Commentary on Leviticus 5.0

To what end those who devote themselves to meditation on the law come, how high they ascend, and what blessedness

[The conclusion of Book 4, chapter 14, printed here by the scan text:] … who became incarnate for us, is entrusted. And therefore he commands the same sacrifices to be taken for the house that is to be cleansed, which figure his mystery and passion, since through them, through the theology concerning these things, it can sufficiently heal the tongues of those who sin and cleanse all their sins.

Verses 54–57. "This is the whole law of leprosy, and of the stroke of leprosy, of garments and of houses, of the scar, of pustules breaking out, of the shining spot, and of the colours changed into various kinds, so that it may be known at what time a thing is clean or unclean."

"This is the whole law of leprosy." Because he set out the enactment about leprosy at length, he judged it necessary to repeat its heads: first comprehensively the genus, and after this he sets out the species part by part. For when he said, "This is the whole law of leprosy," he showed the genus comprehensively. And the species are most plainly those he added in what follows, rightly putting first the "stroke," which is not just any sin; for we said that this is the worst of all. It is impiety of doctrines, which befalls some of the people, of whom the lawgiver also said, "A man or a woman in whom there is the stroke of leprosy." For if he had made mention only of the priests, he would not have named a woman. After this he placed the leprosy that is in the virtues; for these are the garments of the soul, that is, those which are in the teachers and priests of the churches; for these were shown to be the houses and walls of the land of possession. Then he makes mention of the scar and of the pustules breaking out, describing true leprosy, that which is in sins, whether doubtful or proven; to all these he added: "so that it may be known at what time a thing is clean or unclean," showing that the offender is unclean when he has sinned knowingly; but when in ignorance, he deserves pardon because of ignorance, as a blind man who stumbles does; so that the Lord said of the Jews, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, We see; your sin remains." But let us use the eyes of knowledge for what is expedient, so that through them we may avoid sins and seek cleanness. Let us know the day on which we shall be cleansed, and knowing it, let us meet it, and keep the whole law of leprosy. For being clean in this way we shall dwell in the Lord's tabernacles, in Christ Jesus, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father with the Holy Spirit for ages of ages. Amen.

[The preface to Book 5 continues:] … they bear [from the fruits] of the spirit, David the prophet plainly sets out. For of him who has his will in the law of the Lord and meditates in it day and night, he says: "Like [a tree] which will give its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not fall." And what do we believe must be done so that one may be found a tree of life? Nothing but what the Lord said: "Search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness of me." And, in that passage of prophetic psalmody: "Blessed is the man whom you instruct, O Lord, and teach out of your law, to give him rest from evil days." For we know that the teaching of the holy Scriptures provides us both with deliverance from sins and with relief from the things that terrify us in the evil day. And we gather from it no small progress of the soul; that is why Paul too writes to Timothy: "Meditate on these things, that your progress may be manifest to all. Attend to yourself and to the teaching; continue in them; for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." With all the things mentioned, let us gain both our own salvation and the zeal of others who are skilled; and therefore no labour or sweat should keep either those who expound them or unlearned readers from searching the holy Scriptures, especially since there is great profit under the spirit of this law; and those who work them with frequent meditation and dig them out take pearls from them. But let us follow in order what comes next in this book of Leviticus, building upon the foundation which Christ, like a wise master builder, has already laid through our tongue; as a wise builder, through a cheap instrument, polishes the cornerstone, to show the greatness of the house and to accomplish great things with cheap instruments.