The Attitude Necessary for Gratitude

November 19, 2018 · by Daniel Pentimone · in Biblical Studies

In Luke 17, Jesus travels through Jewish Galilee and the ‘heathen’ region of Samaria. As he enters a village, ten unclean lepers cried out to him from a distance, begging for mercy. Jesus doesn’t touch them or heal them on the spot – He simply tells them to go to the priests, as if they were already cleansed.

Travelling to the priests, the ten lepers suddenly recognize that they are healed. Nine of the lepers continue in their voyage, but the tenth leper immediately turns around to find Jesus. Praising God with a loud voice, he falls at Jesus’ feet and gives thanks.

I was surprised to find out that this leper was a Samaritan – one of the neglected, ostracized peoples of the ancient world, considered unclean and unfit for religious duties. Why was this man the one who gave thanks? Why didn’t the other nine – who were probably respectable and religious Jews – turn back to give thanks?

The Samaritan knew that he was a Samaritan. He realized that he didn’t deserve anything. Jesus did not owe him healing. Samaritans were not the focus of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus was a Jew, and the vast majority of His healing ministry was among the Jewish people.

The nine other lepers quite possibly expected that they would be healed. They called out to Jesus, thinking that He would heal them, as He healed so many others. But the Samaritan was uncertain. He knew that he did not deserve anything, but he cast himself on Jesus’ mercy.

This story teaches us that the key to thankfulness is recognizing our unworthiness. The thankful leper realized that he was a Samaritan, and unworthy of any mercy. When he was given mercy, he rejoiced with more joy than the others. The others may have said ‘thanks’ to God at the temple, but this leper was genuinely thankful.

I am reminded of king David, a man of genuine thankfulness. When God promised him great blessings, how did he respond? Twice we hear him ask the question, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?”

David looks back on his origin. He recognizes that he deserves nothing. He is not expecting an answer, but stating rhetorically a great truth: that he deserves nothing, and God has freely given him far more than he could ever ask for. This attitude is the key to genuine thanksgiving.