On His journey from Galilee through Samaria to Jerusalem, passing through Jericho, Jesus encountered ten lepers as He entered a village. These outcasts, nine Jews and one Samaritan, united by their shared suffering, approached Him from a distance to avoid spreading their disease. Their pitiful appearance reflected their hopelessness, with ragged clothes, messy hair, slumped shoulders, and drooping heads. When the lepers cried out for mercy, Jesus commanded them to go and show themselves to the priests. As they obeyed and went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. This healing, often described as cleansing due to the uncleanness of the disease, brought them freedom from social restrictions, allowing them to reunite with family, work, and associate freely. One of the healed lepers, upon seeing his healing, returned to Jesus, glorifying God with a loud voice. He fell at His feet, giving thanks, demonstrating his zeal and lack of shame in honoring God publicly. Jesus noted that this man's faith had made him whole, indicating that his return to praise and thank God brought an added blessing beyond physical healing.

In the New Testament there is a similar example of this same great gift being given to ten men in great need and yet of the ten only one man returned to give thanks and because of those thanks something special was given to him. As Jesus went to Jerusalem He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village there met Him ten men who were lepers who stood afar off. They lifted up their voices and said Jesus Master have mercy on us. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest. As they went they were cleansed. One of them when he saw that he was healed returned and with a loud voice glorified God and fell down on his face at His feet giving Him thanks and he was a Samaritan. Jesus answered and said were there not ten cleansed but where are the nine. Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner. Jesus said to him arise go your way. Your faith has made you well. Only one out of ten turned and thanked and glorified God with a loud voice. He shouted at the relief he felt and at the fact that he could again join society and be with his family. He was truly thankful. He saw more than just being restored he saw that a wonderful gift had been given to him. He turned and he ran back to Jesus and fell at His feet and worshipped Him. He was truly grateful for God's goodness and mercy. Instead of following the letter of what Jesus had told him to do in going to the priest he immediately returned to first thank Him. And to rub salt into the wounds of the Jews this one man who came back to offer thanks was a Samaritan. Jesus turned and asked where the missing nine were. None returned to give thanks to God except the stranger. Jesus states that all ten were cleansed but this one Samaritan's faith made him whole. The word for cleansed means to be free from dirt or to be cleansed ceremonially. In other words legal cleansing from leprosy so that they can go back into society. Being made whole means in a broad sense to save to deliver make whole preserve safe from danger. The contrast of all being made ceremonially clean or cleansed differs sharply with that of being made whole. The others went their way never knowing Jesus but this man put his face in the dirt in great thanksgiving and appreciation and worshipped Him. The nine received life but it appears this man received much more because of his thankfulness. He received a close relationship with God.

In Luke 17, as Christ went to Jerusalem through Samaria and Galilee, ten lepers met Him and asked for mercy. He instructed them to show themselves to the priests, and they were cleansed on the way. One, a Samaritan, returned to glorify God and thank Him at His feet. Christ asked where the other nine were, noting that only this foreigner returned to give glory to God. The nine Israelites did not acknowledge their healing as God's gift and continued on their way without thanks.

In Luke 17 Jesus encountered ten lepers who stood afar off and cried out for mercy. He instructed them to show themselves to the priests. As they went they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them a Samaritan returned glorified God fell at the feet of Jesus and gave thanks. Jesus asked where the other nine were and noted that only this foreigner returned to give glory to God. He told the man that his faith had made him whole. The account shows that all ten obeyed and were healed yet only one expressed thankfulness. That thankfulness completed his connection with God produced faith and resulted in him being made whole in the sense of being saved and preserved as one of the firstfruits. The narrative serves as an example of the importance of returning to give thanks after receiving a blessing from God.

In Luke 17 Jesus encountered ten lepers who stood afar off and cried out for mercy. He instructed them to show themselves to the priests and they were cleansed as they went. One of them a Samaritan returned glorifying God and fell at the feet of Jesus giving thanks. Jesus asked where the nine were and observed that only this stranger returned to give glory to God. He told the Samaritan to arise and go his way because his faith had made him whole. The account distinguishes three terms for the event. All ten were cleansed and healed but only the thankful one was made whole. His gratitude revealed a humble spirit that positioned him to advance toward spiritual conversion and perfection in the Kingdom of God. The passage notes that those who receive blessings are more prone to ingratitude because they assume what they receive is owed rather than freely given.