Introduction
One illustration that refers to Jesus’s teachings and the overall concept of receiving salvation is Luke 17:11-21. The 19th chapter tells the story of the ten lepers. The story portrays the different reactions to the miracles of God, refers to certain aspects of the healing power of Jesus, and ultimately teaches about the importance of true faith. The passage exemplifies that while faith is the way to receive God’s grace, gratitude is the concept that truly saves one’s soul. The one leper who came back to thank Jesus for healing him was the one who did not forget where the miracle came from and who is to receive gratitude for it.
Background and Aftermath
The passage itself tells the story of Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem. In order for the circumstances to be clear, it is essential to examine the context. Initially, Jesus decided to go to Jerusalem, which is why he sent messengers to the village of the Samaritans, who were not welcoming towards them and Jesus.1 This exemplifies that the Samaritans, who did not want to facilitate Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem, were not connected to the Son of God both religiously and ideologically. Moreover, the passage illustrates the aim of going to Jerusalem, and the story of the ten lepers takes place during the trip. It is well known that Jerusalem is associated with the death of Jesus Christ through crucifixion.2 The journey itself has been represented by the multiple good deeds that would become reasons for spreading God’s word and faith to become prevalent.
Characters
The characters present in the Gospel of Luke, specifically in Luke 17:11-21, are Jesus and the ten lepers. However, no information is given about nine of the men. It is evident that since the distinction is made between the one being Samaritan compared to the rest of them, it is evident they are Jews, and they already know Jesus based on the fact that they had recognized the Son of God and asked for help. The Gospel of Luke distinguishes these two nations and prompts readers to reflect on their characteristics. 3 In terms of personal qualities, it is certain that the only individual who returned is the one who has strong faith and has recognized Jesus as the one who is to be praised for his healing. Additionally, in verse 9 of chapter 17, it exclaims how Jesus told to people to rise up because of their faith has helped them. Moreover, since Jesus commanded all lepers to go to priests and they did so, this exemplifies the authority that ultimately influenced the ten men into following the directive and doing as told.
Irony
Little is known about the lepers, except that one of them is Samaritan. As exemplified earlier, Samaritans have not welcomed Jesus and his messengers. Thus, the unlikely event in which the only individual who was willing to thank the Son of God for healing him was the Samaritan shows how faith and unity are synonymous. Ironically, the Jews, who were supposed to be the ones closer to the teachings of Jesus and more grateful for being cured of an otherwise incurable disease, forgot the source of their salvation. Instead, they did not make an effort to thank the Lord and praise him for granting them mercy after asking directly for it. Despite the differences and the stereotypes that can exemplify Jesus’s lack of desire to heal a Samaritan, the miracle has shown that one’s origins cannot determine one’s character. The same theme is one of the most significant ones in the New Testament.
Speech
The dialogue between the lepers and Jesus is illustrated through an exchange of phrases. First, the ten men asked for mercy before Jesus eventually told them to go to the priests.4 The second dialogue, which is only illustrated through Jesus’s answers initiated by a monologue, is directed towards the Samaritan, who was the one who returned to show gratitude. First, the Son of God manifested a different way of thinking, of the one individual thanking his being the Samaritan.5 Then, Jesus said that the man’s faith was what truly healed him.6 Consequently, the speech is exemplified by Jesus and the lepers.
Genre
The passage illustrated one primary and two secondary genres. The secondary ones are dialogue and command. As exemplified prior, the dialogue between the lepers and Jesus and then Jesus and the Samaritan is an exchange of phrases followed by gratitude and Jesus’s answer. The command is portrayed through the Son of God’s initial directive towards the ten men to go to priests who would be able to witness their healing.7 The passage, however, is a story of how faith and subsequent gratitude towards God are what ultimately grants salvation and healing not only of the body but also the soul.
Setting
There are certain cues in regard to the specific location where the event took place, yet the name of the exact village is unknown. Instead, it is stated that the meeting took place in a village where the lepers met Jesus and asked for mercy.8 There is, however, a mention of the geographical location, which, as suggested prior, was on the way to Jerusalem. Specifically, Jesus was somewhere between Samaria and Galilee.9 The two regions are neighboring locations, which also explains why the group of ten men included a Samaritan and Jews. These two nations are characterized by opposing views; however, a common disease unites them.
