565. LUK 17:17. THE TEN LEPERS

Luk_17:17. The Ten Lepers

"And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?"’97Luk_17:17.

The human body is exposed to a number of fearful maladies. Sin has sown its seeds of decay and sorrow in every part of the system, and these have produced a harvest of painful and distressing maladies. During the Saviour’s sojourn on earth, he exercised his almighty and gracious influence in allaying and restoring from the various ills that flesh is heir to. He went about doing good both to the bodies and souls of men. He healed all manner of diseases, and even brought back again the spirits of the departed, and resuscitated the lifeless clay already committed to the grave. Our text refers to one of his stupendous miracles, and is fraught with varied and important instruction. Notice,

I. The real condition of the persons referred to.

II. Their application to Christ.

III. The cure wrought. And,

IV. The thanks of the Samaritan and the ingratitude of the nine.

I. The original condition of the persons referred to. They were lepers. Leprosy was an exceedingly distressing disease. It was painful and disgusting to the individual, and contagious and loathsome to others. It was often inflicted as a punishment upon heinous transgressors. Such were incurable by the power of man. Were excluded from society, and not allowed to enter the courts of the Lord’s house. What a concentrated calamity. What a condition of hopelessness and sorrow. Yet on this occasion there were ten of such persons associating together. Outcasts from society, unapproachable by friends, and the terror of all who might even behold them afar off. In these lepers, we see exhibited the true condition of sinners. Sin is to the soul all, and more than all, that leprosy is to the body. It defiles, embitters, defies human aid to eradicate. It separates from the society of the holy, and terminates in the horrors of a guilty death. Worse than leprosy, it ends not with the grave,’97but exposes its victims to the everlasting misery of the unending death.

II. Their application to Christ.

1. Observe the distance they kept from his person. "Who stood afar oft", Luk_17:12. That they might not disgust him by the offensiveness of their disease, and according to law, not being allowed to come near any clean person.

2. The earnestness of their prayer. "Have mercy on us." Their supplication was short, but expressive and fervent. It was the real sense of their degradation and misery, that made them so anxious for the interposition of the Redeemer.

3. The unanimity of their application. Alike diseased, miserable, so they agree in their suit, and they are one in their prayer.

4. The reverence and faith they evinced. "Jesus," i. e., Saviour’97"Master," one having authority. Authority from God. The Jews denied this, and treated his claims with disbelief and scorn. These poor lepers acknowledged his character both as Son and Lord. Without one ray of believing hope, they had not prayed. Doubtless they had heard of the miracles of Christ, and therefore some measure of faith had come by their hearing, and this they embodied in their cry, "Jesus’97Master," &c.

III. The cure wrought.

1. It was in connection with obedience to his will. He did not instantaneously do it. He commanded them to go to the priests, &c. Now here two points were involved. Faith exercised in him. They had called him Jesus. Now he tests their belief of his authority. He said, go, &c. They had called him Master. He now tests their submission, &c. As cured lepers only were to go to the priests, it is evident that these were to expect on their arrival there, that they would be free from their malady. The end of this arrangement might be threefold.

(1.) For their own sake. That the priests might attest their real restoration, and thus enable them to return to their friends and society.

(2.) For the priests’ sake. That they might see the almighty power of Christ, and not remain in unbelief. And to render them excuseless if they rejected his Messiahship.

(3.) For his own sake. That his credentials, as the anointed and sent of God, might be read and known of all.

2. The cure itself. As they went, they were healed. The weakness arising from it gave way to strength. The impurity to cleanness. Internally made sound, externally their flesh would be as that of a little child. It was a radical, universal, and complete cure. A cure resulting from the gracious and divine power of the Son of God. Consider,

IV. The thanks rendered by the Samaritan, and the ingratitude of the nine. Observe,

1. The Samaritan. Belonging to a class despised by the Jews,’97of supposed inferior knowledge, and feelings. One of a degraded class. Yet when he found himself healed, he immediately returned to Christ, and gave the most lively evidences of joyful exultation, Luk_17:15, Luk_17:16. His thanks were ardent, humble, and sincere. How beautiful was the scene. Notice,

2. The nine. These were Jews. But having obtained the boon, they forgot the donor. Selfishness excluded the best feelings from their souls, and there is a manifest severe reproof, &c., included in the 18th verse.

3. Observe the commendation of the one. He said to him, "Arise, go thy way," &c. No doubt but this man was spiritually, as well as physically, healed. Christ’s address exalted him. Arise, &c. He that humbleth himself, &c. His faith is eulogized. "Thy faith," &c. Faith had taken hold of Christ’s free and rich virtue, and thus he was made whole. Christ’s favor evidently accompanies him. "Go thy way," &c.

Learn,

1. The willingness and power of Christ to heal. He is still the same, &c. He desires, he delights to heal, &c.

2. The application to be made. It must be personal, earnest, and believing.

3. The return he demands of those he saves. Gratitude,’97that God might be glorified. He thus has a new right to us, "Ye are not your own," &c.

4. The commonness of ingratitude. Children are often so to parents. Servants to masters. The relieved towards their benefactors. How vile and odious. But have not we all been so to God? How we have forgotten his benefits, &c. Vows broken. That deliverance. That restoration to health, &c. Where are the nine? That sinner said he would become serious if recovered,’97but where is he? That nominal Christian devout,’97but where is he? That believer more devoted, but where is he? &c. O Lord, enter not into judgment, &c.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS