Luke 17:11-14
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We’re going to begin in Luke 17:11...
If you’d like to turn there...
...and follow along in your Bibles.
I don’t want to use up...
...too much of our time on introduction...
But, I will inform you of a few things...
...while you’re (hopefully) finding the text.
-First of all, commentators tell me...
...that as we enter into Verse 11...
...and go all the way to 19:27...
...that we’re entering into the events...
...that take place during...
...the third and final stage...
...of Jesus’ last trip to Jerusalem.
-Also, be mindful that...
...this is a narrative of actual events...
We’ve been looking at lots of parables lately.
This is not that.
This an actual historical event.
-Thirdly, Luke is the only gospel writer...
...to record what happens here.
So, that means that we need to be careful...
...to not confuse this event with...
...the healing of another leper...
...that Luke records in 5:12.
That was a completely separate event.
While there are obvious similarities between them...
They are undeniably unique.
-Alright, hopefully that bought you enough time...
Let’s go ahead and read over it.
We’re going to read over the whole thing...
And then come back...
...and work our way through Verse 14, for this morning...
And then, Lord-Willing, finish the rest next week.
Luke 17 beginning in Verse 11...
This is the Word of the Lord
11 On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance
13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
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Pray
-Alright… Look at verse 1 with me, if you will...
And notice there that...
...Luke begins this narrative...
...with something of a travel update.
He tells us two important things:
11 On the way to Jerusalem...
(Remember that started back in 9:51)
(It was an important text)
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
(He’s going to say a little later:)
31 . . . “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.
So, this was an important journey...
...and, as I said before...
...we’re entering into the...
...the final portion of it this morning.
But remember this:
It wasn’t a straight path
There were mountains, valleys, and bodies of water to go around.
And, in addition to all of that...
...Luke had told us, in...
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.
So, in keeping with all of that...
...Luke tells us, that, now...
11 ...he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.
(Show Map)
Remember that:
Galilee was almost the northern-most Jewish territory
(populated by many gentiles)
Judah (Jerusalem) was towards the south
(predominantly Jewish)
(other than its Roman occupiers)
Samaria was right in between them.
So, Jesus, at this time...
...was probably in this area, right here (show)
(that detail will matter next week)
-Also, let’s remember...
...this bit of historical context:
(It will matter as well)
Matthew–Luke § 153. The Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11–19)
The region of Samaria in Old Testament times (tenth to eighth centuries B.C.) was inhabited by the ten northern tribes of Israel.
Matthew–Luke § 153. The Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11–19)
Following the death of Solomon, the northern tribes seceded from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin in the south.
Matthew–Luke § 153. The Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11–19)
The southern kingdom became known as Judah, while the northern kingdom was initially known as Israel, until it eventually came to be called Samaria after its capital city.
Matthew–Luke § 153. The Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11–19)
In the eighth century Samaria was overrun by the Assyrians. Her inhabitants were exiled and in their place foreign peoples were settled.
Matthew–Luke § 153. The Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11–19)
In the centuries that followed a half-Jewish, half-Gentile race of people emerged with which the Jews of Judah to the south and of Galilee to the north frequently quarreled and which the Jews loathed.
-Alright, with that all in mind...
...let’s read on:
12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance...
Here’s what’s going on:
2 “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot...
Remember that they called multiple skin diseases “leprosy”
Not just “Hansen’s Disease”
...and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests,
3 and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if . . . it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean.
And then this was commanded down in Verse 45:
45 “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’
46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp.
Notice:
1.) They had to isolate themselves completely from society
2.) They had to dress and act in a way...
...that they could be easily identified as leprous!
All of that should come to mind...
...when we read that little phrase...
12 ...he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance...
Beyond that… We need to remember...
...that leprosy was often viewed as...
...being indicative of the Judgment of God upon a person.
Remember:
Miriam:
9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed.
10 When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.
Uzziah:
16 But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense...
18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.”
19 Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord, by the altar of incense....
21 And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the Lord....
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It’s not surprising, then...
...that there was a great deal of social stigma...
...associated with leprosy.
It was a miserable existence:
Many types were very painful
Plus:
Cut off from your family
Outcast from your community
Alienated from the people of God
-I think that helps us to better understand, why...
...instead of crying out “unclean, unclean” . . .
...when they saw Jesus and his entourage...
...that instead, they...
13 ...lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
Notice a couple of things in that:
1.) How did they know who he was...
...while standing so far away...
...and being excluded from society before that?
That shows us a couple of things:
a. Jesus’ probably had a large number of followers at this point
b. His reputation for performing miracles...
...preceded him throughout all of Palestine!
2.) The way they addressed him: “Master”
That’s not the word “kurios” that we’re used to seeing...
Or even the words “despotes” or “rabbi”
This is a word peculiar to Luke’s gospel...
And, (other than in this one instance)...
...is only ever used by Jesus’ disciples...
...when they were addressing him.
It’s not common enough...
...to where it would be helpful...
