O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

“Were there not ten cleansed?” (Luke 17:17)

This week’s chat is based on Luke 17:11-19. The story in this text had our LORD Jesus asking this question, “Were there not ten cleansed?” We shall be looking at this story from the perspective of this question and then learn the intended lesson.

Luke 17:11–19

¹¹And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

¹²And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

¹³And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

¹⁴And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

¹⁶And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

¹⁸There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

¹⁹And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Introduction

Luke 17:11-19 is a very familiar story, and most Christians would say that the passage is about gratitude and the giving of thanks to GOD. But I venture to ask if gratitude and thanksgiving is the intended meaning of the passage. Is there more here than the obvious? Is there something more to learn than “Be like the leper who turned back” or “Do not be like the nine lepers who did not turn back”? 

Scripture is much more profound than a superficial summary and it is in getting to GOD’s intended meaning of the passage that one can truly grow in the Word of GOD. This is the case here when we consider the story from the way Luke framed it.

The Framing of the Story 

Luke started the story by telling us in verse 11 that Jesus was heading to Jerusalem. We know from the rest of the Gospel that Jesus was on His way to die on the cross. This opening statement in the story was about Jesus’ impending death on the cross, and that is the first bracket that frames the story. 

The closing bracket of Luke’s story was the one leper who was made whole in verse 19. The LORD Jesus said that this leper was healed and made whole because of his faith in Jesus. 

Verse 19 tells us that while all ten lepers were healed only one was made whole. Luke’s closing bracket is about the saving faith of this one grateful leper. It was this grateful leper’s faith that caused him to turn back and worship his Saviour and GOD, Jesus Christ.

The Stranger 

The next important background information to the story is the location where this miracle took place. We are not told the name of the village, but we are told about the location. It was somewhere between Samaria and Galilee. This information means that the ten lepers came from two areas, Galilee and Samaria. 

The location helps us identify their spiritual heritage. There were those who belong to the pedigreed religious heritage - the Jews from Galilee. And the other is called ‘this stranger’ (verse 18) because he is a Samaritan, which implies that he belongs to an impure religious heritage. But it turned out that the one who had faith to be grateful and return to worship Jesus was the stranger and not the Jews, the chosen people of GOD.

Their Leprosy 

The other important piece of information is their disease, which was leprosy. The spiritual significance of leprosy is that it represents the judgement of GOD on man’s sin. This was the case in Miriam’s sin (Numbers 12:10-15) and in King Uzziah’s pride (2 Chronicles 26:16-21). 

Leprosy, like sin, separated the ten lepers from GOD and from the community. So, when Jesus asked His disciples the question, “Were there not ten cleansed?” he was doing more than just questioning their gratitude. He was calling out the sin of the nine lepers of not acknowledging Him as their Saviour and worshipping Him as their GOD. All ten lepers were healed but only one saw Jesus as his Saviour and returned to worship Him. 

The story of the ten lepers is about sinners in need of a saviour and how they are to relate to Jesus after being saved from their sins. As for the nine lepers, it is also a reminder that there will be people who come to Jesus and when they get what they ask for, they do not return to worship Him. They only want the gift, and do not want to have anything to do with the giver. 

That is why the LORD Jesus emphasised that ten were healed of leprosy but only one was made whole. Only one had saving faith and gratitude that caused him to worship GOD.

Application 

What kind of relationship do you have with Jesus? Is He just someone you go to, to pray for things? Is your relationship with Jesus transactional - like dealing with a vending machine - with you putting in your effort or money so that He would give you what you want? 

Or is your relationship with Jesus one where He is your Saviour AND GOD? Now that He has saved you from your sins and from eternal damnation, your life is not your own. GOD owns you, and you ought to give your allegiance, obedience and devotion to Him. Do you have the conviction that Jesus is now your everything and without Him you are nothing?

Conclusion 

This Gospel story forces us to evaluate our relationship with Jesus with questions like “Who is Jesus to me?” and “Why should I be fully devoted to Him?” May the conclusion we come to, start with His death on the cross for our sins, and how that act of grace and mercy changes everything for us. 

