There are two possible audiences for the leper’s presentation of the proof of his cleansing:
The cleansed leper’s presentation to the priest would be
a proof to them
: to the crowds present, who thus could see that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets (see also Mark 1:40–45)The presentation to the priest showed the Jewish people as a whole that Jesus lived in accordance with the law, and so the aftercare of the miracle must follow the statutes of the law.
Interpretation 1:
The cleansed leper’s presentation to the priest would then serve as a proof to them,
that is, to the crowds present, who thus could clearly see from the cleansing itself that Jesus did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets (see also Mark 1:40–45).1
Interpretation 2:
It served as a proof to the Jewish people as a whole, for it was important for the people to take note of the fact that Jesus lived in accordance with the law, and as such it was of the greatest importance that the aftercare of the miracle also accord with the statutes of the law.2
3 Jésus étendit la main, le toucha, et dit: Je le veux, sois pur. Aussitôt il fut purifié de sa lèpre.