For February 10
The story of the ten lepers is about gratitude and saving faith. Jesus healed ten men with leprosy, but only one, a Samaritan, came back to thank him. Jesus asked, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17, ESV). All were healed, but the one who returned heard that his faith had made him well.
Key Takeaways
- Ten men cried for mercy, and all ten were healed while walking to the priests.
- Only one returned to praise God and thank Jesus, and he was a Samaritan outsider.
- Jesus noticed and grieved the missing nine; gratitude matters to God.
- The returning man received more than healing: Jesus told him his faith had made him well (Luke 17:19).
- Thanksgiving is the fitting response to God’s grace.
The Setting
On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee (Luke 17:11). Jesus is on his final journey toward the cross. The border region between Samaria and Galilee was a place where Jews and Samaritans, who normally avoided each other, might meet.
Leprosy in the Bible
In Scripture, leprosy covered a range of serious skin diseases, not only what we call Hansen’s disease today. The law of Moses declared a person with leprosy unclean, required to live alone outside the camp (Leviticus 13:46). Lepers were cut off from family, worship, and normal life. If healed, they had to be examined by a priest before returning to the community (Leviticus 14). Suffering had broken down the usual barriers in this group: Jews and at least one Samaritan lived together as outcasts.
Reading the Story
The cry for mercy (verses 12-13)
Arriving at a village, Jesus was met by ten men with leprosy, keeping their distance (Luke 17:12). They kept the distance the law required, but raised their voices, calling on Jesus as Master to have mercy on them (17:13).
The command and the cleansing (verse 14)
Jesus didn’t touch them or announce a cure. He simply told them to go and show themselves to the priests (Luke 17:14). That took faith; they had to set out while still diseased. And on the way, they were healed.
The one who turned back (verses 15-16)
When one of them saw he was healed, he came back praising God loudly, fell at Jesus’ feet, and thanked him (Luke 17:15-16). Luke adds the surprise: the man was a Samaritan. The outsider was the only one who came back.
Jesus’ questions (verses 17-18)
Jesus asked where the other nine were, and whether only this foreigner had come back to give praise to God (Luke 17:17-18). Jesus’ questions show he noticed. The nine weren’t wicked; they may have been rushing to the priests as instructed. But they received the gift and forgot the Giver.
More than healing (verse 19)
Jesus told him to get up and go, because his faith had made him well (Luke 17:19). The Greek word translated made you well often means saved. All ten were cleansed, but this man received something deeper: a restored relationship with God through trusting Jesus.
What the Story Means
Gratitude is the response of faith
The Samaritan saw that the healing pointed to God, and he responded with worship. Thanksgiving isn’t a polite extra in the Christian life; it’s how faith responds to grace. Ingratitude, by contrast, is a symptom of hearts drifting from God (Romans 1:21).
Jesus welcomes outsiders
Luke often highlights unexpected people who respond to Jesus: a sinful woman (Luke 7), a tax collector (Luke 19), and, like the Good Samaritan, a Samaritan who models what God desires. Grace is not limited by background.
Physical blessing is not the whole story
Many people want what God gives without wanting God. The nine got their health back. The one got Jesus. The story invites us to look past the gift to the Giver.
Living with Gratitude
- Notice God’s gifts. Make a habit of naming specific mercies each day.
- Turn back and say thank you. Before rushing on, pause to praise God.
- Give thanks in hard seasons too. Paul calls us to give thanks in every circumstance, because this is God’s will for us in Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
- Thank God for your salvation most of all. The greatest cleansing is the forgiveness of sin.
- Tell others. The Samaritan praised God out loud. Gratitude is meant to be heard.
For more on thankfulness, read our Bible verses about thankfulness, a devotional for a thankful heart, and our gratitude devotional. For more Gospel studies, explore the life and teaching of Jesus.
Reflection Questions
- Why do you think only one of the ten came back?
- What does it say that the grateful man was a Samaritan?
- What gifts from God have you received but not thanked him for?
- What’s the difference between being healed and being made well?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the ten lepers story mean?
Jesus healed ten men, but only one returned to give thanks. The story teaches that gratitude is the fitting response to God’s grace and that saving faith looks past the gift to the Giver. Jesus told him his faith had made him well (Luke 17:19).
Why did only one leper come back?
Luke doesn’t say why the nine didn’t return. They may have hurried to the priests or simply moved on with their lives. The point is that only one recognized God’s work and responded with worship.
Why does it matter that the leper was a Samaritan?
Jews and Samaritans were deeply divided. Jesus calls him a foreigner (Luke 17:18). Luke highlights that an outsider showed true faith and gratitude, showing God’s grace reaches every people.
Why did Jesus tell the lepers to go to the priests?
The law of Moses required a priest to examine and declare a healed leper clean before they could rejoin the community (Leviticus 14). Jesus’ command also tested their faith, since they were healed on the way.
What lesson about gratitude does the ten lepers story teach?
God notices whether we thank him. Gratitude isn’t just good manners; it’s worship and faith in action. Make it a habit to turn back and give God thanks for his mercies, especially for salvation in Christ.
A Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for your mercy toward me. Forgive me for the times I’ve received your gifts and rushed on without thanks. Make me like the one who turned back, praising God and falling at your feet. Amen.
Related: read: Good Samaritan Devotional
Related: read: Devotional on Worship
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.