THE GRACE OF GRATITUDE
LUKE 17:11-19
Introduction:
The Lord Jesus was nearing the end of His ministry upon this earth. He was in Galilee and determined to go to Jerusalem, Luke 9:51, “And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.”
The nearest way from Galilee to Jerusalem was through Samaria. In a certain town there ten lepers met him, v. 13, “And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Jesus sent them to the priest to show themselves and as they went they were healed (v.14).
One of the men saw that he was cleansed and returned to show his gratitude (vv. 15-16).
I. THE RARENESS OF CHRISTIAN GRATITUDE
v. 17, “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?”
A. Leprosy was thought to be a mark put upon men by God because of their sin:
1. God sent it upon Miriam, for her contempt of Moses, Numbers 12:10, “And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.”
2. David curseth Joab’s house with it, 2 Samuel 3:29, “Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.”
3. Gehazi suffereth by it, for his lying and going after Naaman for a bribe, 2 Kings 5:27, “The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.”
4. King Uzziah, for usurping the priest’s office, 2 Kings 15:5, “And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the house, judging the people of the land.”
B. Only one of the ten men the Lord healed returned to show his gratitude, 1 Chronicles 16:29, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”
1. This man, a Samaritan, was sensible of the power of God and grateful for his mercies, Psalms 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
2. The nine lepers cried to Christ for mercy, but mercy with respect to their afflictions, Romans 1:21, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
II. THE REALITY OF CHRISTIAN GRATITUDE
v. 15, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,”
A. The Samaritan’s first thought was to thank the Lord for being healed, Psalms 30:11, “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”
B. Our first duty as sinners saved by God’s grace is to be thankful to Him, Psalms 26:7, “That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.”
1. In order to glorify our God, 2 Corinthians 4:15, “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”
2. Our prayer life should be filled with thanksgiving, Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
II. THE REWARD OF CHRISTIAN GRATITUDE
vv. 18-19, “There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
A. The Lord healed many that never said thank you, but those that thanked the Lord were those that received Him as Savior, Luke 7:50, “And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”
B. He declares what God had done for his soul, Psalms 66:16, “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.”
C. They boast of what God has done, Psalms 34:2, “My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.”
D. His gratitude demonstrated by telling the good news, Mark 1:45, “But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.”
CONCLUSION
Have we boasted about our Lord recently; about how He saved our souls from sin; about how we were condemned to hell before we trusted Him as our Savior? It is time that we did.