Luke xvii. 17, 18. And Jesus answering, said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
AS the miracles of our Lord were greatly diversified, so were the effects produced by them. Sometimes they were regarded with stupid indifference ; at other times they were made effectual to the conversion of sinners: we have an instance of both in the history before us —
I. Consider the various circumstances mentioned in the context —
The leprosy, though little known amongst us, was very common in Judaea : ten persons infected with it made application to Jesus for relief —
[Jesus had just been refused admission into a Samaritan village3. On his entrance into another village the lepers saw him. How graciously was the bigotry of the Samaritans overruled for good ! Had they used the common rights of hospitality, perhaps the lepers might never have had the opportunity that was now afforded them. It was not per- mitted to lepers to approach even their dearest friends. They therefore " stood afar off," crying earnestly for relief. A sense of need will make us importunate in our supplications. But, alas ! the generality are far more anxious for the removal of bodily disorders, than of spiritual maladies. Happy were it for us, if our fervour were most expressed in the concerns which most demand it !]
Jesus instantly vouchsafed a gracious answer to their petition —
[He did not indeed pronounce them whole, or even pro- mise to make them so. He only ordered them to go to the priests, the appointed judges of leprosy b. This however amounted to a virtual promise of healing, unless he intended only to mock and deride their misery. And it answered many valuable and important purposes. It served as a test of their faith and obedience. Their instant departure would prevent
■ Luke ix. 52, :>:5, .">(>. with ver. 12. See Dr. Doddridge's Fam.
ExpOS. sre-t. 1 27.
11 ver. 11. with Lev. xiv. '.'.