Monday Devo
Scripture:
Luke 17:11-14
11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
Commentary:
17:11 On the way to Jerusalem. Cf. 9:51 and 13:22.
17:12–13 ten lepers … stood at a distance (cf. Num. 5:2–4; 2 Kings 7:3). The law required lepers not to mingle with other people (Lev. 13:45–46; Num. 5:2–4). have mercy. Cf. Luke 16:24; 18:38–39.
17:14 show yourselves to the priests. The rationale for this instruction is found in Lev. 14:2–32. This was to serve as a proof to them, i.e., the people (and probably the priests as well). As a result of Jesus’ healing, the (former) leper is brought back into full participation and fellowship in the Jewish community according to the provisions of the Mosaic law.
As they went they were cleansed, i.e., healed. The priests would declare them clean. They had to begin to obey Jesus’ command to go to the priests before they were actually healed (cf. 5:5; 2 Kings 5:13–14).
17:12–13 ten lepers … stood at a distance (cf. Num. 5:2–4; 2 Kings 7:3). The law required lepers not to mingle with other people (Lev. 13:45–46; Num. 5:2–4). have mercy. Cf. Luke 16:24; 18:38–39.
17:14 show yourselves to the priests. The rationale for this instruction is found in Lev. 14:2–32. This was to serve as a proof to them, i.e., the people (and probably the priests as well). As a result of Jesus’ healing, the (former) leper is brought back into full participation and fellowship in the Jewish community according to the provisions of the Mosaic law.
As they went they were cleansed, i.e., healed. The priests would declare them clean. They had to begin to obey Jesus’ command to go to the priests before they were actually healed (cf. 5:5; 2 Kings 5:13–14).
Questions:
- When Jesus encounters 10 lepers on His way to Jerusalem, He is moved with compassion for them and heals them. But this healing encounter went a little bit differently than previous ones. He doesn't touch them. He doesn't even say, "You're healed." He simply tells them to go show themselves to the priest. The priest in those days acted kind of like a medical examiner. If someone was healed or if their condition had improved, they would have to confirm that with the priest so he could officially deem them cleansed. So Jesus was telling them to go show the priest they were healed BEFORE the healing took place. How difficult is it to obey God when you are unsure of the outcome? What is your level of faith in these moments?
- Then, as they went, they were healed. OBEDIENCE brings BLESSING to our lives. The Bible is FULL of if/then statements. If we obey, if we call out to Him, if we come to Him, if we ask, seek, knock, God has promised to do all sorts of things. If we do nothing, if we disobey, doubt, go our own way, He’s promised nothing… except maybe death, destruction, pain, penalties, separation from Him. If Jesus says to do something, do it. How often do we expect God to bless us or answer our prayers, giving no thought at all to our obedience to Him? What has Jesus told you to do that you're not doing?
Pray:
- That you would be obedient, even in uncertainty.
- That God would grow your faith in Him.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
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