Luke 17:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

But by their calling Him Teacher, I think it is plainly implied that leprosy is truly the false doctrine which the good teacher may wash away. Now we find that of those upon whom our Lord bestowed bodily mercies, not one did He send to the priests, save the lepers, for the Jewish priesthood was a figure of that priesthood which is in the Church. All vices our Lord corrects and heals by His own power working inwardly in the conscience, but the teaching of infusion by means of the Sacrament, or of catechizing by word of mouth, was assigned to the Church. And as they went, they were cleansed; just as the Gentiles to whom Peter came, having not yet received the sacrament of Baptism, whereby we come spiritually to the priests, are declared cleansed by the infusion of the Holy Spirit. Whoever then follows true and sound doctrine in the fellowship of the Church, proclaiming himself to be free from the confusion of lies, as it were a leprosy, yet still ungrateful to his Cleanser does not prostrate himself with pious humility of thanksgiving, is like to those of whom the Apostle says, that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, nor were thankful. (Rom. 1:21.) Such then will remain in the ninth number as imperfect. For the nine need one, that by a certain form of unity they may be cemented together, in order to become ten. But he who gave thanks was approved of as a type of the one only Church. And since these were Jews, they are declared to have lost through pride the kingdom of heaven, wherein most of all unity is preserved. But the man who was a Samaritan, which is by interpretation “guardian,” giving back to Him who gave it that which he had received, according to the Psalm, My strength will I preserve for thee, (Ps. 59:9.) has kept the unity of the kingdom with humble devotion.

The Jews, however, exhibited stubbornness toward this immense gift, while many among the Gentiles, once lost in folly and habitual wickedness, glorified God. They did not merely acknowledge salvation and proclaim the vast mercy of Him who emptied Himself for our sake, demonstrating the unfathomable depths of His humanity, but they also adhered to His commandments and lived accordingly. As a result, they walked in peace, truly at peace with themselves, one another, and God. This meant pleasing God, being pure, practicing righteousness, enduring in "prayers and supplications" (Acts 1:14), and "singing and chanting in our hearts" (Eph. 5:19), not merely with our lips. In relation to ourselves, we must subdue the flesh to the spirit, choosing to live by our conscience while cultivating reverence within our thoughts. Concerning our interactions with one another, we must "Accept one another and forgive one another, if anyone has a grievance against anyone, just as Christ also forgave us" (Col. 3:13). Moreover, we ought to extend mercy to one another, inspired by the mutual love exemplified by Christ, who out of love for us, showed us mercy and descended for our sakes.

Let us, therefore, dear ones, strive to embody this peace and express it through our actions and a virtuous life that pleases God. For this peace is integral to our role as the Church of Christ, appointed by Him to be stewards of His inheritance and grace. Primarily, we preach peace to you, adhering to the command of our Savior, conveyed through the Apostles (John 14:27; Mark 9:50). Through this peace, we should unite those who have been divided and dispel hatred and affliction from our souls. Hence, we are one with you in Christ, and for His sake, we implore you as if He were praying through us, “Be reconciled to God.” Recognize your mutual kinship, not just of soul but also of body, that you may become sons of peace, which is synonymous with being sons and heirs of God. He is our Peace, who has united us and dismantled the barriers, abolishing enmity through the Cross and instilling peace in our hearts. The entire purpose of His incarnation is centered on reconciliation, which is why He descended, as David foretold, "In His days shall shine forth righteousness and the multitude of peace" (Psalm 71:7). In another psalm, he describes Him saying, "How He speaks peace to His people, and to His reverent ones, and to those who turn their hearts to Him" (Psalm 84:9). The angels’ song at His Nativity underscores His coming to bring us peace, declaring, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Luke 2:14). After accomplishing His redemptive mission, He entrusted His disciples with the world, declaring, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you" (John 14:27); and again, "Have peace among yourselves" (Mark 9:50). Furthermore, He stated, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). His final prayer, offered as He ascended to the Father, reinforces our call to love each other: "Give them, that they may all be one" (John 17:21).

Therefore, let us not stray from the Father's blessing, nor forfeit the inheritance from our heavenly Father or the unique sign of our belonging to Him. Let us not lose our adoption, blessing, or discipleship, nor forsake the promise of eternal life, thereby risking separation from the spiritual marriage feast with the Prince of Peace—the Father. To prevent such a fate, He commissioned His disciples and Apostles to spread peace throughout the world. In their teachings and writings, they emphasized this, often introducing their messages with “Grace to you and peace from God.” As agents of their ministry, we now convey this peace to you, and alongside Paul, we urge you: "Pursue peace and holiness with all, for without them no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Let none be deprived of the vision of the Lord or fall away from the divine glory emanating from Him. May we all be reconciled and united in one accord through shared peace in God, love, and harmony, so that we might dwell in our midst, as promised by Him. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lightens the burdens of our present life, will, in due time, grant us eternal life, glory, and His kingdom, which we all may receive through the grace and compassion of Him who is the Prince and Giver of peace, our God and Father, the Lord Jesus Christ. To Him be glory, honor, and worship, with His unbeginning Father and life-giving Spirit, now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

The Lord highlighted this difference in attitudes to His disciples as a lesson for their future ministry and commended the Samaritan for his faith by assuring him of salvation, indicating how this outsider was near to the kingdom of God.

While the Jewish lepers rushed to obtain a certificate of healing from the priests, eager to re-enter society, one healed man, a Samaritan, was profoundly touched by the Lord's graciousness. After receiving healing, he returned to Christ, praising God with a loud voice and fell at His feet in gratitude. This Samaritan stood out as the only one among the healed who not only possessed faith but also expressed thankfulness to his Healer. In contrast, the faithful Jews failed to demonstrate this important virtue of thankfulness. With a heavy heart, the Lord lamented, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was there no one found to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ To the grateful Samaritan who knelt at His feet, Jesus replied, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well’—not just in body, but also purifying your spirit from sin.

When these ten lepers saw the heavenly Teacher and recognized Him, they stood at a distance and called out with loud voices, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” This cry reflected their deep anguish, as they placed their faith in the all-powerful Healer and compassionate Savior, believing He could aid them just as He had assisted many others in their suffering. The Lord responded to their sincere plea, instructing them, “Go, show yourselves to the priest,” thereby indicating their healing while directing them to fulfill the requirements of the Mosaic Law regarding their recovery—specifically, to present themselves to the priest for evaluation and to offer a purification sacrifice (Lev. 14:2-32). The Lord had given similar instructions to the lepers He healed in Galilee (Matt. 8:4; Luke 5:14).

One of the lepers, a Samaritan, recognizing his miraculous healing, felt compelled to express his heartfelt gratitude to his Benefactor before approaching the priest. This Samaritan, often looked down upon like the Gentiles, demonstrated a depth of character that transcended the attitudes of the Jews who distanced themselves from him. His actions provided clear evidence that those who are saved are not solely found among the physical descendants of Israel. This Samaritan separated himself from the others and returned to Jesus, exalting God in a loud voice before falling at His feet. Observing the absence of the other healed individuals, the Lord inquired, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” Though physically healed, the ingratitude of the others weighed heavily on their consciences. In contrast, the faithful and thankful Samaritan received reassurance from the Lord, who declared not only his physical restoration but also the salvation of his soul: “Rise and go; your faith has saved you.”