I must tell you that this leprosy, with which these poor people were afflicted, was a terrible disease common among the Jews at that time. It was a disease of the skin, which was hereditary, and also was caught by contagion. Hence those afflicted with it were prohibited by strict laws from associating with other people. They might not enter the walled cities at all, and in the villages they were obliged to live apart from the other inhabitants. You see these lepers “stood afar off” while they cried out to Jesus for mercy.
We must suppose that before anyone recovering from the leprosy was allowed to associate with his fellow-citizens, he had to go before the priests, that they should pronounce him cured; and this explains the injunction of our Saviour—“Go, show yourselves to the priests.” The lepers had faith, and turned at once to obey. They had scarcely moved a step when the change in their condition seems to have taken place; and we may imagine their joy and surprise, on looking at each other, to see the ghastly and loathsome hue of the leprous skin change for the bloom and freshness of health. But now we come to the sad instance of ingratitude.
St. Luke goes on to tell us—still speaking of the lepers:—“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God; and fell down on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks.”
Thus we find, out of these ten, one only showed himself grateful, and thought, before aught else, of glorifying God, and giving thanks to Jesus. The other nine, in their joy at the blessing which had just been bestowed upon them, forgot the Bestower of that blessing. They hastened on, thinking only of their own good fortune, and eager to make known their recovery to the priests, that they might be restored to communication with their fellow men.
Our Saviour only remarked upon this instance of ingratitude:—“Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?”
SOME OF MY LITTLE FRIENDS:
Charlie.
