Luke 17:11-19
Ten Lepers and One Thankful Man
Read the passage
11While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee.
12As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance
13and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.
15When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice.
16He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.
17“Were not all ten cleansed?” Jesus asked. “Where then are the other nine?
18Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?”
19Then Jesus said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well!”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
As Jesus travels toward Jerusalem, He passes along the border between Samaria and Galilee. He enters a village, and ten men with leprosy meet Him. They stand at a distance and lift their voices, asking Jesus to have mercy on them.
Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priests. As they go, they are cleansed. One of them, when he sees that he is healed, turns back, praising God with a loud voice.
He falls at Jesus' feet and gives Him thanks. The man is a Samaritan. Jesus asks where the other nine are and whether no one else returned to give praise to God except this foreigner.
Jesus tells the man to rise and go; his faith has made him well. All ten were cleansed, but this man returns to thank the one who healed him. His response draws attention from the gift to its giver. Jesus receives the foreigner's praise and personally affirms his faith.
Questions
1 What do the ten men ask Jesus for?
AnswerThey ask Jesus to have mercy on them. Because of their disease, they stand at a distance rather than approaching normally.
2 When are they cleansed?
AnswerThey are cleansed as they go to show themselves to the priests, obeying Jesus' instruction before they can see the result.
3 Who returns to Jesus?
AnswerOne man returns, praising God loudly, falls at Jesus' feet, and gives Him thanks. Luke identifies him as a Samaritan.
4 What question does Jesus ask about the others?
AnswerHe asks where the other nine are and why this foreigner alone returned to give praise to God.
What This Means for Us
Gratitude is not a payment for healing; it is recognition of grace. The Samaritan's return also unsettles assumptions about who will respond faithfully.
Families can practice gratitude specifically: name the giver, remember the mercy, and let thanks become a changed use of what has been received rather than a passing phrase.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, have mercy on us and keep us from receiving gifts without returning thanks. Give our household eyes to recognize grace, humility to learn from outsiders, and praise that becomes faithful living. Amen.