Luke 17:14
And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
Jesus answered the ten lepers' cry for mercy by telling them to go show themselves to the priests, honoring the law that shut out their diseased condition and required the priest's testimony that the plague was gone before they could freely associate with others again. The command tested faith by calling them to start on the way believing in His power before healing was seen, and as they went in prompt obedient trust the horrible disease left them and they were made entirely whole. All ten were healed, yet only one turned back, a Samaritan stranger who glorified God with a loud voice and fell on his face at Jesus' feet giving thanks, while the nine passed on satisfied to be restored without honoring God. Bodily healing did not itself heal sin, for physical cleansing is no proof the soul is cleansed, but the one who returned in faith to glorify God showed healing in body and soul through pardon for the sin-sick soul. The healing pictures God's continual work in every age to benefit mankind through Christ, which calls for remembering mercies with appreciating hearts rather than passing them by as a right, and teaches helpers not to grow weary even when only one in ten makes right use of the blessing.
The Command and Cleansing
When He saw the ten lepers crying for mercy He answered with divine compassion by telling them to go show themselves to the priests. That order was what was required after cleansing, and it honored the law they knew. That law had shut out their diseased condition from society lest they contaminate others, and it required a cleansed leper to have the priest's testimony that the plague was gone and permission to associate freely with others again. He pitied them in that shut-out condition even when their disease was like that often brought on by sinful violation of nature's laws. Instead of standing aloof for fear of contamination He came into direct contact with the most loathsome disease, touching them and bidding disease give back.
The command to go to the priests tested faith by calling them to start on the way believing in Christ's power to heal before healing was seen. They trusted His word and His power enough to begin the journey before they were healed. They obeyed at once without delay and hastened, willing to venture on the prospect of healing because the tones of His voice filled their hearts with hope, faith and confidence. They set out in faith trusting that the command meant their restoration.
As they went in obedient faith the horrible disease left them and they were cleansed. The healing took place on the way while they obeyed His instruction. As they went they knew a great change had taken place in themselves and that they were healed. They were not only cleansed but made entirely whole by divine power working a new creation.
Faith, Thanks, and Wholeness
All ten were cleansed as they went to present themselves to the priests as commanded, and the cleansing was a mercy from God given to them all. Only one of the ten returned to give glory to God and to Jesus, rightly valuing the blessing and acknowledging His goodness, while the others were satisfied to be restored but forgot the One who had made them whole. The nine went on their way and gave no honor to God and to Jesus Christ whom God sent to be their healer, failing to express gratitude for the mercy shown.
The one who turned back when healed was a Samaritan stranger, while the nine who passed on without thanks were Jews. He glorified God with a loud voice and fell humbly on his face at Jesus' feet giving thanks, praising God and feeling gratitude and indebtedness. He alone appreciated the work and rendered grateful thanks, and he was rewarded for his faith and gratitude.
Jesus healed the whole ten for the sake of the one who would make right use of the blessing of health, knowing beforehand that only one would appreciate the gift. He did not cease His efforts for suffering souls because the nine were ungrateful. Bodily healing did not itself mean that sins were healed, for the nine did not respond with faith in Christ, while the one who returned to glorify God showed the fruit of healing in body and soul. Physical healing is no proof that the soul has been cleansed, but faith in Jesus as the one who pardons sin brings cleansing and pardon to the sin-sick soul.
The healing pictures what God does in every age, pouring out blessings and healing and restoring men. The Lord works continually to benefit mankind, raising up the sick, delivering from unseen peril, and imparting bounties through Jesus Christ. The proportion who recognize and appreciate God's mercies is often even less than one to ten, for most hearts are unimpressed and center on themselves. Only a few discern that their blessings are the result of the never-failing mercies of God through Jesus Christ, and those few, like the cleansed leper who returned, make melody in their hearts to God and offer Him praise and thanksgiving.
The healing calls for gratitude to God rather than passing by His goodness as a right, keeping His mercies and blessings in memory with seeing eyes, hearing ears, and appreciating hearts. Many who are given advantages and privileges make only a feeble response to matchless love. Such unthankfulness keeps God from giving the grace and power He longs to bestow, because it would be used to glorify self and mar His work by self-sufficiency.
Living Out the Mercy
Being cleansed on the way to the priests laid the ten under a debt of thanks, for restored health places the healed under renewed obligation to the Creator. Health is not to be taken for granted, but to be remembered as mercy from God calling for gratitude when it is restored. To receive healing and then forget the One who made whole is to fail in that duty, while to return and give glory shows the right acknowledgment of His goodness. The same mercy gives reason to praise rather than remain silent, to proclaim God's righteousness and glorify Him.
The fact that only one in ten returned teaches physicians and helpers not to become discouraged, disgusted, or weary in well doing over degraded sufferers. Such sufferers may never appreciate the labor spent on them and may use regained strength for self-gratification and self-indulgence rather than to bless others. Pity, sympathy, and patience are not to be lost, but labor is to be given to all, with gratitude and satisfaction if even one out of ten or twenty makes right use of the blessing. If one in twenty uses benefits rightly and one soul in a hundred is saved, all anxiety, care, and effort are amply repaid, for if through such efforts even one human being is uplifted and ennobled and fitted to shine in the courts of the Lord there is cause for rejoicing.
The nine who were cleansed but did not return represent Sabbath-keeping patients who receive much attention and care yet are difficult to manage. They are free to complain, question the management, burden physicians, and speak disparagingly of the means used for recovery even while treated at reduced prices or free of charge, failing to give interest and support. By contrast strangers and Christians of other denominations appreciate the efforts made for their recovery and when they return home exert a stronger influence in favor of the work. The grateful Samaritan who alone returned to give thanks also helped teach the disciples that love extended to Samaritans despite their rejection, preparing them to carry the gospel to Samaria.