Luke Chapter 17, Verse 17
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17: αποκριθεις δε ο ιησους ειπεν ουχι οι δεκα εκαθαρισθησαν οι δε εννεα που
17: And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but
where are the nine?
17: And Jesus answering, said: Were not ten made clean? And where are
the nine?
Where are the nine? Jesus had commanded them to go to the priest,
and they were probably literally obeying the commandment. They were
impatient to be healed and selfish in wishing it, and had no gratitude
to God or their Benefactor. Jesus did not forbid their expressing
gratitude to him for his mercy; he rather seems to reprove them for
not doing it. One of the first feelings of the sinner cleansed
from sin is a desire to praise his Great Benefactor; and a real
willingness to obey his commandments is not inconsistent with a wish
to render thanks to him for his mercy. With what singular propriety
may this question now be asked, Where are the nine? And what a
striking illustration is this of human nature, and of the ingratitude of
man! One had come back to give thanks for the favour bestowed on him;
the others were heard of no more. So now. When men are restored from
dangerous sickness, here and there one comes to give thanks to God; but
"where are the nine?" When men are defended from danger; when they are
recovered from the perils of the sea; when a steamboat is destroyed,
and a large part of crew and passengers perish, here and there one of
those who are saved acknowledges the goodness of God and renders him
praise; but where is the mass of them? They give no thanks; they offer no
praise. They go about their usual employments, to mingle in the scenes
of pleasure and of sin as if nothing had occurred. Few, few of all who
have been rescued from "threatening graves" feel their obligation to
God, or ever express it. They forget their Great Benefactor; perhaps
the mention of his name is unpleasant, and they scorn the idea that they
are under any obligations to him. Such, alas! is man, ungrateful man!
