One of the blemishes disqualifying descendants of Aaron from their priestly prerogative of approaching the altar of God’s sanctuary to offer bread to God (Lev 21:16-24). It was not appropriate to sacrifice lame animals to God (Deut 15:21; Mal 1:8; Mal 1:13). Jesus’s healing of the lame was one of the “deeds of the Christ” illustrating and bringing about the kingdom of God (Matt 11:2-6; Matt 15:29-31; Luke 7:18-23). By healing the lame in the Temple Jesus restored them to the worshiping community (Matt 21:10-17). Jesus’s healing of lameness was continued by Peter and John in the Temple (Acts 3:2-13) and Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:4-8).
