Jesus Cleanses Ten Lepers Series

Jesus’ command is interesting. At this point, the lepers were not yet healed. They must have looked at themselves and saw that they still had leprosy. What would they do?

D. The Cleansing (17:14b)

And fourth, observe the cleansing.

Luke simply noted in verse 14b that as they went they were cleansed. They were healed! I love Bishop J. C. Ryle’s comment. He said, “Help meets men in the path of obedience.”

I wonder how often God does not work in our lives because we are not walking in the path of obedience? We struggle because we think of God as a genie. He is there to do for us what we want and when we want. However, as J. C. Ryle went on to say,

If the lepers had acted in this way, they would never have been healed. We must read the Scriptures diligently. We must try to pray. We must attend on the public means of grace. All these are duties which Christ requires at our hands, and to which, if we love life, we must attend, without asking vain and captious questions. It is just in the path of unhesitating obedience that Christ will meet and bless us.

II. The Return of the One (17:15-19)

And second, notice the return of the one.

A. Why He Came (17:15-16a)

First, look at why he came.

There are two reasons why the leper, now cleansed of his horrific disease, returned to Jesus.

1. To Praise the Father (17:15)

First, he came to praise the Father.

Luke said in verse 15 that one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. Only one of the ten returned to praise God the Father.

R. C. Sproul makes an interesting comment about this healing, “The interpretation that I have heard again and again is that although Jesus healed ten lepers, only one of them was grateful. I don’t believe that for one moment.” He continues,

If we have any understanding what a leper went through, we would know that not even the most corrupt and crass sinner could fail to be grateful for healing. When these lepers saw that their flesh had been restored, that this marvelous healer, Jesus, had done his work, no doubt they began leaping for joy and couldn’t wait to go home to be reunited with their families. . . . That would be the normal thing to do. So nine out of ten went straight home.

But one of the ten healed lepers delayed going to the priest to rush back to Jesus. His meeting with the priest could wait while he fulfilled a deep desire to praise God for his healing. His spiritual desire took priority over his ceremonial duty.

2. To Thank the Son (17:16a)

And second, he came to thank the Son.

Luke said in verse 16a that he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks.

Notice that he prostrated himself before Jesus: he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet. Kent Hughes notes, “At the very least, he recognized Jesus as an agent of God. More likely, he realized that Jesus was king.”

G. K. Chesterton once said, “The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful and has nobody to thank. The converse of this proposition is also true. . . . The great saint may be said to mix all his thoughts with thanks. All goods look better when they look like gifts.”