Cleansing the Ten Lepers: Luke 17:11-19
“11) While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12) As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13) and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14) When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15) Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16) and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17) Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18) Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 18) And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”” Luke 17:11-19
This story of healing ten leprous men is interesting. Let’s see if we can glean some insights.
First, it was a mixed group comprised of nine Jewish men and one Samaritan. As long as they were lepers, they were all considered equally unclean. They were equally shunned.
Second, when Jesus passed by, they stood at a distance and lifted their voices and said; “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” They begged for mercy and not healing. Healing is rooted in mercy. They needed healing from social stigma as much as from leprosy.
Third, they were healed as they went to the priests. Often healing is in the obedience. Faith is acting on the promise of healing. They didn’t wait for the healing to show up, they obeyed Jesus and the promise of healing.
Fourth, when they were healed, only the Samaritan returned to give praise to Jesus. Interestingly, the Law did not apply to Him. There was no provision to pronounce a Samaritan clean. Even if he was healed from Leprosy, he remained ethnically unclean. He had a unique dilemma.
Fifth, when the Samaritan returned to Jesus, he was approaching the only one who could pronounce Him totally clean. Jesus came to make both Jew and Gentile clean. (See Ephesians 2:11-22) Jesus not only forgives and heals, He makes us totally new and clean.
Sixth, Jesus was surprised that the nine failed to return and give glory to God. Those who fix their eyes only on the physical healing miss the big picture. The bigger miracle is a right relationship with God! He truly becomes Lord and Master.
Finally, in verse 19, Jesus stepped into His priestly role and pronounced the Samaritan Leper clean. Faith had made him well. When this final point becomes clear, it changes everything. The Samaritan was a new man with new dignity. His faith made him clean both inside and outside. Only Jesus can do that for people.
I personally believe that healing extends to our whole being. It affects body, soul and spirit. Don’t sell Jesus short and settle for just physical healing. Seek Him for a total life makeover.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“11) While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12) As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; 13) and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14) When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15) Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16) and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17) Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18) Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 18) And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”” Luke 17:11-19
This story of healing ten leprous men is interesting. Let’s see if we can glean some insights.
First, it was a mixed group comprised of nine Jewish men and one Samaritan. As long as they were lepers, they were all considered equally unclean. They were equally shunned.
Second, when Jesus passed by, they stood at a distance and lifted their voices and said; “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” They begged for mercy and not healing. Healing is rooted in mercy. They needed healing from social stigma as much as from leprosy.
Third, they were healed as they went to the priests. Often healing is in the obedience. Faith is acting on the promise of healing. They didn’t wait for the healing to show up, they obeyed Jesus and the promise of healing.
Fourth, when they were healed, only the Samaritan returned to give praise to Jesus. Interestingly, the Law did not apply to Him. There was no provision to pronounce a Samaritan clean. Even if he was healed from Leprosy, he remained ethnically unclean. He had a unique dilemma.
Fifth, when the Samaritan returned to Jesus, he was approaching the only one who could pronounce Him totally clean. Jesus came to make both Jew and Gentile clean. (See Ephesians 2:11-22) Jesus not only forgives and heals, He makes us totally new and clean.
Sixth, Jesus was surprised that the nine failed to return and give glory to God. Those who fix their eyes only on the physical healing miss the big picture. The bigger miracle is a right relationship with God! He truly becomes Lord and Master.
Finally, in verse 19, Jesus stepped into His priestly role and pronounced the Samaritan Leper clean. Faith had made him well. When this final point becomes clear, it changes everything. The Samaritan was a new man with new dignity. His faith made him clean both inside and outside. Only Jesus can do that for people.
I personally believe that healing extends to our whole being. It affects body, soul and spirit. Don’t sell Jesus short and settle for just physical healing. Seek Him for a total life makeover.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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