Luke 17:12-19, “And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Leprosy was a panic-stricken disease because there was no known cure, and it was considered a very contagious disease during this time. These ten lepers kept their distance from Jesus, who entered their village, for fear of infecting anyone nearby. These ten men were a mixture of Jews and Samaritans. Their misery bonded them, and national and other prejudices dissolved as they came together in prayer and to console one another. They were simply men who “had forgotten they were Jews and Samaritans and remembered only they were men in need.” (Barclay).
In verse fourteen, Jesus tells them to “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” They were still lepers. They hadn’t been healed yet. “This was truly stepping out in faith, as in putting on the new man even when we still look and feel like the old man.” David Guzik, Blue Letter Commentary. These men had to prove their faith in Jesus by obedience. The law of their time required a healed leper to be examined by a priest (Leviticus 14) in order to be restored to the community, with the priest declaring that the leprosy was gone entirely. These ten men obeyed in faith, and Jesus healed them on their way. The question I have to ask myself is, is my trust in God so strong that I will act on what He says even before I see any evidence it will work?
I wonder why only one of the ten lepers returned to thank Jesus? Jesus marveled that the nine men He had healed did not come and thank him as this one Samaritan man did. Do you realize he was the unlikely one because he was a Samaritan? The Jews despised Samaritans because the Jews saw themselves as the ones who were direct descendants of Abraham. In contrast, the Samaritans were a mixed race. So, according to their Jewish law, Samaritans were the least likely to act correctly. In the time of Jesus, both politics and religion were involved. Here this un-orthodox Samaritan turned back to thank Jesus in proper action. The other Jews did not as they only obeyed the ritual.
In verse 19, Jesus tells this Samaritan, “Your faith has made you well.” “There was an extra healing for this tenth leper. When Jesus said this, He likely meant God’s work within the man’s heart. The other lepers had whole bodies, but sick hearts.” David Guzik, Blue Letter Commentary. This man knew Jesus was not just a healer but a Redeemer and a Savior. “The Samaritan’s nine friends were declared clean by the priest, but he was declared saved by the Son of God!” The Wiersbe Bible Commentary. Warren W. Wiersbe. This Samaritan was cleansed not only physically but spiritually showing Christ’s saving grace within the soul.
Is there something you need to act upon in your faith and trust in God, using discernment and an obedient heart even before you see any evidence it will work, as those ten lepers did in Luke 17? I just realized what mine is. Do you have a verse that backs you up? Then, praise God for what He has and is doing in your life. Thank Him for His grace and mercy. Thank Him for His protection, provision, and presence. He is listening. Then act upon your trust in God.
Listen to CeCe Winans – Be Still and Know (Official Lyric Video).