Hard Truth.
When you are afraid or embarrassed to be seen with someone, or treat them differently when others are around...you have a character issue. Not them.
Loving your neighbor as yourself has everything to do with getting over fear of man as well as getting over ourselves!
True freedom is being released from both! It comes from being like the Messiah, who ate with tax collectors, fisherman, prostitutes and thieves. Who have you eaten with lately?

Patterns are useful for helping to understand scripture. I would go so far as to say that you don't really know the 10 Commandments until you know this about the 10 Commandments.

You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.
Numbers 5:3

Lepers and defiled people are isolated from the community in Torah not necessarily because they sinned, but for the protection of the rest of the community and their relationship with God. Ritual uncleanness isn't about dirt or disease per se. It's about contact with death or a loss of life-force. If someone is in such a state of impurity they could accidentally touch a holy object or a priest or someone en route to the altar. That could then cause a serious problem for everyone. When God's presence is right there in the camp with the people, they need to be very cautious. He isn't looking for an excuse to zap anyone, but he's dangerous, like a highly charged capacitor. Touch it without the proper precautions and you could be killed, and it would be your own fault.
Numbers 5:1-4

Reminder to all to pray about how God will have you prepare for the coming #famine. Will you wait for the ravens like Elijah or will you store grain like Joseph? The way God has you prepare may not be the same as someone else. #foodshortage