Matthew 8:4 (Jesus, priest, testimony, Moses, Earth)

[Aqualung]

Why did Jesus want the leper to keep his healing a secret? After all, he just got done (in the sermon on the mount) telling people not to keep candles hidden and whatnot.

[onmybelief]

For one thing he did not want to draw attention to himself. And another is because his main reason for coming to earth was not to heal (if the leper were to tell, every sick person would come to him hoping to get healed - many times he healed out of compassion). But the truth is he did not want to be distracted from his reason to be on earth.

[dawny0826]

"And Jesus said to thim, "See that you tell no one, but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded as a testimony to them."

Jesus sent the leper to the priest, to offer a gift of thanks to God. Christ's intent was for the healing to be a testimony to the priest and those present with the priest.

[may]

Then Jesus said to him: "See that you tell no one, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses appointed, for the purpose of a witness to them.

Leprosy. This was the most loathsome of all diseases and required severe measures of control, including prolonged isolation with careful and repeated examination to determine when a cure had been effected. (Le 13:1-46; De 24:8)

Originally, under the prescribed regulations of the Law, before a cured victim of leprosy could return to normal living, an elaborate two-part ceremony was necessary, so Jesus told him to do what he should be doing . but as we see he was so happy he could not keep it to himself, he just had to tell people
Luke 5:12-16; Mark 1:40-45; Matthew 8:2-4