Luke 17:11

Luke 17:11 serves as an introductory verse to a significant event in the life of Jesus Christ. To gain a broader understanding, it’s essential to examine the context and subsequent verses.

Context:

Luke 17:12-19 continues the narrative:

“And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And 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. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”

This passage recounts how Jesus was traveling through the regions of Samaria and Galilee while on his way to Jerusalem. On his journey, he encounters ten lepers who are in need of healing. Leprosy was a severe and highly contagious disease, often resulting in social isolation and exclusion from society.

These lepers, recognizing Jesus, call out to Him, acknowledging Him as their Master and requesting mercy. In response, Jesus instructs them to go and show themselves to the priests. In Jewish law, the priests were responsible for examining those healed of leprosy and declaring them clean (as mentioned in Leviticus 14). The lepers demonstrate faith by obeying Jesus’ command, and as they depart, they are miraculously cleansed.

Out of the ten lepers who were healed, only one, a Samaritan, returns to Jesus, expressing gratitude, falling at His feet, and giving glory to God. The response of this Samaritan prompts Jesus to question the absence of the other nine. Jesus acknowledges the faith of the Samaritan and declares that his faith has made him whole, emphasizing not only physical healing but also spiritual well-being.