Luke 17: 11-19

Bible Study Luke 17: 11-19

NIV    ¹¹Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹²As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy^[a]met him. They stood at a distance ¹³and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" ¹⁴When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. ¹⁵One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" ¹⁹Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

The Message   ^{11 -13}It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" ^{14 -16}Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan. ^{17 -19}Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?" Then he said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you."

Vs 11 ¹¹Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. Every time I run across this statement "on his way to Jerusalem" in the gospels, I stop, take a deep breath and am thankful. Jesus knew he was going to die; he knew he was the sacrifice for sin; what an incredible burden that must have been. There is no way to really understand the weight he carried, we can only be filled with gratitude that he did. Yet, all along the way he always has time to meet the needs of those around him. I mean salvation of the world, past, present, future OR heal a few lepers. And Jesus has time for both… what a Savior. How often does the phrase escape from my lips, "I don't have time." The other item in this verse is the route itself. It was by no means a direct route and in Matthew we see all kinds of things happening on this very same route, Matthew 19: 1- 20: 34. He even has time to bless some little children, all on the route to pain, rejection and death.

¹²As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance ¹³and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"

In the Bible there are different types of skin diseases. Those classified as tsāra 'ath (always translated leprosy in the KJV), were believed to require isolation. Leprosy begins with brownish-red spots on the face, ears, forearms, thighs, and/or buttocks that later become thickened nodules and, losing their skin covering, become ulcers with subsequent loss of tissue, followed by contraction and deformity. This was believed to be contagious, so great precaution was taken by the people. Lepers were required to stand far off, live separated lives, therefore, if they had something to say or a need it had to be yelled. When they were coming into proximity to non-lepers they were required to shout, "Unclean, unclean." So that others could avoid getting close. There was no specified distance at which they should stand, but some authorities say when a leper was windward of a healthy person, they should be 50 yards away. So, here we have ten lepers standing at a distance hollering at Jesus. I also notice, that these lepers had some knowledge of Jesus and who he was. I wonder if they had been in contact with another leper whom he had healed? Cantrell speculation there. J

¹⁴When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. In the book of Leviticus it gives specific instructions about skin diseases. What must be done and how. One part is that the priest (the health inspector of the day) must see that the leprosy or skin disorder is clear, so that they could return to the community. Now, Jesus who is God in the flesh, I wouldn't think would need to have a priest declare them clean. Jesus could have healed them right then and there. So I'm forced to ask why? He could make their flesh like a newborn's instantly but we see that he follows the accepted traditions of the day; he follows what he's been taught; actual protocol. We must understand that to Jesus the law was seen in relational terms, NOT RULES. Jesus was radical, he was assertive, he was an instigator but he was not a heretic. There was nothing wrong with the Law, only how man had twisted it. He knew for those men to be credible with their own communities (relationships), he must send them to the priest, that way there could be no question in the future as to their healing, not for them, their associates or the health officials of the day (priests). As we see change in the church (and we need to see change in methodology) there are some things that are not negotiable. There's nothing wrong with the theology of the Church. But when any of us take the relationship out of our belief system and make it a set of what to do or not to do, we've missed it!!! O.K. that's a whole different study.  Next we see "as they went, they were cleansed." They acted in obedience BEFORE the miracle happened. It happened as they did what Jesus told them to do. I can not begin to recount the times that I've heard, "Well, I'd _____________ for God if He _________________ for me." And unfortunately, my own lips have uttered that phrase in a variety of ways. "Oh, Lord if you will just heal my boy I will serve you." "Lord, if you'll keep me from going bankrupt, I'll be sure and pay my tithe." "Oh, Lord if you'll keep me from dying, I'll be a preacher." We see a miracle of healing happen in this scripture but it follows obedience first…important lesson for us.

¹⁵One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. This one man is fully conscious of the miracle which had happened and is deeply grateful. With great emotion and with loud voice he expresses his thanks. I hope I praise in the same way! Twenty-six years ago my life was a mess, I really had no identity, I had little love, I was empty then I was restored completely by Jesus. I really was made new, transformed, changed! So different that when people who knew me saw me they commented on how different I looked physically! I was healed from a variety of hurts and down the road I was even healed from Hepatitis C. I can't even begin to re-count all the times God has done unexplainable, miraculous things in my life to this very day. So how can I be quiet! When the Chiefs win (and that's a miracle) people jump up and holler. Jesus Christ has conquered death, hell and the grave, how can I be quiet and reserved…how can we, any of us, not have great emotion and with a loud voice express thanks. Let that mull in you as you come to corporate worship next Sunday. J Next point, where are the other nine? Sometimes when people get what they pray for, get what they want, it becomes a testing moment. For nine of these lepers, for reasons unknown they took their healing and never looked back or gave thanks. So, I can only believe there is a difference between healing and wholeness. One was made whole and nine were healed of a sickness. I know people who are dying today, who have prayed for healing from whatever disease racks their body but continue to live with it, YET (and that's a big yet) they are more alive than many other people I know who are healthy. They are at peace, they are loving, they are praising God, they are without fear, they are truly whole.

¹⁶He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Now the story takes a turn, we discover that one of the ten was a Samaritan. This gives it a completely different slant. It's not just about healing, gratitude and praise. Samaritans and Jews did NOT associate, not in any shape form or fashion. Yet, here they are living together, traveling together…dying together. Could that be the key, illness or desperate need of some kind is no respecter of persons. They were brought together by their common sickness/need, everything else went to the wayside. They forgot they were Jews or Samaritans, they only knew they were in a hopeless situation. 

¹⁷Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"

I don't know the tone that was in Jesus voice…was it frustration, hurt, anger, I wonder? Or could Jesus have been disappointed for another reason, the fact that he knew ten were healed of a sickness, but only one was made well… made whole… made complete…given abundant life? He gave opportunity to ten but only one took it, that is really one of the saddest things I've ever thought about. It makes me think about how many times God offers Himself to us and we don't take it, we continue to rely on ourselves, denying inner peace that is available.

¹⁹Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

Jesus, then blesses him and gives him purpose, go. I can imagine he would have loved to followed Jesus, been the thirteenth disciple. I mean he came back and fell at his feet, this is what one would do to a master as a slave, or a soldier to a Caesar, or a worshipper to a god. This man came to place himself in Jesus service but the Lord says go. Go back to your life, go back to your family or whatever but go – now can you imagine what was on this fellows lips as he went back. You can bet he was a preacher and a half. Praise for God, praise to Jesus, praise for the one who made him whole – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Jesus is definitely willing to heal. He still offers wholeness. The question is, am I calling out, obedient, grateful, praising and willing to serve. Am I really ready for wholeness or do I just want the problem fixed? A question for all of us to ponder...

 

Resources: Beacon Bible Commentary by Charles L. Childers; The Communicator's Commentary – Luke by Lloyd J. Ogilvie; NIV Bible Dictionary; The Gospel of Luke by William Barclay; Beacon bible Expositions by Reuben Welch