With Jesus’ last word to the one leper who was made whole, I end this chat by saying…  “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Indeed, let us hear the words of our LORD and Saviour and arise, to go and live for Him.

– Joel Seah 

Shorter Catechism Question 24

24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

Appointments for the Week

Monday-Friday, Dec 2-6 LTF Camp

Tuesday, Dec 3

        8.00 pm     Prayer Meeting (Eld Peter Koy)

Thursday, Dec 5

      10.00 am     Ladies’ Prayer Group

Saturday, Dec 7

        3.00 pm     YLM

Sunday, Dec 8

  8.00 am     Faith Works Nehemiah 9:38-10:1-39 (Bro Mok Chee Cheong)

  8.00 am     Choir Practice

  9.15 am     Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  9.40 am Sunday School

10.15 am Coffee Corner

11.00 am Faith Works Nehemiah 9:38-10:1-39 (Bro Mok Chee Cheong)

11.00 am Children’s Ministry

11.00 am Chinese Service (MPH)

11.00 am Filipina Service (Rm 1-6)

12.15 pm Library (Sanctuary Balcony)

  2.30 pm Thai Service (LMH)

  4.00 pm No Indonesian Service

Announcements

In-Person Church Prayer Meeting

Date: 1 December 2024 

Time: 5.00pm

Venue: Beulah Room 2-1

Christmas Street Evangelism @ Orchard Road

13 & 20 Dec (Fridays), 7pm

Outdoor atrium @ Ngee Ann City (Takashimaya)

(Meet at steps outside Chanel)

Contact: Dn Lim MY / Eld Michael 

Christmas Eve Bilingual Service

“Jesus came for you”, Matthew 1:18-25

Speaker: Rev Calvin Loh

24 Dec (Tuesday), 8pm, Church Sanctuary

Invite your friends!

Life B-P Church Calendar 2025

Next year’s calendar is available for collection, please obtain a copy at the front counter. Members who wish to have an additional calendar may request for 1 more copy from the deacons.

Infant Baptism on Christmas Sunday, 22 December 2024, 9.00am

Parents, please email the church office, with your full names, contact numbers, and your child's name and date of birth by 1 December 2024.

Holy Communion Elements Preparation

There is a Zoom session on 5th Dec 2024 on HC Elements Preparation. Interested? Please text Jenny .

Pre-Nursery Sunday School

Registration for 2025 Pre-Nursery Sunday School class is now open for children aged 18 months to 3 years old. Parents who are keen, please email Ling Ling at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Catechism Class for Easter Baptism on 20 April 2025

will commence on 12 January 2025 at 9.30am. Please pre-register by emailing to Church Office. Those seeking baptism, reaffirmation of faith and transfer of membership must attend the catechism class. Closing date: 5 January 2025.

Traffic Warden Service

We welcome all church members to join in this work. Our TW’s role is to provide godly service to facilitate worship. We need help in following time slots for Sunday: 7.30-8am or 10.30-11am with a frequency of once or twice a month. Please contact Dn Chan Yong or Bro Kelvin .

Condolence

Our condolences to bro Philip Chen & family on the homegoing of his sister, Ms Tan Yoke Inn (73 years old), on 24 Nov 2024. 

YLM: Word made Flesh, Food made Fresh

21 Dec 2024 @ Life B-P Church Beulah MPH. 6.30pm. An evening of feasting, fellowship, and the Good News of Jesus Christ. All are welcome! 

The Presbytery Seminar 2024: Culture Wars: Engaging Today’s World

28 Dec 2024 @ Life B-P Church. 10am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ybmpy3mu by 23 Dec 2024.

YLM 3^rd Anniversary

31 Dec 2024 @ Life B-P Church Beulah MPH. 7pm. “Unity in Christ” by Dn Ian Tay. Sign up at this link by 8 December! See you there! Link: https://forms.gle/Gsehz1EfjcVjKGsBA 

The Presbytery Seminar 2024: Culture Wars: Engaging Today’s World

28 Dec 2024 @ Life B-P Church. 10am. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ybmpy3mu by 23 Dec 2024.

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