Luke 5:14 kjv

And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Luke 5:14 nkjv

And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded."

Luke 5:14 niv

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."

Luke 5:14 esv

And he charged him to tell no one, but "go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them."

Luke 5:14 nlt

Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, "Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed."

Luke 5 verses

Luke 5 14 Meaning

Luke 5:14 presents Jesus instructing the man healed of leprosy to keep his healing a secret, but crucially, to present himself to the priests and offer the sacrifices prescribed by Mosaic Law. This multifaceted command served several purposes: to acknowledge and uphold the Law of Moses regarding ritual purity, to provide official validation of the miraculous healing through the priestly certification, and to serve as a testimony, or undeniable evidence, to the religious authorities and the community about the divine power at work, specifically through Jesus. It underscored Jesus' respect for established divine ordinances while demonstrating His unique authority.

Luke 5 14 Context

Luke chapter 5 opens with Jesus teaching by the Lake of Gennesaret, followed by the miraculous catch of fish and the calling of Peter, James, and John as disciples. Immediately after this, Jesus encounters a man "full of leprosy" (Luke 5:12). In Jewish society, leprosy rendered a person ceremonially unclean and an outcast from the community. People with leprosy were required to live separately and announce their uncleanness (Lev 13:45-46). Jesus, in an unprecedented act, touches the leper and immediately heals him. It is after this profound demonstration of divine power and compassion that the command in verse 14 is given. This incident follows a pattern where Jesus' power is revealed, often to crowds, and then He often gives specific instructions about secrecy or further action, sometimes testing the obedience or faith of those involved, and in this case, interacting directly with the Mosaic Law regarding purity. The leper's cleansing marks not only a physical restoration but also reintegration into religious and social life.

Luke 5 14 Word analysis

• "And he charged him": The Greek verb used is ἐκέλευσεν (ekeleusen), a strong imperative. It signifies a direct, firm order, emphasizing Jesus' authority in issuing the command, not a mere suggestion or request. This wasn't an option but a mandatory instruction for the man.
• "to tell no man": (μηδενὶ εἰπεῖν - mēdeni eipein). This reflects a common motif in Jesus' ministry, often referred to as the "Messianic Secret." Possible reasons for this injunction include: managing public expectation to avoid a premature attempt to crown Him as a political king; preventing an uncontrolled surge of people seeking physical healing that might overshadow His spiritual mission; allowing the leper to first fulfill the religious requirements before wider fame could complicate his reintegration into the community; or preventing accusations that Jesus was healing outside the scope of Mosaic Law, though He always worked within or above it. It allowed the focus to be on obedience to the Law and the priests' necessary certification.
• "but go, and shew thyself to the priest": (πορεύθητι, καὶ δεῖξον σεαυτὸν τῷ ἱερεῖ - poreutheti, kai deixon seauton tō hierei). This instruction highlights Jesus' profound respect for the Mosaic Law and the priestly system, which at the time was the ordained way for handling such cases. Priests, according to Leviticus 13-14, were the only authorized figures to declare a leper clean, allowing them back into the community and temple worship. This command demonstrated Jesus' affirmation of the validity of the divinely instituted Old Covenant legal system, showing He did not come to destroy but to fulfill the Law.
• "and offer for thy cleansing": (καὶ προσένεγκε περὶ τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ σου - kai prosēnenke peri tou katharismou sou). This refers to the specific purification rites and sacrifices outlined in Leviticus 14:1-32, which included two birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, hyssop, and later, a burnt offering, a sin offering, and a guilt offering with accompanying oil for anointing. These offerings were essential for formal re-entry into Jewish society and worship, making the leper ceremonially clean and integrated once again.
• "according as Moses commanded": (καθὼς προσέταξεν Μωϋσῆς - kathōs prosetaxen Mōüsēs). This explicit reference validates Jesus' action by appealing directly to the divinely inspired Law given through Moses. It underlines that Jesus’ authority did not bypass God’s prior revelation but worked in harmony with it. He confirms the authority of the Old Covenant, establishing continuity rather than rupture.
• "for a testimony unto them": (εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς - eis martyrion autois). This is a pivotal phrase revealing the underlying purpose. "Them" refers primarily to the priests, who would be faced with a living, irrefutable proof of a leper instantly healed – a miracle not achieved by human means. This public, legal declaration of healing would serve as undeniable evidence:
  • To the priests: It would be a legal attestation that the man was indeed cured, necessitating their compliance with Mosaic Law for purification. More deeply, it would implicitly serve as a witness to the divine power of the One who healed him. They were bound by their office to acknowledge the physical evidence, leading them to ponder the source of such a cure.
  • To the wider Jewish community: Once the man was certified clean, his re-entry into society would testify to a profound work of God.
  • Potentially, a witness against them: In some contexts, "for a testimony" could imply a witness that could stand against those who, despite undeniable evidence, would choose to disbelieve (Mark 6:11, Luke 9:5). It highlights their responsibility to acknowledge God’s working through Jesus.

Luke 5 14 Bonus section

The cleansing of a leper was an act that demonstrated unique messianic power, as only God was truly seen as capable of such a profound healing (e.g., in the Old Testament, Naaman’s cleansing was through prophetic intercession, not direct healing). By physically touching the leper, Jesus, the embodiment of purity, takes on the "uncleanliness" conceptually yet remains unblemished, actually purifying the one He touches. This prefigures His taking on the defilement of human sin, making us clean through His sacrifice. The command for secrecy also implies Jesus' strategic revelation of Himself. He was building His ministry foundation, allowing for teaching and discipling before His full messianic identity, which would inevitably lead to His suffering and crucifixion, was fully declared and widely misunderstood. This specific encounter, documented in all three synoptic Gospels (Matthew 8:4, Mark 1:44), emphasizes Jesus’ holistic approach—caring for the body, affirming the Law, and testifying to the truth.

Luke 5 14 Commentary

Luke 5:14 is a profound summary of Jesus’ ministry: His divine power over human suffering (cleansing the leper), His profound humility (command for secrecy), and His reverent obedience to God's Law (instruction for priestly ritual). Jesus performs a miracle that goes beyond any priest's ability to heal, yet He defers to the priests for ceremonial validation. This is not because Jesus needed human validation, but because the healed man needed formal reintegration into his community and to fulfill all righteousness under the existing covenant. The "testimony" element is critical. By instructing the leper to go through the legal process, Jesus ensures that His miraculous work would be acknowledged within the framework of Jewish law. This would compel the religious authorities to either accept the reality of God's work through Him or explicitly reject the clear evidence before them. The incident also subtly contrasts external ritual purification with internal spiritual cleansing, with Jesus demonstrating power over both the visible symptom of defilement and its deeper spiritual root, paving the way for the New Covenant's emphasis on true purity. It also provides an example of Christian living: to honor and submit to legitimate authority while also testifying to the transforming power of God in one’s life.