Knowing The Word in Luke 17:11-19

Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers

17:11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up 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 went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Comments

The lepers who greeted Jesus, stood at a distance, as they were supposed to according to the law. Instead of healing them on the spot, however, Jesus ordered them to go to the priests, the normal procedure a leper followed upon being cured. As they obeyed, they were healed. While nine kept going to the priests, one turned around to praise God in the presence of Jesus because he knew God’s hand was in his healing. He treated Jesus as God. Why does this leper see God in Jesus, when he is not even Jewish? Apparently, the other lepers, who we consider were Jewish because they obeyed the requirements of the law in seeking out a priest to declare them cured, were so caught up in their new happiness, that they had no time to thank God. Did they have the same faith as the Samaritan leper, whose faith made him well?

Application

What is going on in the Samaritan leper’s life that is different than the others? The difference is faith in Jesus. Jesus cured them all. What Jesus meant by “your faith had made you well” is likely that “being well” with God is so much more than being cured. Being cured of a disease may be temporary or for a long period of time, but being made well has eternal consequences of being in a right relationship with God. That makes us well for eternity.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for healing me spiritually, physical, and emotionally.

Write down a list of the ways in which Jesus has healed you.