Historical Background of Leprosy
Leprosy has been mentioned multiple times in the Bible, primarily due to Jesus’s miracles which involved healing people suffering from this disease. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines it as “a slowly progressing and incurable skin disease.”10 This illustrates that priests were ultimately deciding whether a person has leprosy and is to be isolated from society or is healed. This is exemplified through Jesus’s command that the lepers see their priests as their disease heals on the way. Since priests would be able to attest that the condition has been eradicated and witness the miracles facilitated by God, the lepers would be able to praise Jesus while attesting to their health and ability to return to their villages and families safely.
Historical Background of Samaritans
As mentioned prior, Jesus specifically mentioned that the only leper that came back to express gratitude was, surprisingly, the Samaritan. The verse is not accidental in emphasizing that this was an uncommon situation. Samaritans were not keen on welcoming Jesus as messengers came to the city and told the news of his possible arrival. People were unwilling to welcome the Son of God because of his journey to Jerusalem. The disciples were ready to burn the city down for the offensive response, but the Lord did now allow it.11 The background of the relationship exemplifies two critical aspects. First, Jesus does not seek vengeance because an individual belongs to a particular religious branch and is merciful towards those who are not merciful towards him. Second, as the only person who returned to thank him was the Samaritan, the story refers to the idea that one’s true intentions and faith are not necessarily shaped by their origins and community.
Application
This text applies to the contemporary world as it teaches people several lessons about God’s mercy and the importance of gratitude. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary emphasizes that “ideally, thanksgiving should spring from a grateful heart; but it is required of all believers, regardless of their initial attitude.”12 This concept is explained in Luke 17:11-21, which reminds people of the true way to save their souls. The passage’s central idea of being thankful is integral to my community and me as one of the core Christian values. At the same time, this quality must be cultivated as it might be difficult for many people to feel gratitude, particularly in challenging and hard times.
My learning from the passage affects the way I think about God as it demonstrates that my faith would be tested, and I must display gratitude for various blessings in my life. In this regard, leprosy embodies the sinful nature of human beings on a spiritual level. While the disease affects the body, sin deforms the soul, and one can only be cleansed upon turning to God and appealing to his compassion. Another essential learning from this text is the portrayal of Christ as merciful and capable of curing those asking for that. This passage in the Gospel of Luke impacts how I view society and the world as it highlights the importance of personal qualities. Bias and origin do not define one’s intentions and faith, and everyone can turn to God for salvation. Finally, the role of the church is essential as it teaches people to practice gratitude and demonstrate their faith and commitment to Christ.
Furthermore, my learning from the passage affects how I live as it promotes God’s mercy, obedience to the divine will, and gratitude. The only person cleansed spiritually was the Samaritan, who returned to thank Christ for mercy. Therefore, the story of the ten lepers reminds me to appreciate all the blessings instead of taking them for granted. I practice gratitude daily and try to remain thankful to God even in challenging times. The passage’s message challenges me as a human being as it reminds me to not only turn to God when in need but also appreciate the good times. To achieve both physical and spiritual healing, one must be grateful at all times. Moreover, the story of the ten lepers encourages me to appeal to God’s mercy when I need it.
Conclusion
The story of the ten lepers covers multiple vital topics that refer to Jesus’s mercifulness, genuine faith, and gratitude. The significance of the passage is often illustrated through the common habit of turning to religion and God during hard times and forgetting to do so when the challenges are not present. The power of gratitude is substantial since the initial aim after experiencing salvation is to return to the common way of life that one has been deprived of due to unavoidable circumstances, specifically a disease, as exemplified in Luke’s gospel. However, the only person who did not forget who was the source of salvation and returned to show gratitude has shown true faith that remained strong even after the problem had disappeared. The passage is a story suggesting that one must not forget the origins of the blessings and have gratitude once these blessings are present. This is the path to physical and spiritual healing, which are equally valuable and to be cherished.
Reference
Dowling, Elizabeth V. “Learning from ‘Others’” In Tolerance, Intolerance, and Recognition in Early Christianity and Early Judaism, eds. Michael Labahn & Outi Lethipuu, 273-290. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2021.
Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. 1989. National Council of the Churches of Christ.
Youngblood, Ronald F. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: New and Enhanced Edition. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2014.
Footnotes
- NRSV, “Luke 9:51-56”
- NRSV, “Luke 23:26-43”
- Dowling, “Learning from ‘Others,’” p. 273.
- NRSV, “Luke 17: 12-14”
- NRSV, “Luke 17:16”
- NRSV, “Luke 17:19”
- NRSV, “Luke 17:14”
- NRSV, “Luke 17: 12-14”
- NRSV, “Luke 17:11”
- Youngblood, Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 1749.
- NRSV, “Luke 9:51-56”
- Youngblood, Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, p. 2744.