Luke 17:11-19 · Luke

Ten Lepers

As Jesus travels to Jerusalem, he encounters ten lepers in a village who ask for mercy. Jesus instructs them to show themselves to the priests, and they are cleansed as they go. One of them, a Samaritan, returns to thank Jesus and glorify God.

Summary

In this passage from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is traveling to Jerusalem and passes through a region between Samaria and Galilee (Luke 17:11). As he enters a village, he encounters ten men afflicted with leprosy. These men stand at a distance, adhering to the social norms of the time that required them to keep away from others due to their condition. They call out to Jesus, addressing him as "Master" and pleading for mercy (Luke 17:13).

Jesus responds to their plea by instructing them to go and show themselves to the priests, which was the customary procedure for those seeking to be declared clean from leprosy (Luke 17:14). As the ten men proceed to follow his instructions, they are miraculously cleansed of their leprosy. Noticing his healing, one of the men, who is identified as a Samaritan, turns back. He loudly praises God and falls at Jesus' feet to express his gratitude (Luke 17:15-16).

The passage concludes with Jesus questioning the absence of the other nine who were healed, highlighting that only the Samaritan returned to give thanks (Luke 17:17-18). Jesus then tells the Samaritan to rise and go his way, stating that his faith has made him whole (Luke 17:19). The passage establishes the importance of gratitude and faith, as seen in the Samaritan's actions and Jesus' final words.

Chiastic structure

ⓘ
A

Luke 17:12-13

“ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

B

Luke 17:15-16

“one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.”

A'

Luke 17:19

“Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”

Both A and A' involve the act of seeking mercy and the response to healing, highlighting the theme of faith and gratitude.

Interpretation and theological stakes

The passage of the Ten Lepers in Luke 17:11-19 primarily emphasizes the significance of gratitude and faith. The narrative concludes with Jesus highlighting the absence of gratitude from the nine healed lepers and contrasting it with the one Samaritan who returned to express thanks. This act of gratitude is tied directly to faith, as seen in Jesus' statement to the Samaritan, "your faith has made you well" (Luke 17:19). The encounter underscores that while all ten lepers were physically healed, the spiritual wholeness attributed to faith and gratitude was realized only by the one who returned.

The Reformed Protestant interpretation argues that this passage underscores the doctrine of sola fide, or faith alone, as the means of both physical healing and spiritual salvation. The Samaritan's act of returning to thank Jesus is seen as an expression of true faith, which goes beyond mere physical healing to encompass a deeper spiritual renewal. This reading is supported by Jesus' final words to the Samaritan, emphasizing that his faith was the catalyst for his overall wellness (Luke 17:19). The return to give thanks is viewed as a demonstration of a faith that recognizes and responds to God's grace.

In contrast, the Rabbinic Jewish interpretation focuses on the theme of an outsider's recognition of God's work. The Samaritan, a member of a group traditionally seen as outside the covenant community, is the only one to return and express gratitude, highlighting the universal reach of God's mercy and grace. This interpretation pays close attention to Jesus' rhetorical question, "Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:18). It suggests that the story critiques those within the community who fail to see and acknowledge God's hand in their lives, while the outsider perceives and responds appropriately.

This passage, when considered through both interpretations, suggests a broader message about the nature of faith and gratitude transcending social and religious boundaries. While the Reformed Protestant reading highlights personal faith as the path to spiritual wholeness, the Rabbinic Jewish perspective underscores the openness of God's grace to those outside conventional expectations. Together, these interpretations affirm that true recognition of God's work involves both an internal faith response and an outward expression of gratitude, challenging readers to consider how they acknowledge and respond to divine acts in their own lives.

Continue reading with a Scholar plan

Upgrade to Scholar