The Bible contains ample evidence that obedience matters to God. So obedience is obedience, right? Not exactly. Jesus’ healing of the 10 lepers sheds some light on what God desires.

 

 

As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

-Luke 17:12-13

 

Leprosy’s severity and contagiousness made these men outcasts. Special communities were set up for these people to keep the healthy population safe. They were required to announce their illness to anyone approaching. The 10 lepers believed Jesus could give them their lives back and so they begged for help. Jesus’ response was direct yet simple.

 

Go, show yourselves to the priests. -Luke 17:14

 

Luke records that as these men were obeying Jesus’ command, they were healed. When this occurs, one of them technically (temporarily) disobeys and makes a u-turn.

 

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

-Luke 17:15-16

 

Jews were supposed to be inspected by the priest and upon being pronounced clean, he was to offer the necessary sacrifices and washings (see Leviticus 14:1-32). The Samaritans had a version of the Law of Moses that they were expected to follow as well. Whether the requirements for cleansing were identical or not, one thing is certain. Jesus’ command was directed at this man as well as the other 9. He had given these men a direct order from the Pentateuch (1st five books of the Old Testament) concerning the healing of a leper yet this man’s obedience is stopped in its tracks. Overcome with gratitude, this Samaritan returns to thank Jesus. What Jesus says next is surprising.

 

“Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” -Luke 17:17-19

 

Were the other 9 not grateful for what Jesus had done for them? After all, He returned them to their families, brought them back into the community, and healed them of a deadly disease. True, they were obeying the Law. This grateful returner probably still had to go to the priest afterward. The cleansing carried a message that only 10% of those lepers discovered. Obedience for obedience sake is not enough. God wants thankful obedience for the things He has given mankind.

 

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. -Colossians 3:17

 

God does want His people to obey, but not all willingness is the same. Jesus’ encounter with the 10 lepers highlights the type of compliance God wants. Our desire to obey needs to be based on a thankful spirit for all God has done for us. All other types are merely compliance.