Episode Notes

Episode 95: Matthew 8 - Using Infectious Skin Diseases for Outreach

November 1, 2025 - Host: Dr. Gregory Hall

In this episode we’ll dive into a particular formula (3 stories of healing followed by a call to discipleship) that Matthew uses to present Jesus’ ministry. When we’re done, you might ask if infectious skin diseases could be a part of your church’s outreach ministry!

Resources Referenced and/or Read:

The list of Lepers in the Bible is pretty short:  

• Exod 4 - Moses’ hand became leprous as snow, as if he had a skin disease, after he encountered God at the burning bush.
• Numbers 12:10 - Miriam, sister of Moses, became leprous when she spoke against Moses’ leadership.
• Naaman - 2 Kings 5 - Elisha sent a messenger to him saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.”
• Gehazi, the servant of Elisha - 2 Kings 5:20
• Joab - 2 Samuel 3:29
• 2 Kgs 15; 2 Chr 26  - Uzziah [Azariah], king of Judah, was punished with a skin disease after he went into the temple of the Lord so that he might burn incense.
• Simon the Leper - Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9
• Three gospels likely share the same event: Matthew 8:2-4 - unnamed, Mark 1:40-45 - unnamed, Luke 5:12-16 - unnamed
• Luke 17:11-21 - 9 unnamed Jews - one unnamed Samaritan
• Matt 11:1-6 - When John the Baptist was imprisoned, John asks if Jesus is the Expected One… and in his response Jesus mentions several miracles associated with his ministry including “the lepers are cleansed”.

Show Music:

• Intro/Outro - "Growth" by Armani Delos Santos
• Transition Music - produced by Jacob A. Hall

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