The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 87

the fields during the day, but also further from their fellowe, in accordance with the duties often in the eyening-tide. There is old Mosaic Law of Lev. xiii. 46, "He is un- no rest for the faithful and true servant of clean : he shall dwell e.lone; without the Jesus. and this restless work must be camp she.11 his habitation be." These had patiently gone through, perhaps for long no doubt heard of the manv lepers who years. had been healed by the Galilroan Teacher • Vere. 9, 10.-Doth he thank th!lt servant who was then drawing nigh the ville.ge. beoause he did the things that were oom- They did not venture to approach him, but manded him t I trow not. So likewise ye, they attracted his attention with their hoarse, when ye shall have done all those things sad cry. The legal distance which these whioh are oommanded you, say, We are un- unfortunates were compelled to keep from profitable servants: we have done that whioh passers-by was a hundred paces. He does was our duty to do. .And for the loyal, not seem to have touched them, or talked patient, unwearied worker there must be no w:ith them, but with an impressive majesty saying, "What shall we have therefore?" bids them go and return thanks for their (Matt. xb::. 27). No spirit of self-com- cure, which his will had already accom- placency and of self-satisfaction must be plished. They evidenUy believed implicitly allowed to brood over the faithful servant's in bis healing power, for without further thoughts. In much of the Lord's teaching question they went on their we.y as he had o.t this period of his life the position of man commanded, and as they went the poor sur- as regards God seems to have been dwelt on. ferers felt a new e.nd, to them, a quite God is all ; man is nothing. In God's great strange thrill or health course through their love is man's real treasure; man is simply a veins : they felt their prayer was gre.nted, steward of some of God's possessions for a e.nd that the fell disease had left them. They time; man is a servant whose dnty it is to were not sent to the capital city; any priest work ceaselessly for his Master, God. There in any town was que.lifi.ed to pronounce on e.re hints of great rewards reserved for the the completeness of a. cure in this me.lady faithful steward in heaven, promises that a (Lev. xiv. 2-32). time should come when the unwea.ried Ver. 16.-And he was a. Samaritan, .Ap- servant should sit down and eat and drink parently nine of these lepers were Jews, and in his Master's house ; but these high guer- only one a Samaritan. This man would not dons were not earned, but were simply free, have been e.llowed to e.ssocie.te with Jews gracious gifts from the Divine Sovereign. to but for the miserable disease with which he bis creatures who should try to do bis will. was e.fllicted, and which obliterated all dis- This patient, unwee.ried toil; this deep sense tinction or race and caste. It is the se.mf of indebtedness to God who loves man with now at Jerusalem; in the leper-houses, so intense, so strange a love; this feeling that termed" .Abodes of the Unfortunate," Jews we can never do enough for him, that when and Mohe.mmedans will live together. we have taxed all our energies to the utmost Under no other circumstances will thel!6 in bis service, we have done little or no- hostile peoples do this. thing, and yet that all the while he is smil- Ver. 17.-Where are the ninet It has ing on with bis smile of indescribable love; been suggested that the priests, in their -this is what will increase the disciples' hostility to Jesus, hindered the return of the faith, and only this. .And in this way did nine. The one who was a Samaritan would the Lord reply to the disciples' prayer, naturally pay little heed to a remonstrance " Increase our faith." from such a quarter. From the terms of Ver. 11.-And it came to pass, as he went the narrative it is, however, more likely that to Jerusalem. Just e. note of time and the strange Samaritan, as soon e.s he felt he place inserted by St. Ln.ke to remind the was really cured, moved by intense, e.doring reader that all these incidents took place, gratitude, at once turned be.ck to offer his this important teaching and the momentous humble, heartfelt thanks to his Deliverer. revelations concerning man's present and The others, now they had got what they so future were spoken. during those last few earnestly required, forgot to be grateful, and months preceding the Crucifi.rion, e.nd gene- hurried off to the priests to procure their rally in that long, slow progress from the certificate of health, that they might plunge north of Pa.Jestine through Galilee and at once again into the varied distractions of Samaria to the holy city. everyday life-into business, plea.sure, and Vera. 12, 13.-And e.& he ·entered into a the like. The Master e.ppears especially certain village, there met him ten men that moved by this display, He seems to see in were lepers, whioh stood afar o:ff: and they the thanklessness of the nine, contrasted lifted up their voioes, and said, 1esus, Mas- with the conduct of the one, the ingro.titucle ter, have mercy on WI. These met him of men e.s e. whole, "as e. prophetic type of somewhere outside the village, separated, by what will e.lso ever take place" (Stier). the fact of their unhappy malady, leprosy, Ver.19.-Thyfe.ith he.th made thee whole. on. xvu.1-37.] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE.