And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Ver. 3. And Jesus put forth his hand, &c.] The law forbade contactum contagionis, non sanationis. The high priest might enter a leprous house, &c. "We have not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities," Hebrews 4:15. Better might he say, than St Cyprian, Cum singulis pectus meum copulo, moeroris et funeris pondera luctuosa participo, cum plangentibus plango, cum deflentibus defleo, &c. Than St Paul, "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is afflicted, and I burn not?" 2 Corinthians 11:29. It was held a great condescension in King Alphonsus to use his skill for the recovery of one of his sick subjects: what was it here in Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords?