Luke 17:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."

NIV: and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"

NASB: and they raised their voices, saying, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!'

CSB: and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

NLT: crying out, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!'

KJV: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

NKJV: And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

This occurs in a village somewhere near the Galilean-Samaritan border. Ten lepers have approached Jesus but keep a respectful and legal distance (Luke 17:11–12). At this time, lepers are allowed inside villages but not walled cities. According to the Mosaic law, someone who has been officially diagnosed with a leprous disease must "wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, 'Unclean, unclean'" (Leviticus 13:45).

These lepers see Jesus and cry out with something other than a humiliating warning; they cry out with hope. They call Jesus "Master," a title that refers to an official or a tutor; it's similar to titles such as "teacher," "rabbi," or "lord." The lepers beg Jesus to have mercy on them. They are not only struck with the physical discomfort of their disease and driven from their families and lives, but they are also ceremonially unclean. The ability to enter a village is a grace, but they are not allowed in Jerusalem, and certainly not at the temple to worship. If Jesus has pity on them and heals them, their lives will be radically changed.

Jesus does have pity on them, and He does heal them. He sends them to the priests who can officially declare them clean and invite them back into public life. Incomprehensibly, the Pharisees ask when the kingdom of God will arrive. We don't know if their question is directly after Jesus heals the lepers, but the intersection of the two ideas is shocking. These men approach Jesus disgraced and physically broken and leave healed and restored. Only the Pharisees' envy of Jesus blinds them from seeing the kingdom of God has already come (Luke 17:14–21).

Luke 17:11–19 begins a series of comparisons. Here, a thankful Samaritan contrasts with others who seem less expressive. Next, Jesus compares false messiahs to His own second coming and the negligence of people in the end times with the disciples who look for His coming (Luke 17:20–37). In chapter 18, the comparisons continue: a persistent widow and a corrupt judge (Luke 18:1–8), a proud Pharisee and a repentant tax collector (Luke 18:9–14), a trusting child and a ruler attached to his wealth (Luke 18:15–30).

In his gospel, Luke has often arranged events by theme rather than by strict time order. That seems likely here with a series of teachings about living as Christ followers and ambassadors of God. Christians ought to be careful not to poison the faith of others. Faith is powerful. God's servants should not demand extravagant treatment in return. After healing ten lepers—only one of whom offers thanks—Jesus discusses the state of the world at His future second coming.

Luke 17 continues Jesus' teaching about how to live as citizens and ambassadors of the kingdom of God. Luke 15 describes God's love for the lost. Chapter 16 teaches earthly blessings are far inferior to heavenly rewards. Here, He exhorts His followers to lead well, serve humbly, give thanks, and watch for His second coming. In Luke 18, Jesus gives a series of comparisons to show how we are to approach God—as He approaches Jerusalem and the cross.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.