Luke 17:11–19 (NIV)
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage
Read the Passage
Who is in the passage?
What action verbs do you see?
What other words stick out in your mind
Leprosy was an unattractive skin disease (not limited to what is called leprosy today) for which the Bible had prescribed quarantine from the rest of society (Lev 13:45–46), although the Bible did not go so far as many Jewish teachers in blaming the disease on the leper’s sin. Lepers were thus outcasts from the rest of society, the kind of people most healthy people preferred to ignore.
In this story Jesus is seen breaking down barriors and we also get a glimpse of true thankfulness.
Samaritans- people of mixed Jewish and Gentile ancestry who claimed descent from Jacob and worshiped the God of Israel, but felt that Mount Gerizim rather than Jerusalem was the holy site for worship. They engaged the Jews in bitter rivalry, often leading to political hostilities in Jesus’ day, sometimes requiring Roman intervention.
Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.
Questions
What social boundaries is Jesus breaking in this healing?
Why would only one come back to thank Jesus? Do you ever forget to thank Jesus? What are the reasons that we sometimes forget? How do you keep from forgetting to thank God?
Notes
In this story we see Jesus breaking down barriers and also what it is to be thankful.
vs 11 Jesus traveling to tell of who He was leads him to all regions of Israel. Remember Samaritans and Jews do not get along. They worshipped the same God in two different places. The Jews felt the Samaritans had corrupted the true faith and were not true followers of God . (See Jesus conversation with a woman in John 4) Many Jews would add time to their journeys so as not to walk in Samaria. Jesus has already had dealing with them in Luke 9:51-ff and used one in a parable in 10:33.
vs 12- The leprosy would cause these who had it to stay outside of the city and to be noticeably different in appearance. They also were required to shout out unclean, unclean as a warning for people to stay away from them. (Lev. 13:45-46) That is why they stand at a distance away from Jesus.
vs 13- Their cry is for mercy and healing. In calling Jesus Master they recognize His power.
vs 14- Jesus does not touch them it appears, but this doesn't mean he is afraid. He has already touched one with leprosy in 5:12-13. His command to show themselves to the priests was following the biblical view of rejoining society. The priest would examine and pronounce one clean then you could join back into society. (Lev 14:3)
The healing doesn't take place till they are on their way.
vs 15-16 only one comes back. Note how he comes. Praising, shouting, Throwing himself at Jesus' feet, thankful. Reminds me of the sinful woman in 7:37- 48
Go back to vs 7-10 in yesterday's study. Do you get the attitude Jesus is trying to get us to see we should have towards Him? It's not about deserving anything, it is about being grateful for what Jesus has done!
vs 16 The big shocker- This one wasn't a Jew but a Samaritan!
vs 17-18 Jesus asks rhetorical questions to make a point. The one who would be least expected to offer thanks does so.
Where are the others that were healed? All should be thankful yet only this one comes back to show thanks! Do we thank God for what he has done or do we believe we deserve it?
vs 19- most commentaries believe there is more in Jesus' words than the idea of healing here. It is the understanding that the Samaritan has now of Jesus that has made him well spiritually as well as physically and given him faith. remember the disciples wanted to increase their faith in vs 17:5. Did Luke put this story here as a way to answer the disciples' question of how to increase their faith? Faith is understanding what God has done, is doing and will do in your life and being grateful for it! It is seeing God in control; not us, not circumstances, not enemies, not Satan!
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