Luke 17:11-19 Now on HIS way to Jerusalem, JESUS traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As HE was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met HIM. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “JESUS, MASTER, have pity on us!” When HE saw them, HE said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising GOD in a loud voice. He threw himself at JESUS’ feet and thanked HIM—and he was a Samaritan. JESUS asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to GOD except this foreigner?” Then HE said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well. [New International Translation]
[The King James translation of Luke 17:19 states “…thy faith hath made thee whole.]
Discussion
In Luke 17:11-19, we are given a lesson in “Giving Thanks and Praising GOD.” According to Luke by giving thanks to GOD and praising GOD, we enter into the right relationship with GOD and receive GOD’s spiritual healing.
Luke 17, describes ten lepers, each having a physical disease called leprosy. Leprosy was a harsh, isolating disease. It was also easily identifiable. According to Leviticus 13:38 and 13:43 sometimes skin coloring, the white spots, or swollen sores on the head or forehead, would be some of the markers that would help identify a person as a leper. But so there would be no doubt, a person with leprosy had to “self-identify” themselves. Lepers were required to wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face, and if that were not enough, the leper had to cry out “Unclean!” “Unclean!” whenever they encountered other people because leprosy was contagious. See Leviticus 13:9-45
There are some, who believe that to be a Samaritan was to be the equivalent of a “social or religious leper.” Samaritans were looked down upon during Biblical times. They were not considered “pure” because their ancestors had married foreign women. For example, during the time of Nehemiah, because of prejudice and dislike of Samaritans, Samaritans were not even allowed to serve as priests in the Temple in Jerusalem. See Nehemiah 13:28-30. As a result, Samaritans worshipped at a different “temple,” in Samaria. This difference was yet another reason why the Jews disliked Samaritans and thought that Samaritans and their “religion” were “unclean.”
So, to be a Samaritan with leprosy in Biblical times was in essence to be “a double leper.” However, according to Luke, all the lepers were healed on their physical condition, but only the Samaritan “came back,” and was made whole.
When the Samaritan, praised GOD, worshiped GOD, acknowledged GOD’s superiority over his life, and gave thanks, in addition to the Samaritan’s physical healing, the Samaritan received spiritual healing too. The Samaritan was made spiritually whole. The Samaritans “Thanks” didn’t just come from his mouth, it came from his spirit.
The Samaritan’s praise was real and the Samaritan’s praise was pure. As a result, only the Samaritan received whole healing (physically and spiritually), when he opened himself to GOD, thanking and praising GOD for his blessings.
Only the Samaritan was blessed twice!
WHAT TO THANK GOD FOR AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO
Some may give thanks for a turkey. Some may give thanks for the dressings. Some may give thanks for the large amount of food that will be displayed, or for the lovely place settings. And, there are certainly many, many “things” that we can thank GOD for providing. And, we should be thankful for everything!
Some will give thanks and praise to GOD for the ancestors. Some will give thanks and praise GOD for the lives of those who will be missed this year. Others may give thanks and praise to GOD for new births, new friends, and new relationships. Still, others may thank and praise GOD for everything GOD has already done and for the exceedingly, abundant, unimaginable things GOD continues to do—for providing life, “a reasonable portion” of good health, for ministries, for GOD’s many other GOODNESSES!
But, as you pray, please also remember the lepers in the Gospel of Luke. Please remember that for many years, these ten men lived “separated” lives from their communities and from their places of worship (i.e., the temple/the church). And these men were not the only “separated” ones.
Other Biblical Separated Ones
There was blind Bartimaeus, whom the crowd told to basically “shut up” and leave JESUS. But JESUS heard Bartimaeus, healed him, and brought him back into the community. (See, Mark 10:46-52)
There was the beggar at the Gate called Beautiful who Peter healed in the name of JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH who was brought back into the community and who later walked into the temple praising GOD. (See, Acts 3:1-11).
There was the man, who lived among the tombs, wandering the hills, cutting himself with stones who was brought back into the community. (See, Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-12.) In fact, there was a whole multitude of people who JESUS healed, fed, touched, and ministered to during JESUS's lifetime, who JESUS brought back into the community.
And, JESUS didn’t heal or minister to just men.
JESUS “saw” and brought a number of women back into the community of faith too!
There was the woman with the issue of blood (a blood hemorrhage), who had suffered for twelve long years, who JESUS “saw” and healed. (See, Luke 8:43-48; Mark 5:25-34, Matthew 9:20-22.)
There was the woman caught in the very act of adultery, a capital offense, according to Old Testament law, punishable by death (by stoning), who JESUS “saw” and “saved.” (See John 8:1-11.)
There was the Samaritan woman at the well, with whom not even other Samaritan women associated, but JESUS “saw” her and offered a SPIRITUAL drink (of living water) and JESUS brought her back into the community. (See, John 4:1-29.) In fact, she ran joyfully back to her community yelling, “Come ‘see’ A MAN!” after JESUS revealed to her that HE was the MESSIAH. (See, John 4:26.)
The “Separated” Still Exist
Today, JESUS invites all of us as we pray to “look around,” and “see” those who are still outside---those living outside today’s temples, today’s churches, today’s communities. Because “the Separated” is still out there.
There are still many adults and juveniles and young adults both men and women, who feel alone and isolated from their communities as they languish in hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, jails, and prisons. The walls are generally so thick so that the screams of human anguish inside cannot easily be heard or seen. To the many inhabitants of these places, it may feel like “the tombs.” And, those inside often long to be reconnected to their communities.
There are women and men, young and old, who have been victimized or caught up in street trafficking, who feel isolated from today’s temples, churches, and their communities. Other people don’t want to be associated with them and they feel socially isolated, ostracized and they feel the “stone” stares of other men and women.
There are men and women, young and old who are unhoused, living on the streets, in makeshift tents, on sidewalks, living in cars and shopping carts, living under a bridge, a freeway, or on the top of a heating grate. These men and women can be found in almost every city in the United States, often short distances from the beautiful gates of our nearby community temples and churches.
There are those who live on or near borders of countries or in “detainment facilities,” or those who are still walking trying to find a home or a community that will “take them in” or “accepts them.” The “great multitudes” still exist and are still waiting for help, food, and a spiritual word. They are not only seeking physical food they are seeking a spiritual connection and friends to become one with their new country and understanding. They are waiting for someone to “see” them and not look away or prejudge them.
Pray for the Separated and Pray to Do Something
So, as we give thanks, and as we PRAISE GOD let us also pray for those who are “less fortunate,” “those cut off from their communities” and for those “cut off from churches and temples” around the world. Pray for the multitude waiting for help. Pray for each other ---every member of the community. Pray everyone “sees,” “reaches out, “help” the separated and do the “GODly things” that JESUS did and that disciples of the faith, like Peter, did and that modern disciples today, who believe in a “LIVING GOD,” must also do!
Pray each of us, and every disciple of GOD do something to help somebody, especially the separated!
So, PRAISE GOD, GIVE THANKS, and BE A BLESSING!
Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Be happy giving thanks to GOD!
Be happy giving---with a thankful heart!
Eat and drink and eat GOD’s LIVING WORD and BE BLESSED!
