11/24/2021 PRAISE GOD, GIVE THANKS and REMEMBER OTHERS
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.
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