...for us to commit it to memory...
(so, I won’t try to pronounce it for you)
But, it is helpful to know...
...that its connotation is that of...
The leader or commander of a group
(usually used in a military context)
So, the focus of it...
...is on one’s positional authority...
...to rightly command others.
So, what does that tell us...
...about the thinking of these lepers?
It tells us that, at the very least...
...they agreed with the leper back in 5:12, who...
12 ...when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
At the very least...
(probably based on his reputation)
...they’re believing that...
...he alone of men on earth...
...had the positional authority...
...to command that to be done...
...and it would happen!
And so they simply cry out...
(no doubt in great desperation:)
13 . . . “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
Ryken weaves in some helpful application:
The lepers’ cry for help is a good example of the way needy sinners ought to pray. How do we ask for God’s help in a time of physical or spiritual need?
We cry out to Jesus, the loving and saving Son of God, who alone is able to help us in our time of need. We call him our Master, acknowledging his lordship and remembering that we are only his servants.
Then we pray for mercy, not claiming that we deserve anything, or waiting until we think we are good enough for God, but coming right out and asking for the grace that only God can give.
This is the kind of prayer that God loves to answer: a desperate cry for help offered in the name of his Son. — Ryken
Amen, Amen
-Look at Verse 14:
14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” . . .
(Notice that “priests” is plural)
(They’re not all Jewish Lepers)
Now, with the leper back in chapter 5...
...when that leper...
12 ...saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him.
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Here, he seems to be...
...similarly moved with compassion...
But he doesn’t respond...
...in such a clearly affirmative way.
He doesn’t...
Say “okay”
Draw near to them
Touch them
Pray for them
Instead he tells them:
“to go away”
“to go show their bodies to the priests”
Why would he do that?
Well, again, remember what the Law commanded:
2 “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest,
3 and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of leprous disease is healed in the leprous person,
4 the priest shall command them to...
A long list of ceremonial activities
8 And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. And after that he may come into the camp, but live outside his tent seven days.
9 And on the seventh day he shall shave off all his hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows. He shall shave off all his hair, and then he shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean...
Another long list of actions...
But these two verses get the point accross:
12 And the priest shall take one of the male lambs and offer it for a guilt offering...
20 ...Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.
By the way, this is a great illustration of:
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
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-So, Jesus is telling these ten lepers...
...to go to their respective priests...
...to undergo this evaluation.
What’s the problem with that?
At that moment, their skin was still leprous!
He hadn’t healed them yet!
He hadn’t even told them (that we know of)...
...that he was GOING to heal them.
He simply gives them a command...
(they had professed him as their “master”)
...and expects them to obey it...
...even though thy might not...
...understand it at that moment.
And guys, not only that...
He tells them to go to...
...the equivalent of the Health Department or the CDC...
...to be evaluated.
(Contrast this with alleged faith healers today)
(They wouldn’t be caught dead...
...holding healing crusades in a hospital!)
Why not?
Because they don’t have the...
power
authority
ability
...that they purport to have.
They have to operate in...
The shadows
Controlled circumstances
Jesus, on the other hand...
(and later, his apostles)
...don’t even have to be present to heal...
And they welcomed scientific and medical verification!
What’s allegedly going on today...
...doesn’t appear to be the same thing to me!
-But… back to our text.
What is Jesus essentially calling these men to do?
“Trust and Obey”
Guys, there really is...
“No other way!”
He’s calling them to...
Be assured of what they’re hoping for...
Be convinced of what they’ve not yet seen!
Does that sound familiar?
1 ...faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Remember:
2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
Nothing has changed!
Look at the last sentence in Verse 14:
14 ...he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
It wasn’t until they had begun to obey...
...that they received their healing.
It wasn’t until they had stepped out in faith...
...that they SAW their bodies be restored.
Does that mean that...
...they earned their healing...
...because of their faith?
No, No, No
It’s simply another illustration...
...of that important biblical axiom...
That faith without works is dead!
You act on what you believe to be true!
You can’t help it!
Remember what James said about it:
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
Try not to associate “works” with “works of the Law”
Rather, think the more generic words:
“deeds”
“actions”
Let’s be clear:
28 ...we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.
5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Are Paul and James in disagreement?
(May it never be!)
James EXPLAINS what he means:
15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Ryken applies this principle to our text:
What saved the man—what made him well, body and soul—was faith in Jesus Christ.
He first exercised that faith when he cried out to Jesus for salvation. “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”—this was his simple prayer of faith.
He exercised his faith again when he obeyed Jesus and went to show himself to the priests. According to verse 14, it was only as he went that his skin was healed; when he started off he was still a leper! Therefore, it took faith for him to follow the command of Christ, and if he did not have that faith, he would not be healed. — Philip Ryken
Here’s how we know he’s right:
Because Jesus clarifies at the end:
19 ...your faith has made you well.”
Or literally:
19 ...your faith has saved you.”
(More on this verse next week)
Let’s pray
