega) can mean "plague" or "affliction," suggesting a serious concern that requires attention. Mildew, or mold, in a biblical context, symbolizes impurity and corruption. It serves as a metaphor for sin and the need for cleansing. This highlights the vigilance required in maintaining spiritual and physical purity in one's life and environment.

has appeared in my house
The acknowledgment that mildew "has appeared in my house" indicates an awareness and admission of a problem. The Hebrew word "רָאָה" (ra'ah) means "to see" or "to appear," suggesting that the issue is visible and undeniable. This phrase emphasizes the importance of recognizing and confessing issues within our lives and homes. It is a call to honesty and transparency before God and His appointed leaders, acknowledging our need for His cleansing and restoration.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Inhabitant
The person who lives in the house and discovers a potential issue with mold or mildew. This individual is responsible for reporting the problem to the priest.

2. The Priest
A religious leader in ancient Israel responsible for inspecting the house and determining the presence of a defiling mold. The priest acts as a mediator between God and the people, ensuring the community's purity.

3. The House
Represents the dwelling place of the Israelite, which can become unclean due to mold or mildew. The house is a symbol of one's personal life and spiritual condition.

4. The Land of Canaan
The promised land given to the Israelites by God, where these laws are to be observed. It signifies God's provision and the need for holiness in the land He has given.

5. The Event of Reporting
The act of the inhabitant informing the priest about the potential defilement in the house. This event underscores the importance of vigilance and responsibility in maintaining purity.
Teaching Points
Responsibility for Purity
Just as the inhabitant must report mold, believers are responsible for identifying and addressing sin in their lives.

Role of Spiritual Leaders
The priest's role in inspecting and cleansing the house parallels the role of church leaders in guiding and helping believers maintain spiritual purity.

Holiness in God's Provision
The land of Canaan represents God's provision, and maintaining purity within it reflects our call to holiness in the blessings God provides.

Vigilance Against Spiritual Decay
Mold in the house symbolizes sin or spiritual decay. Believers must be vigilant and proactive in addressing issues before they spread.

Community and Accountability
The process involves community leaders, highlighting the importance of accountability and support within the body of Christ.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the responsibility of the inhabitant in Leviticus 14:35 reflect our responsibility in addressing sin in our lives today?

2. In what ways can church leaders today fulfill a role similar to the priest in helping believers maintain spiritual purity?

3. How does the concept of the house in Leviticus 14:35 relate to the idea of believers being the temple of God as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure that we are vigilant against spiritual decay in our personal lives and communities?

5. How can we foster a culture of accountability and support within our church communities to help each other maintain holiness?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 13
This chapter deals with laws concerning skin diseases and clothing, providing a broader context for understanding the laws of purity and the role of the priest in diagnosing and cleansing.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Paul speaks of believers as God's temple, drawing a parallel between the physical house in Leviticus and the spiritual house of the believer, emphasizing the need for purity.

Hebrews 3:6
This verse highlights Christ as the faithful Son over God's house, connecting the idea of a physical dwelling with the spiritual household of faith.
The Cleansing of Sin as Illustrated in the Cleansing of the LeperR.M. Edgar Leviticus 14:1-57
Cleansing the Corrupt HouseW. Clarkson Leviticus 14:33-53
Leprosy in a HouseJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 14:33-57
House LeprosyJ. A. Seiss, D. D.Leviticus 14:34-57
Leprosy of House and GarmentsH. Macmillan, D. D.Leviticus 14:34-57
The Plague in the HouseJ. Reid Howatt.Leviticus 14:34-57
The Way to Remove the PlagueJ. Cumming, D. D.Leviticus 14:34-57
People
Aaron, Ephah, Moses
Places
Canaan, Teman
Topics
Appeared, Declared, Disease, Leper's, Leprosy, Looks, Mark, Mildew, Owner, Owneth, Owns, Plague, Priest, Saying, Seemeth, Seems, Sort, Visible
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 14:1-57

     7340   clean and unclean

Leviticus 14:33-36

     8269   holiness, separation from worldly

Leviticus 14:33-53

     5340   house

Leviticus 14:34-57

     4839   mildew

Library
November 27. "And the Remnant of the Oil . . . Shall Pour Upon the Head" (Lev. xiv. 18).
"And the remnant of the oil ... shall pour upon the head" (Lev. xiv. 18). In the account of the healing of the Hebrew leper there is a beautiful picture of the touching of his ears, hands and feet, with the redeeming blood and the consecrating oil, as a sign that his powers of understanding, service, and conduct were set apart to God, and divinely endued for the Master's work and will. But after all this, we are significantly told that "the rest of the oil" was to be poured upon his head. The former
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The First Stage in the Leper's Cleansing
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest: 3. And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 4. Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar-wood, and scarlet, and hyssop: 5. And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Appendix xv. The Location of Sychar, and the Date of Our Lord's visit to Samaria.
1. The Location of Sychar. Although modern writers are now mostly agreed on this subject, it may be well briefly to put before our readers the facts of the case. Till comparitively lately, the Sychar of St. John iv. was generally as representing the ancient Shechem. The first difficulty here was the name, since Shechem, or even Sichem, could scarcely be identified with Sychar, which is undoubtedly the correct reading. Accordingly, the latter term was represented as one of oppobrium, and derived from
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision B. At Jacob's Well, and at Sychar. ^D John IV. 5-42. ^d 5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 and Jacob's well was there. [Commentators long made the mistake of supposing that Shechem, now called Nablous, was the town here called Sychar. Sheckem lies a mile and a half west of Jacob's well, while the real Sychar, now called 'Askar, lies scarcely half a mile north of the well. It was a small town, loosely called
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jesus Heals a Leper and Creates Much Excitement.
^A Matt.VIII. 2-4; ^B Mark I. 40-45; ^C Luke V. 12-16. ^c 12 And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities [it was a city of Galilee, but as it was not named, it is idle to conjecture which city it was], behold, ^b there cometh { ^a came} ^b to him a leper [There is much discussion as to what is here meant by leprosy. Two diseases now go by that name; viz., psoriasis and elephantiasis. There are also three varieties of psoriasis, namely, white, black and red. There are also three varieties
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

John's First Testimony to Jesus.
(Bethany Beyond Jordan, February, a.d. 27.) ^D John I. 19-34. ^d 19 And this is the witness of John [John had been sent to testify, "and" this is the matter of his testimony], when the Jews [The term "Jews" is used seventy times by John to describe the ruling classes of Judæa] sent unto him [In thus sending an embassy they honored John more than they ever honored Christ. They looked upon John as a priest and Judæan, but upon Jesus as a carpenter and Galilæan. It is probable that
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

John the Baptist's Person and Preaching.
(in the Wilderness of Judæa, and on the Banks of the Jordan, Occupying Several Months, Probably a.d. 25 or 26.) ^A Matt. III. 1-12; ^B Mark I. 1-8; ^C Luke III. 1-18. ^b 1 The beginning of the gospel [John begins his Gospel from eternity, where the Word is found coexistent with God. Matthew begins with Jesus, the humanly generated son of Abraham and David, born in the days of Herod the king. Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist, the Messiah's herald; and Mark begins with the ministry
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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