Luke 17:11-19 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the middle of Samaria and Galilee.… 1. Look at the afflicted objects. 2. Observe the direction of the Divine Physician. The Saviour, by sending the lepers to the priest, not only honoured the law which had prescribed this conduct, but secured to Himself the testimony of the appointed judge and witness of the cure; for, as this disease was considered to be both inflicted and cured by the hand of God Himself, and as He had cured it, He thus left a witness in the conscience of the priest, that He was what He professed to be. 3. Follow these men on the road, and behold the triumphant success of Christ's merciful designs. Christ's cure was not only effectual, but universal. No one of the ten is excepted as too diseased, or too unworthy; but among all these men there is only one that we look at with pleasure. He was a stranger. 4. Contemplate more closely the grateful Samaritan. What a lovely object is gratitude at the feet of Mercy! 5. But what a contrast is presented by the ungrateful Jews. 6. Yet how gently the Saviour rebukes their unthankfulness. He might have said — "What! so absorbed in the enjoyment of health as to forget the Giver! Then the leprosy which I healed shall return to you, and cleave to you for ever." But, no; He only asks — "Are there not found any that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger?" And, turning to the man prostrate in the dust at His feet, Jesus said, "Arise, go to thy house, thy faith hath made thee whole."Concluding lessons — 1. This subject shows the compassion of the Saviour. 2. Let each ask himself, "Am I a leper?" 3. See the hatefulness of ingratitude. (T. Gibson, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. |
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