Attitude Of Gratitude

Attitude of Gratitude – Luke 17: 11 - 19

Intro: A newspaper reporter once approached Kipling saying, “Mr. Kipling, I recently read that an individual calculated that the money you make from your writings amounts to over a hundred dollars a word.” The reporter reached into his pocket pulling out a one-hundred-dollar bill. He handed the bill to Mr. Kipling saying, “Now, will you give me one of your hundred-dollar words?” Mr. Kipling looked at the reporter and then the money. He put the money in his pocket and said, “THANKS!”

I VS. 12 – 13 As he (Jesus) was going into a village, 10 men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!’”

A We might ask why this story only occurs in Luke. At the time of Jesus, anyone who had any kind of skin condition would be considered a leper and therefore be ostracized from society. Being a leper was seen by Jewish society as a punishment for wrong doing or wrong thinking. Hence: “They stood at a distance!”

B We might be tempted to think this story in Luke is about healing 10 men with leprosy. However, if we focus more intently on the following verses, we discover the focus is NOT about healing.

C Jesus neither touches them; nor does he utter a healing word to them. Jesus just commands them to “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” Jesus commands them to begin the process that would allow them to regain their full status within the worship and life of the Jewish community. An interesting side note here is the word, MASTER (epistates / ?p?st?t??) only used here in Luke by the 10 men referring to Jesus. (commander / one appointed over another / master)

II VV, 15 – 16 “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.” At the end of VS. 16, we see the reason Luke has included this story. “and he was a Samaritan” This leper is singled out for three reasons:

A He is a despised foreigner and yet, he is made clean and returns to the one he believes is responsible.

B “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.” This Samaritan, non-Jew responds to his healing by returning and praising the one true God.

C He acknowledges that the power of God is at work through Jesus. “He threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.” The healing of the 10 lepers functions in this gospel as a sign of the power of God’s kingdom to reach beyond the Jewish community. The nameless Samaritan expands the scope of ways one can be separated from the community and still receive healing for all that causes us to be separated from others and God.

III VV. 17-19 “Jesus asked, “Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to praise to God except this foreigner?

A I believe Luke includes this story to emphasize the proper response to any act of grace we receive from God; thanks and praise to God. Being grateful and saying thank you are absolutely at the heart of God’s hope for the human race and God intent for each of us.

B GK. (eucharistoeõ / e????st??) is the word used by Luke to express the reaction of the Samaritan to the healing he received through Christ Jesus. It can be translated several ways: glorifying God / to express gratitude / to say grace at a mean / to give thanks.

C I propose yet another meaning: grace for an undeserved gift received. Everything we have. All that we are. These all come to us from God. It is God who has placed within us marvelous gifts and abilities that enable us to have and do.

Concl: Then he (Jesus) said to him (the Samaritan) “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” The Samaritan really received 2 blessings that are available to us as well. He received health and wholeness in Christ Jesus. That phrase your faith has made you well can also be translated your faith has saved you.

As Christians, we should not come to worship just to GET something. Regardless of our situation, we come into the presence of God in worship to give thanks and praise to God. How are we thanking Christ Jesus for all he has done for us? Jesus gave his life so that we could know God in a personal way. HOW DOES YOUR LIFE DISPLAY TO THE WORLD AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR YOU?