Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

In my opinion, the healing of the nine lepers who did not immediately return to give thanks to Jesus would not have been revoked.

By my reading of the account, Jesus told the Samaritan leper who had returned to give thanks to Him that he had been healed because of his faith. That same initial faith had originally been exhibited by all ten of the lepers, who called to Jesus from afar to heal them.

In addition, Jesus Himself had told all the lepers to go show themselves to the priest (as required by the Mosaic Law in Leviticus 14:2-3) to verify their cleansing. Perhaps the other nine lepers (even though they were also cleansed as they went) continued on their way in obedience both to the Law and to Jesus' command, while the Samaritan (whom even Jesus referred to as a "foreigner") either did not know, or did not feel as bound by, the provisions of the Law as the other lepers (who may have all been Jews, although the account does not specifically say that they were) did, due to not being an Israelite.

As such, even though the other lepers did not return immediately to give thanks to Jesus for their cleansing, I do not believe that their healing would have been revoked just because they did not display the type of immediate, personal thankfulness to Jesus that the leper who returned exhibited.

The point of this story's inclusion in the gospel (in my opinion) is to make us aware of the merciful (that is, undeserved) blessings that we all receive from God, and to let nothing hinder us in expressing our thankfulness (both joyfully and often) to Him for them.

November 13 2019 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Sure Footed

I believe the nine lepers stayed healed - I don't know any incident in the bible where healing was reversed. 

When the Samaritan leper returned and praised God, Jesus said to him that his faith had made him well. Why would Jesus state the obvious? What about the other nine? 

Being thankful is recognizing what God has done for us and recognizing means believing and believing means faith. The nine lepers did not return to give God glory. Did they show faith? No, I don't believe they did. 

The Greek word for "well" here is SOZO, which means save, saved, whole, healed, preserved or well. 

Jesus's ultimate mission is the ministry of reconciliation: to save that which was lost (Luke 4:18-19), that we might not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus performed many miracles so that people might believe in Him. Unfortunately in this passage, just one leper believed in Him, the other nine were only interested in the healing and not the Messiah. 

In order to be saved, you have to have faith:...believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved...Acts 16:31. Having faith means having a personal revelation of who Jesus is. By returning and falling down at Jesus's feet and worshipped Him, this leper showed faith. 

So when Jesus said "Your faith has made you well," I believe he meant the man received salvation (as well as healing from his leprosy) because he saw that Jesus was more than just a man, a prophet or a rabbi who healed people. He had the personal revelation of Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God.

February 24 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report