SUNDAY’S COMING: BIBLE STUDY –
Bible Study for The Eighteenth Sunday of Pentecost (10/13/19)
**************************************************************Background: Leprosy
Leviticus 14:54-47, gives a definition of the condition and social consequence of what is called in the Bible as “Leprosy”. It seems clear, now, that this is not always related to what we know today as Hansen’s disease. The biblical condition was any scarring, scabbing, or blemished skin, which was seen as a ritual impurity. It could also be applied to conditions of cloth, leather, or homes.
For human beings, it was any skin disease that resulted in scales, infections, rashes, or scabs. Leviticus 13:44-46 (“the man has a scaly infection and is unclean. The priest shall declare him unclean; his infection is on his head. The garments of one afflicted with a scaly infection shall be rent and the hair disheveled, and the mustache covered. The individual shall cry out, “Unclean, unclean!” As long as the infection is present, the person shall be unclean. Being unclean, that individual shall dwell apart, taking up residence outside the camp.”), gives further definition to the situation and connects these conditions with impurity. Early Christians also saw this connection and has been seen throughout history.
**************************************************************Gospel Reading: Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
**************************************************************Points to Ponder:
“In case you failed to notice, in case you failed to see, this is my heart, bleeding before you, this is me down on my knees.” – Jewel Kilcher
The obvious main theme of this Gospel passage is gratitude. Ten lepers are cured but only one comes back to give thanks to Jesus (Luke 17:17). That’s the central theme. However, there is a supportive theme. Before Jesus sends them off to be healed on the way, he “sees” them. This is not a mere optic occurrence. He sees them in the deeper sense of understanding their pain. In the words of the singer Jewel, he sees their bleeding heart. He sees them down on their knees. He sees their hurt. No sight failure on Jesus’ part. Certainly we can read this Gospel and know that we need to express gratitude to God. Can we read this passage and also learn to “see” what hurts lie deep in people causing them to be the way they are.
People in those days, with any kind of skin disease, were called lepers, and rightly or wrongly considered contagious. They were shunned, not allowed to participate in society. That is why the ten lepers, when they beg Jesus for mercy, stand afar off, keeping their distance (Luke 17:12). Jesus “saw” their deep isolation from neighbors, friends, and family, aching deep in their hearts. And he healed them, not just from external leprosy, but also more importantly from their inner pain. The challenge for us is to really see each other. When we come upon people we would like to keep at a distance, can we draw them in closer and make them well? Then all of us will have something to be grateful for. - Bob Eldan
Greek Note:
There are two words for “see” in the New Testament (‘blepo’ and ‘harao’). For the most part the words are interchangeable. However, the Greek word used in this passage (‘harao’) is commonly used to mean “understand.”
In Luke 17:17 Jesus asks “Where are the nine?” The Greek word order says a lot. “The nine, where?” With the word “where” at the end of the sentence, we are drawn a picture. We can almost see Jesus looking around, wondering, as he says “where.”
**************************************************************
The Take Away: What does this mean for my life? Some questions –
1. For what have you forgotten to give thanks?
2. Is it possible to go back and do so?
3. What is the gift of your faith?
**************************************************************
After studying the Word, you might want to pray the Collect for Sunday:
Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Bible Study for The Eighteenth Sunday of Pentecost (10/13/19)
**************************************************************Background: Leprosy
Leviticus 14:54-47, gives a definition of the condition and social consequence of what is called in the Bible as “Leprosy”. It seems clear, now, that this is not always related to what we know today as Hansen’s disease. The biblical condition was any scarring, scabbing, or blemished skin, which was seen as a ritual impurity. It could also be applied to conditions of cloth, leather, or homes.
For human beings, it was any skin disease that resulted in scales, infections, rashes, or scabs. Leviticus 13:44-46 (“the man has a scaly infection and is unclean. The priest shall declare him unclean; his infection is on his head. The garments of one afflicted with a scaly infection shall be rent and the hair disheveled, and the mustache covered. The individual shall cry out, “Unclean, unclean!” As long as the infection is present, the person shall be unclean. Being unclean, that individual shall dwell apart, taking up residence outside the camp.”), gives further definition to the situation and connects these conditions with impurity. Early Christians also saw this connection and has been seen throughout history.
**************************************************************Gospel Reading: Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
**************************************************************Points to Ponder:
“In case you failed to notice, in case you failed to see, this is my heart, bleeding before you, this is me down on my knees.” – Jewel Kilcher
The obvious main theme of this Gospel passage is gratitude. Ten lepers are cured but only one comes back to give thanks to Jesus (Luke 17:17). That’s the central theme. However, there is a supportive theme. Before Jesus sends them off to be healed on the way, he “sees” them. This is not a mere optic occurrence. He sees them in the deeper sense of understanding their pain. In the words of the singer Jewel, he sees their bleeding heart. He sees them down on their knees. He sees their hurt. No sight failure on Jesus’ part. Certainly we can read this Gospel and know that we need to express gratitude to God. Can we read this passage and also learn to “see” what hurts lie deep in people causing them to be the way they are.
People in those days, with any kind of skin disease, were called lepers, and rightly or wrongly considered contagious. They were shunned, not allowed to participate in society. That is why the ten lepers, when they beg Jesus for mercy, stand afar off, keeping their distance (Luke 17:12). Jesus “saw” their deep isolation from neighbors, friends, and family, aching deep in their hearts. And he healed them, not just from external leprosy, but also more importantly from their inner pain. The challenge for us is to really see each other. When we come upon people we would like to keep at a distance, can we draw them in closer and make them well? Then all of us will have something to be grateful for. - Bob Eldan
Greek Note:
There are two words for “see” in the New Testament (‘blepo’ and ‘harao’). For the most part the words are interchangeable. However, the Greek word used in this passage (‘harao’) is commonly used to mean “understand.”
In Luke 17:17 Jesus asks “Where are the nine?” The Greek word order says a lot. “The nine, where?” With the word “where” at the end of the sentence, we are drawn a picture. We can almost see Jesus looking around, wondering, as he says “where.”
**************************************************************
The Take Away: What does this mean for my life? Some questions –
1. For what have you forgotten to give thanks?
2. Is it possible to go back and do so?
3. What is the gift of your faith?
**************************************************************
After studying the Word, you might want to pray the Collect for Sunday:
Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.