And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
As Jesus entered a certain village on His last journey from Galilee toward Jerusalem through Samaria and Galilee, ten men with leprosy met Him on the outskirts and stood afar off because the law shut them out of towns and society lest they contaminate others. They were a loathsome and distressing spectacle of corrupting disease, suffering and doomed to death, made up of both Jews and Samaritans whose national prejudice was broken down by their common misery so that they associated together. They had heard of Jesus as Teacher and Healer of others in their condition, and from afar they called to Him for mercy as the only one with power to relieve them, and He pitied their weakness and did not stand aloof for fear of contamination. He told them to show themselves to the priests, and trusting His power they acted at once in faith, and as they went they were cleansed and made entirely whole by divine power. Only one, a Samaritan stranger, returned with a loud voice glorifying God and falling on his face at Jesus' feet in gratitude, while the other nine went away without thanks, showing how bodily healing alone does not heal the soul and how those who receive God's mercies are under renewed obligation to remember His goodness and give praise.
Setting and Encounter
On His last journey from Galilee toward Jerusalem through the midst of Samaria and Galilee, as He entered a certain village ten men with leprosy met Him on the outskirts and stood afar off. They kept their distance because the law prohibited lepers from entering towns or villages, and the authorities had prescribed limits to separate them from society lest they contaminate others. Lest anyone come upon them unexpectedly they were required to utter the mournful cry, Unclean! unclean!
They were a most distressing spectacle, corrupted by loathsome disease, suffering and separated from others and doomed to death. The company was made up of both Jews and Samaritans, whose national prejudice had been broken down by the terrible malady so that they associated together. They were not ignorant of Jesus as Teacher and Healer, having heard of His wonderful works of mercy and how He had healed others in their same condition.
From afar they called to Him for mercy as the one who alone had power to relieve them in their great suffering. Though in many cases disease is brought on by sinful violation of natural law, He came within their sight, pitied their weakness, and did not stand aloof or keep away for fear of contamination. He told them to show themselves to the priests, and trusting His power and the hope His voice inspired, they had faith to act at once and start on their way believing He could heal. Their faith was tested in obedience, and as they went the horrible disease left them, and they were not only cleansed but made entirely whole by divine power, as though created anew.
Healing and Gratitude
The cleansing of all ten was a blessing and act of mercy from God through Jesus Christ, granted for the sake of the one man who would appreciate it and make a right use of the blessing of health. Only one returned to find Jesus and give Him glory, glorifying God with a loud voice and falling on his face at Jesus' feet in greatest humiliation with feelings of gratitude, thanks, and deep indebtedness. He was a Samaritan stranger, while the other nine were Jews who went away without appreciating the work, rendering thanks, or giving glory to God.
Bodily healing by itself did not heal the soul or prove that sin was healed, for healing disease is no proof that sin has been healed. The one who returned glorifying God showed the fruit of healing in body and soul, for faith in Jesus as the one who pardons sin cleanses and restores the soul. The nine show how people may receive God's mercies without recognizing or thanking Him, failing to respond gratefully to His mercy. Anyone healed, including those with restored health, is under renewed obligation to the Creator to remember Him and His goodness and mercy and to give praise and thanksgiving rather than fail to return like the nine.
The gratitude of the Samaritan who returned alone taught the disciples that Jesus' love for Samaritans remained unchanged despite their earlier rejection of Him. That lesson prepared them to carry the gospel to Samaria.
Lessons for Service
Those who labor as physicians and helpers for suffering humanity are not to become discouraged and disgusted, nor to lose pity, sympathy and patience, nor to feel life poorly employed, nor to become weary in well-doing, when they work for those who can never appreciate the labor and will not use regained strength to bless society but will pursue the same self-gratification and will not use benefits rightly. They are to remember Christ as their great Pattern, who did not stand aloof from the ten corrupted by loathsome leprosy for fear of contamination, but pitied their weakness though in many cases disease is brought on by sinful violation of natural law. He healed the whole ten for the sake of the one who would appreciate it and make a right use of the blessing of health, even though only one returned with gratitude and deep indebtedness, glorifying God with a loud voice and falling on his face at Jesus' feet in greatest humiliation to give thanks. Since even the King of glory, the Majesty of Heaven, had so few appreciate His divine aid, prompting the question, Where are the nine, workers should feel grateful and satisfied if even one out of twenty makes a right use of benefits received. If one life out of ten is saved and one soul out of one hundred is saved in the kingdom of God, and if one among a large number is grateful and exerts a right influence, they should thank God and take courage, for that one may be a stranger.
The nine who did not return to give glory to God correctly represent some Sabbath-keepers who come as patients to the Health Institute. They receive much attention and should realize the anxiety and discouragements of the physicians and should be the last to cause them unnecessary care and burdens, yet frequently the patients most difficult to manage are those of their own faith, more free to make complaints than any other class. Some who question and complain are those treated at reduced prices or even free of charge, and they will speak disparagingly to other patients about the means employed for recovery. By contrast worldlings and professed Christians of other denominations appreciate the efforts made for their recovery more than many Sabbath-keepers do, and when they return home they exert an influence more in favor of the Health Institute, while strangers do their duty and appreciate the efforts made for them. The Lord regards such complaining Sabbath-keepers as He did the nine lepers who returned not to give Him glory, raising the inquiry, Where are the nine, and why do not all Sabbath-keepers give their interest and support.
Receiving and witnessing God's mercy calls for open praise. The example of the lepers standing at a distance prompts the resolve not to remain silent. That resolve is to sing of God's righteousness, to glorify Him, and to praise God and proclaim His righteousness and goodness.
