Luke 17:11-19

Thoughts: Leprosy was one of the scourges of the ancient world.  Leviticus has many pages of instructions about the treatment - or lack thereof – of lepers.  Leviticus 13:46 rules that “ … he (the leper) is unclean; he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.”  Luke tells us that the ten lepers stood far off from Jesus and called loudly, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 
 
Instead of telling the lepers that they are healed, Jesus instructs them to go show themselves to the priests, in strict compliance with the laws of the Old Testament.  As Jesus told his audience in his Sermon the Mount, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law…. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”
 
On their way to show themselves to the priests, the lepers were cleansed.  Imagine their wonder, their joy!
 
But only one of the former lepers turned back, praising God and giving thanks to Jesus.  We can picture the other nine scurrying on toward the priests.
 
Jesus’ reaction to the one grateful man is deliciously human.  “Were there not ten cleansed?  But where are the nine?”
 
Now this polite ex-leper was a Samaritan.  Perhaps he should be known as the other Good Samaritan.
 
Discussion:  A former minister at our church was fond of saying, “You can’t thank people too much.”  What do you think?
Activity:  Thank at lease three people each day – for holding the door open for you – for giving you an emerald ring -

Weekly Devotional from Word at Home October 2010