Chapter 18 · 2 min read · 3 min listen
The Ten Men Who Were Healed
“Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?” — Luke 17:18
As Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He came to a village. And there, ten men with leprosy came to meet Him.
Leprosy was a terrible skin disease. People with leprosy had to live outside the towns and villages, away from everyone else, because people were afraid of catching it. They couldn’t live with their families or go to the synagogue. If anyone came near, they had to call out “Unclean!” to warn them.
So the ten men stood a long way off, and they shouted to Jesus, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
Jesus saw them. “Go and show yourselves to the priests,” He said.
The priests were the ones who checked whether someone’s skin disease had gone. If it had, they would say that person could go home and live with everyone again.
But the men were still sick! Their skin hadn’t changed. Still, they did what Jesus said and set off to find the priests.
And as they went, they were healed! Their skin became clean and healthy.
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned around and came back. He was praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself down at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him.
And this man was a Samaritan.
Jesus said, “Weren’t all ten made clean? Where are the other nine? Was nobody found to come back and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Then Jesus said to the man, “Get up and go. Your faith has made you well.”
All ten men were healed. All ten could go home to their families. But only one came back to say thank you. And he was the one everyone least expected: a Samaritan.
The other nine got what they wanted from Jesus, and then they went on with their lives. But the Samaritan understood that the most important thing wasn’t just being healed. It was the one who healed him. He came back to Jesus.
It’s easy to ask God for things, and then forget to thank Him when He answers. God loves it when we come back to Him with thankful hearts.
Read it in your Bible: Luke 17:11–19
Dear Jesus, thank you for all the good things you have given me. I don’t want to forget to say thank you. Help me to have a thankful heart. Amen.
Talk about it together
Ask the questions first — then tap one for a note for grown-ups.
When were the ten men healed?
As they were on their way to show themselves to the priests, trusting what Jesus had said.
How many came back to thank Jesus, and who was he?
Only one, and he was a Samaritan, a foreigner.
What are some things God has done for you that you could thank Him for right now?
Name some together, such as answered prayers, family, food, friends and health, and thank Him for them.
Chapter 18 complete
The Ten Men Who Were Healed