The Grateful Leper

Turn in your Bibles to Luke 17 verse 11. Luke is the third book in the New Testament after Matthew and Mark. We’ll read verses 11–19.

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11–19

• Who asked Jesus for help? 10 lepers.

• Does anyone know what a leper is? A person with leprosy.

  Leprosy was an incurable disease back in Bible times. People who got leprosy were not allowed to stay with their families or have contact with other people for fear of spreading their disease.

• Does leprosy sound like a good thing or bad thing? Bad.

• Definitely bad. But what did Jesus do for these 10 lepers when they asked him for mercy? He healed them as they went on their way to the priests.

  Being healed from leprosy is definitely a good thing! These men were given their lives back. They could return to their families.

• You would think all 10 men would thank Jesus for healing them. But how many returned to say thank you? Only one.

  Just one man, a Samaritan, praised God and fell at Jesus’ feet to give thanks.

• What did Jesus think about this man who returned? Jesus was pleased that he returned to give glory to God for healing him.

  Jesus praised the Samaritan man who was thankful, but he wasn’t impressed with the nine men who didn’t give thanks. This account shows us that God expects praise and thanks for the good things he’s done.

• Even in the good times, like being healed, do people always remember to praise and thank God? Not always.

  Out of these 10 men, only one remembered to thank God for healing him. We have to be careful we aren’t like the other nine men who were so excited about their blessing of being healed that they didn’t thank God and give him praise.

• Are there some things God has given us that we haven’t thanked him for? Things that are obvious blessings?