Jesus had an amazing way of turning life on its ear. This line that is immortalized in the story of the ten lepers gets me everytime, "Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" It is always the unexpected result that Jesus shines a light on. Here, for instance, he points out that the Jews didn't get it, but the outsiders did. Subtle it is not, but it is certainly unexpected.
There are lots of tidy reasons the commentators have found for why the Samaritan is the only one to return; he wouldn't be accepted at the temple, the others were seeking restoration to community (which is oh so important these days), the others were following the Torah, and on and on. All the excuses aside, the fact remains that 10 were healed and only 1 returned to praise the one who healed them; God/Jesus. The one who returned is the least expected to come and praise God; he is the outsider, only a part of this group of Jews because of a common ailment. Again, good old Luke is reminding his Jewish audience that they had missed it once, but they had another chance to repent (return) and praise God for the salvation of Jesus Christ.
It is another not so subtle reminder from Luke that those of us who think we are in, may not be, and better pay attention to the world around us, praising God at all times for everything we have is a gift from Him. Thanks Luke, I needed the reminder.
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