January 19 2025, Sunday School Lesson

Healing Ten Lepers

Lesson Text: Luke 17:11-19

Related Scriptures: Leviticus 13: 38-46; 14:1-32; Luke 5:12-15

TIME: A.D. 30

PLACE: on the way to Jerusalem

Golden Text “And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole” (Luke 17:19)

Introduction

In some ways, it is easier to see our need for Jesus’ mercy before we receive than after we receive it.

Have you ever cried out to God in a stressful situation? “Lord, please help me!” you might have said. “I need you to show me your compassion and ease my burden.” But how often do you call out to Him with that same urgency once He has met your need?

God has given believers every spiritual blessing they need in Christ (Eph. 1:3), and He love to give us good gifts when we cry out to Him (Matt. 7:11). But too often we fail to give Him thanks for His mercy.

Such ingratitude reveals something about our hearts. Many people will cry out for God’s help in life-threatening circumstances out of sheer desperation. But very few thank Him when He does what they ask.

This week we read about ten lepers who encouraged Jesus. All of them urgently cried out to Jesus as their Master when they needed His help, but afterward only one returned to give thanks. This is a lesson for us, as God calls us to cultivate grateful hearts for all His mercies.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. HEARING A NEED - Luke 17:11-14

II. RECEIVING GRATITUDE – Luke 17:15-19

QUESTIONS

1. Why was Jesus spending so much time in Samaria and Galilee while on His way to Jerusalem?

2. Who met Jesus as He entered an unnamed village?

3. Where were they positioned relative to the crowds? Why?

4. What was their request, and what did this reveal about what they knew of Jesus?

5. How did Jesus uncharacteristically respond to their request?

6. At what point did their healing actually occur?

7. What did the one healed leper do that none of the others did?

8. What surprising truth do we learn about him that made Jesus’ point even more impressive?

9. How did Jesus express His disappointment about the others?

10. What was the ultimate result of the faith of this leper?

ANSWERS

1. During this period in which Jesus was awaiting the time for Hi final appearance in Jerusalem, He was traveling on the border between Samaria and Galilee. He thus stayed away from Galilee, where Herod sought to kill Him, and from Judea, where the Sanhedrin was plotting to kill Him.

2. As Jesus entered a village, He was met by ten lepers.

3. As was required of them, they stood away from the crowds. Leviticus gave instructions regarding lepers: “And the lepers in whom the plague is, his cloths shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be” (13:45-46). Leprosy was a feared disease because there was no known cure for it, and some forms of it were highly contagious. Leprosy had a similar emotional impact and terror associated with it as AIDS does today…. if a person contracted the contagious type, a priest declared him a leper and banished him from his home and city. This also excluded him from participating in any social or religious activities (according to the law in Leviticus 13 – 14). These lepers stood at a distance because of Pharisaic traditions that demanded they do so. They were probably just outside the village Jesus was entering, since they were also required to stay out of town.

4. What they asked for was mercy from Jesus. They needed His empathy and the healing He could grant them. The most common synonym for “mercy” is “compassion.” A reading of the Gospels will reveal that Jesus often responded with compassion to those who were in special need. These ten recognized Jesus and addressed Him by His name. They also recognized Him as having special healing abilities.

5. In response, Jesus simply told them what they should do: proceed to show themselves to the priests. He gave no indication that they were healed or were going to be.

6. Their healing came while they were underway, not before.

7. But one of the men reversed directions; he returned to thank Jesus.

8. Not only was this person an unclean leper, but he was also an unclean Samaritan.

9. It was not that the return of only one surprised Him; rather, it was important that He point out to those observing the importance of acknowledging the work of God and being grateful for it. So, He asked, “were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? (v. 17). Nine out of ten received the healing they requested without coming back to express their thanks.

10. His response, coupled with the resulting interaction with Jesus, suggests he also received salvation.