The Thankful OneThe Thankful OneLuke 17:11-19 Luke 17:11-19

Luke 17:11-19Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem he On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were And as they went they were cleansed. cleansed. 

Ten LepersTen Lepers

OWhile traveling the frontier While traveling the frontier of Samaria and Galilee, of Samaria and Galilee, Jesus encounters ten lepersJesus encounters ten lepers

OThe lepers stand at a The lepers stand at a distancedistance

OThey cry out: “Jesus, They cry out: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”Master, have mercy on us.”– Recognize who Jesus isRecognize who Jesus is– Implore Him for mercyImplore Him for mercy

OLife of lepers was tragicLife of lepers was tragic

Leviticus 13:45-46Leviticus 13:45-46

  The leprous person who has The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ He shall remain unclean.’ He shall remain unclean as long as he has unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside dwelling shall be outside the camp.the camp.

Outcasts!Outcasts!

OLeprosy used for a wide Leprosy used for a wide range of skin diseasesrange of skin diseases

OLepers were “unclean”Lepers were “unclean”– Could not join in the Could not join in the

community or in worshipcommunity or in worship

OMust wear torn clothes and Must wear torn clothes and live outside camplive outside camp

OShouted a warning to Shouted a warning to others “Unclean!”others “Unclean!”

Outcasts!Outcasts!

OMiserable, lonely lifeMiserable, lonely life– Apart from friends, familyApart from friends, family

OThese lepers had each otherThese lepers had each other– Equal as outcastsEqual as outcasts– Formed their own communityFormed their own community

OThey even had a Samaritan They even had a Samaritan in the group!in the group!– Misery can break down Misery can break down

barriersbarriers– We can often learn from We can often learn from

difficultydifficulty

MercyMercy

OIt is no wonder they cried It is no wonder they cried to Jesus for mercyto Jesus for mercy– No record of “unclean!”No record of “unclean!”– Only “mercy!”—a cry Only “mercy!”—a cry

motivated by humilitymotivated by humility

OWho would not feel sorry Who would not feel sorry for them?for them?

OCertainly our Lord didCertainly our Lord did

Going to the PriestGoing to the Priest

OJesus sends them to the Jesus sends them to the priestpriest– Proper procedureProper procedure

OPriest designated as official Priest designated as official leper inspector (Lev 13)leper inspector (Lev 13)

OOn the way they are all On the way they are all cleansedcleansed

OWhat joy!What joy!OOnly a visit to the priest Only a visit to the priest

stood between them and stood between them and family, friends—life!family, friends—life!

The OneThe One

OBut one—only one—stopsBut one—only one—stopsOHe turns aroundHe turns aroundOAnd he praises GodAnd he praises God– Not quietlyNot quietly– ““with a loud voice”with a loud voice”

OTo the One he asked for To the One he asked for mercy, the one leper falls mercy, the one leper falls on his face and gives on his face and gives thanksthanks

Where Are the Nine?Where Are the Nine?

OJesus notices where there Jesus notices where there were ten, now there is onewere ten, now there is one

O““Where are the nine?”Where are the nine?”OOnly the foreigner—a Only the foreigner—a

Samaritan—returned to Samaritan—returned to “give praise to God”“give praise to God”– Samaritans born “unclean”Samaritans born “unclean”

OResult: “Your faith has Result: “Your faith has made you well.” made you well.” – ““has saved you” (ESV has saved you” (ESV

margin)margin)

Mercy & SacrificeMercy & Sacrifice

OJesus ordered the proper Jesus ordered the proper procedure by Lawprocedure by Law

OBut the Law is not an end But the Law is not an end to itselfto itself– Must be followedMust be followed

OThe result of obedience is The result of obedience is to bring glory to Godto bring glory to God– Expressions of thanksExpressions of thanks

O““Knowing” God not enoughKnowing” God not enough

Romans 1:21Romans 1:21

For although they knew God, For although they knew God, they did not honor him as they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in but they became futile in their thinking, and their their thinking, and their foolish hearts were foolish hearts were darkened. darkened. 

90% vs. 10%90% vs. 10%

OHow often do we fail to How often do we fail to give thanks—90% of the give thanks—90% of the time?time?– Ask Ask receive receive fail to thank fail to thank

OHow do we feel when How do we feel when thanked?thanked?

OWe all have much for which We all have much for which to be thankfulto be thankful

OBe part of the thankful Be part of the thankful 10%10%

Matthew 5:23-24Matthew 5:23-24

So if you are offering your So if you are offering your gift gift at the altar and there at the altar and there remember that your remember that your brother has something brother has something against you, leave your gift against you, leave your gift there before there before the altar and go. First be the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer and then come and offer your gift.your gift.

90% vs. 10%90% vs. 10%

OHow often do we fail to give How often do we fail to give thanks—90% of the time?thanks—90% of the time?– Ask Ask receive receive fail to thank fail to thank

OHow do we feel when How do we feel when thanked?thanked?

OWe all have much for which We all have much for which to be thankfulto be thankful– Be part of the thankful 10%Be part of the thankful 10%

OTo whom do you owe To whom do you owe thanks?thanks?

90% vs. 10%90% vs. 10%

OSamaritan was reconciled Samaritan was reconciled through thanksthrough thanks

OGive honor—thanks—to the Give honor—thanks—to the one it is due (Rom 13:7)one it is due (Rom 13:7)

OThanks—glory to God—Thanks—glory to God—gives life to our obedience gives life to our obedience to Godto God– Animates our relationshipAnimates our relationship

Hosea 6:6Hosea 6:6

For I desire steadfast love For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the and not sacrifice, the knowledge knowledge of God rather than burnt of God rather than burnt offerings. offerings.