Luke 17:14

And when he saw [them], he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

And {G2532} when he saw {G1492} them, he said {G2036} unto them {G846}, Go {G4198} shew {G1925} yourselves {G1438} unto the priests {G2409}. And {G2532} it came to pass {G1096}, that, as they {G846} went {G5217}{G1722}, they were cleansed {G2511}.

On seeing them, he said, “Go and let the cohanim examine you!” And as they went, they were cleansed.

When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.

And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go and show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed.

Luke 17:14 describes a pivotal moment in the healing of ten lepers, illustrating the powerful connection between faith, obedience, and divine intervention. Jesus commands the lepers, who had cried out for mercy, to take a specific action before their healing is evident.

Context

This verse is part of the narrative beginning in Luke 17:11, where Jesus encounters ten men afflicted with leprosy. In ancient Israel, leprosy was a devastating disease that rendered individuals ceremonially unclean and socially ostracized. According to the Mosaic Law outlined in Leviticus 14, only priests could declare a leper clean after healing, allowing them to reintegrate into society. Jesus' command to "Go shew yourselves unto the priests" was therefore a direct instruction to follow the prescribed legal procedure for ceremonial purification, anticipating their healing.

Key Themes

  • Faith and Obedience: The most striking aspect of this verse is that the lepers were "cleansed" not immediately upon Jesus' command, but "as they went." This highlights that their healing was contingent upon their obedient response to Jesus' word. Their faith was demonstrated by their willingness to act on a promise that had not yet materialized. This principle echoes throughout scripture, where faith without works is dead.
  • Divine Authority: Jesus did not touch them or perform an elaborate ritual. His simple verbal command was sufficient to initiate the miraculous process of healing, underscoring His supreme authority over sickness and disease, a hallmark of His ministry (compare Matthew 8:16).
  • Respect for the Law: By instructing them to go to the priests, Jesus affirmed the validity of the Old Testament law regarding ceremonial purity. He came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17), even as He demonstrated a power that transcended its limitations.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "cleansed" is ekatharisthēsan (ἐκαθαρίσθησαν). This term carries a dual meaning of both physical healing from the disease and ceremonial purification, which was essential for lepers to be readmitted to community life and temple worship. It perfectly captures the comprehensive nature of their restoration, addressing both their physical affliction and their social and religious ostracization.

Practical Application

Luke 17:14 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Obedience Precedes Blessing: Often, God's blessings and interventions are realized not in passive waiting, but in active obedience to His commands, even when the outcome isn't immediately visible or fully understood. We are called to step out in faith.
  • Trust in the Unseen: The lepers had to trust that they would be healed *before* they reached the priests. Similarly, we are often called to trust God's promises and act on His word, even when the evidence is not yet before our eyes, relying on the substance of things hoped for.
  • God's Timing: The healing occurred "as they went," signifying that God's work unfolds according to His perfect timing and method. Our role is to be obedient and patient.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 5:14

    And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

  • Leviticus 13:1

    ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying,

  • Leviticus 13:46

    All the days wherein the plague [shall be] in him he shall be defiled; he [is] unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp [shall] his habitation [be].

  • 2 Kings 5:14

    Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

  • Matthew 3:15

    And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it to be so] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

  • John 11:10

    But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

  • Leviticus 14:1

    ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

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