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Lessons From The Lepers
Luke 17:11-19
Introduction
1. Many of us cannot begin to comprehend the disease called leprosy and
probably fail in the understanding of what these men had to go through.
2. When someone was leprous they would be considered to be an outcast; not
because the disease was contagious, but because it was religiously unclean to
function in society this way.
3. If anyone were to approach a leprous individual the leper would have to
cry out “Unclean, Unclean”, so that everyone knew not to come near.
(Lev. 13:44-45)
4. Some have suggested that the skin color of a leper was very noticeable as
their dark pigmentation would have white spots all over it.
5. Inside these spots were scabs, sores or scales that were raised revealing
open flesh which would not be pleasant at all. (Lev. 13:8,14-15, 18-20, 43)
6. These ten lepers of Luke 17 are searching for an answer to this dreaded
disease, and they turn to Jesus for help.
---Let us now begin as we reveal the importance of this story and the
relevance it has in our lives today.
I. THEY ALL HAD THE SAME DISEASE. (11-12)
A. They all had LEPROSY
1. These ten men were all in the same boat, and each one needed a life saver.
2. Jesus who had the power to heal them came to town that day.
3. While we all pause to think about their position, perhaps we ought to
think about ours as well.
B. We all have SINNED
1. There is not one person here today who is not guilty of some sin or who
will not be guilty of some sin someday. (Romans 3:23)
2. While we are in suspense for the ten who all had leprosy, hoping to see
them healed, do we realize that we need to be healed as well.
3. The Bible tells us that sin is a transgression of God’s law
(I John 3:4)
-When we know what to do and fail to do it, it is sin (James 4:17)
-When we live in unrighteousness we are living in sin (I John 5:17)
4. We need to realize that we have a disease as well.
-Sin is pictured in the eyes of God as a disease that needs to be healed
(Isaiah 1:4-6; Hosea 7:1; 14:4; Matthew 13:15)
-The Bible says that death is the consequence of our disease
(Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1)
---None of us want to die spiritually, but that is the ultimate consequence
for our sins if we fail to put them away and follow the Lord.
---The reason may be seen in our next point…
II. THEY WERE ALL IN THE SAME PLACE (12)
A. They were all AFAR OFF with leprosy
1. These men were excluded or separated from Jesus because of their disease.
2. Imagine not being able to run up to Jesus and have a personal relationship
with Him.
3. Again as we stop and think of how terrible their lives must have been, do
we realize that sin separates us from God.
B. We are all AFAR OFF in sin
1. The Bible tells us of the separation of sinful man from God
(Isaiah 59:1-2; 64:7; Psalm 51:11)
2. The Bible says of those in sin as having gone away or being estranged from
God. (Isaiah 58:3; Ezekiel 14:3-5; James 4:4)
3. The Lord without question departs from those in sin.
(Judges 16:20; I Samuel 16:14)
4. We need to recognize that Jesus is the one that can mend that relationship
with God. (Ephesians 2:13)
---This point is seen as we consider…
III. THEY ALL CRIED TO THE SAME PERSON FOR THE SAME THING (13)
A. They all cried to the Lord for mercy in their leprosy
1. When these men saw Jesus, I can only imagine their excitement at the possibility of being healed.
2. They understood that He was certainly able as they call Him “Jesus,
Master”
3. They knew exactly what they were looking for and they cried for the Lord
to have mercy on them.
4. And while they understood this very clear point, it puzzles me to see so
many continue living in sin knowing that Jesus can cleanse them.
B. We all need to cry to the Lord for mercy in our sins.
1. Jesus came for the purpose of seeking and saving the lost (Luke 19:10)
-Just as Jesus came to the town of lepers with mercy in His hands, He has
come for the purpose of saving each and every one of us.
2. The Bible tells us that He came, set a perfect example and then died for
our sins. (I Peter 2:21-25; Philippians 2:5-12).
3. Even though Jesus died he rose again and gives us the hope of heaven
(I Peter 1:3-4)
4. The requirement that God has placed on man for receiving His mercy and forgiveness is obedience (Hebrews 5:9)
---Obedience is also demonstrated with the lepers forgiveness…
IV. THEY ALL HAD THE SAME PERSCRIPTION AND CLEANSING (14)
A. They all had to OBEY the command of the Lord for the CLEANSING of leprosy
1. This group of diseased men needed to follow some simple instructions in order to be cleansed. “Go shew yourselves unto the priests”
2. When they followed the simple command they were cleansed immediately, even before they had seen the priest.
3. They had demonstrated their faith by their works, yet there are some today who are NOT cleansed of their sin because they will not obey the simple commands of the Lord.
4. There are some who would contend that doing anything to the obtaining of salvation would make grace void or salvation meritorious.
5. There are some who do not understand how true faith “works” .
B. We all have to OBEY the command of the Lord for the CLEANSING of sin
1. If you look in your Bible you will see how true faith works.
(James 2:14-26; Hebrews 11: Notice how each one did something)
2. When we put our trust in Christ, we will be willing to do whatever He
says.
(Luke 6:46)
3. Remember that Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to them that “obey” Him. (Hebrews 5:8-9)
4. Notice how even after the lepers had obeyed, the Bible says at the close
of this passage, “thy faith hath made thee whole” (verse 19)
-There is no doubt that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)
-God’s grace was sent in His Son, and it is our faith that puts us in a
relationship with His Son.
-QUESTION Why didn’t Jesus condemn them for nullifying grace?
-QUESTION Why didn’t Jesus say that your faith and works have made thee whole?
-ANSWER Without our works or obedience faith is not faith
-ANSWER Faith that saves is faith that obeys
5. Perhaps you are one who has misunderstood the way that God calls us to be saved from sin.
6. Perhaps you are here and like the lepers need to be cleansed and made whole…not from leprosy but from your sin.
7. You can be cleansed if you will obey the voice of the Lord.
-HEAR Romans 10:17; John 12:48
-BELIEVE John 3:16; John 8:24; Hebrews 11:6
-REPENT Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30; II Peter 3:9
-CONFESS Matthew 10:32-33; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:10
-BAPTISM Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:21;
-FAITHFUL Matthew 24:13; Revelation 2:10
---Have you obeyed these simple commands or do you need to be cleansed from sin today?
---Are you a Christian who has been separated from God because of sin, and
you need to ask for God’s mercy. (I John 1:9)
---If you are a Christian and you are living right remember to thank the Lord
like the one in Luke 17:15-18
---Whatever the case may be…Don’t wait another day… be like the lepers and seek forgiveness…
--- The next time Jesus comes through town, it could be for judgment. Are you ready?
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