THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: - Vital Christianity

154A GRATEFUL LEPER (17:6)Not only did the despised Samaritan praise God, but he also humbly thanked Jesus bythrowing himself on the ground:“ He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him—and he was a Samaritan” (v. 16).This gratitude of the Samaritan provides a powerful contrast to the ungrateful Jews!UNGRATEFUL LEPERS (17:17-18)Jesus seems to express His disappointment because those who were healed did not showany appreciation to God for their healing:“ Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was noone found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’" (vv. 17-18).Sadness seems to have been the dominant emotion as Jesus contemplated the ingratitudeof the nine. How could men be so thoughtless and unappreciative of God's favors? Why did thenine not return? Could it be because they wanted to wait to see if the cure was real or whether itwould last? Maybe some thought they would have gotten well anyway.How often do we fail to respond to the mercy and grace that saved us?These lepers had come to Jesus with the most loathsome and pitiful disease. Theypleaded with Him to help, He healed them; but nine of them never even said, "Thanks."Ingratitude is not only seen in the case of ingratitude to God, but also ingratitude ofchildren to their parents and of people toward their fellow human beings.One of the sins charged against the false profession of the last days is ingratitude:“For men shall be covetous . . . blasphemers . . . ungrateful . . . fierce . . . traitors.”(2 Ti 3:2-4)Ingratitude is listed with covetousness and blasphemy!