As Jesus entered a certain village on His last journey from Galilee toward Jerusalem through Samaria and Galilee, ten men with leprosy met Him on the outskirts and stood afar off because the law shut them out of towns and society lest they contaminate others. They were a loathsome and distressing spectacle of corrupting disease, suffering and doomed to death, made up of both Jews and Samaritans whose national prejudice was broken down by their common misery so that they associated together. They had heard of Jesus as Teacher and Healer of others in their condition, and from afar they called to Him for mercy as the only one with power to relieve them, and He pitied their weakness and did not stand aloof for fear of contamination. He told them to show themselves to the priests, and trusting His power they acted at once in faith, and as they went they were cleansed and made entirely whole by divine power. Only one, a Samaritan stranger, returned with a loud voice glorifying God and falling on his face at Jesus' feet in gratitude, while the other nine went away without thanks, showing how bodily healing alone does not heal the soul and how those who receive God's mercies are under renewed obligation to remember His goodness and give praise.
Setting and Encounter
On His last journey from Galilee toward Jerusalem through the midst of Samaria and Galilee, as He entered a certain village ten men with leprosy met Him on the outskirts and stood afar off. They kept their distance because the law prohibited lepers from entering towns or villages, and the authorities had prescribed limits to separate them from society lest they contaminate others. Lest anyone come upon them unexpectedly they were required to utter the mournful cry, Unclean! unclean!
They were a most distressing spectacle, corrupted by loathsome disease, suffering and separated from others and doomed to death. The company was made up of both Jews and Samaritans, whose national prejudice had been broken down by the terrible malady so that they associated together. They were not ignorant of Jesus as Teacher and Healer, having heard of His wonderful works of mercy and how He had healed others in their same condition.
From afar they called to Him for mercy as the one who alone had power to relieve them in their great suffering. Though in many cases disease is brought on by sinful violation of natural law, He came within their sight, pitied their weakness, and did not stand aloof or keep away for fear of contamination. He told them to show themselves to the priests, and trusting His power and the hope His voice inspired, they had faith to act at once and start on their way believing He could heal. Their faith was tested in obedience, and as they went the horrible disease left them, and they were not only cleansed but made entirely whole by divine power, as though created anew.
Healing and Gratitude
The cleansing of all ten was a blessing and act of mercy from God through Jesus Christ, granted for the sake of the one man who would appreciate it and make a right use of the blessing of health. Only one returned to find Jesus and give Him glory, glorifying God with a loud voice and falling on his face at Jesus' feet in greatest humiliation with feelings of gratitude, thanks, and deep indebtedness. He was a Samaritan stranger, while the other nine were Jews who went away without appreciating the work, rendering thanks, or giving glory to God.
Bodily healing by itself did not heal the soul or prove that sin was healed, for healing disease is no proof that sin has been healed. The one who returned glorifying God showed the fruit of healing in body and soul, for faith in Jesus as the one who pardons sin cleanses and restores the soul. The nine show how people may receive God's mercies without recognizing or thanking Him, failing to respond gratefully to His mercy. Anyone healed, including those with restored health, is under renewed obligation to the Creator to remember Him and His goodness and mercy and to give praise and thanksgiving rather than fail to return like the nine.
The gratitude of the Samaritan who returned alone taught the disciples that Jesus' love for Samaritans remained unchanged despite their earlier rejection of Him. That lesson prepared them to carry the gospel to Samaria.
Lessons for Service
Those who labor as physicians and helpers for suffering humanity are not to become discouraged and disgusted, nor to lose pity, sympathy and patience, nor to feel life poorly employed, nor to become weary in well-doing, when they work for those who can never appreciate the labor and will not use regained strength to bless society but will pursue the same self-gratification and will not use benefits rightly. They are to remember Christ as their great Pattern, who did not stand aloof from the ten corrupted by loathsome leprosy for fear of contamination, but pitied their weakness though in many cases disease is brought on by sinful violation of natural law. He healed the whole ten for the sake of the one who would appreciate it and make a right use of the blessing of health, even though only one returned with gratitude and deep indebtedness, glorifying God with a loud voice and falling on his face at Jesus' feet in greatest humiliation to give thanks. Since even the King of glory, the Majesty of Heaven, had so few appreciate His divine aid, prompting the question, Where are the nine, workers should feel grateful and satisfied if even one out of twenty makes a right use of benefits received. If one life out of ten is saved and one soul out of one hundred is saved in the kingdom of God, and if one among a large number is grateful and exerts a right influence, they should thank God and take courage, for that one may be a stranger.
The nine who did not return to give glory to God correctly represent some Sabbath-keepers who come as patients to the Health Institute. They receive much attention and should realize the anxiety and discouragements of the physicians and should be the last to cause them unnecessary care and burdens, yet frequently the patients most difficult to manage are those of their own faith, more free to make complaints than any other class. Some who question and complain are those treated at reduced prices or even free of charge, and they will speak disparagingly to other patients about the means employed for recovery. By contrast worldlings and professed Christians of other denominations appreciate the efforts made for their recovery more than many Sabbath-keepers do, and when they return home they exert an influence more in favor of the Health Institute, while strangers do their duty and appreciate the efforts made for them. The Lord regards such complaining Sabbath-keepers as He did the nine lepers who returned not to give Him glory, raising the inquiry, Where are the nine, and why do not all Sabbath-keepers give their interest and support.
Receiving and witnessing God's mercy calls for open praise. The example of the lepers standing at a distance prompts the resolve not to remain silent. That resolve is to sing of God's righteousness, to glorify Him, and to praise God and proclaim His righteousness and goodness.