Author: Bill Hall

And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’. Do not go after them, do not pursue them.

Luke 17:23

All through history, even in the time of Christ, there have been false messiahs. Jesus warns us ahead of time.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your guidance in life. It is so good to be able to depend on Your truth, and Your care for us. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Then He said to the disciples, ‘The day comes when you will want to see one of the days of the Son of Man, look and you will not see.’

Luke 17:22

Jesus has ascended. We do not see Him in His Person right now. He is present through the Spirit and endwells each of His followers. But, we do not currently have Him here to see one of His ‘days’ at the moment.

What Jesus refers to here is His interaction with the world directly. We want to see Him here now, but though we look, we do not see one of His days. Meaning, though we see His Presence, His second coming, in Person, has not yet occurred.

This is an important teaching of Christ because it helps us speak to those who think Jesus is just one of many ‘manifestations’ of God throughout time. Jesus does not leave room for this error. If we think we see Him in Person in some other form at some other place, we do not.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the clarity we finding Your Word! Life is too short to chase after false christs. Thank You for Your holiness and power. They are a constant comfort. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

‘they will not say ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’, for ‘Look!’, the Kingdom of God is among you.’

Luke 17:21

There was no reason to be looking for the Kingdom, it had already arrived. As Jesus said in other places, those who did His will and the will of the Father were His family. As the King they are His subjects. The Kingdom is made up of those who follow Christ.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your help and truth and love and grace. You give us what we need to get through each day. Many people woke this morning knowing they only have hope in You. Thank You for caring for those in need. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

When He was asked by the Pharisees, ‘When comes the Kingdom of God?’ He responded to them and said, ‘The Kingdom of God does not come as an event that will be noticed;’

Luke 17:20

The Pharisees had not noticed the prophesies already fulfilled in Christ. Their Lord had come to them and they were, for the most part, ignorant of the fact. Thus He tells them that the Kingdom of God was not something they had recognized.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Kingdom! Your Son is my King forever! Thank You for life in him! It is joy and peace to live in Christ in Your will. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

And said to him, “Rise, go your way. Your faith has saved you.”

Luke 17:19

Two important things are shared here, and we must not miss them. First, Jesus indicates this Samaritan can go where he needs to next. He does not have to make his way to the priests, who would likely reject him. Thus, Jesus judges him clean and sends him on his way.

Second, and more importantly, Jesus communicates to this man the right focus. This man obviously understood that Jesus was the source of his healing, and that Jesus was truly sent by God. It is this faith that leads to salvation, not just healing. True faith had given this Samaritan grace.

Heavenly Father, thank You! Your grace through Christ amazes me. Salvation is so great. Jesus is our Hope, Rock, and sure Foundation. I need only fear You, and You give me life through Christ. Thank You! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Was there found to return and give glory to God none but this one foreigner?

Luke 17:18

Jesus makes a big deal out of this lack of thanksgiving and praise. Considering what had been done for them, it would have cost the nine little to return to offer praise as well.

Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You for what You have done in our lives. To know salvation in Christ is the most wonderful gift! Your amazing grace is hard for us to fathom. In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Responding to this, Jesus said, ‘Were not ten purified? But the nine, where are they?’

Luke 17:17

Jesus intentionally highlights the fact that the majority had chosen a different course. So often this is the case, the majority chooses to take the easy road and the few will make the effort to bring glory to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your truth. You do not lie to us, but you give us the clear truth of the gospel. Thank You for Your great love and mercy! You teach us Your justice and glory. You are wonderful and beautiful in all Your ways. Jesus is our Hope! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

And fell facedown at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan.

Luke 17:16

Ah here we have the perfect posture for thanksgiving to Almighty God! Jesus is responded to in the only way that anyone can properly do it. A position of complete and total worship is here taken. How appropriate!

And, he was a Samaritan. Why is this important? Because Jesus was about to make a comment about it. He would highlight the fact that it was the Samaritan only who came back to express thanks.

Heavenly Father, thank You for love. We think we know what that word means. But only as we receive it from You do we begin to see. Facedown we will praise You! You are wonderful! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God.

Luke 17:15

This man did what the Lord had told him. But, upon seeing himself healed, he understood that Jesus was the One Who healed him. He knew that the priests he was going to see were then representatives of the One Who had done this, the Lord Jesus.

He returns to Christ immediately, for he now knows much more has happened to him today than his release from leprosy. He has met the Lord, Christ.

Heavenly Father, to spend a million years pondering the beauty of Christ, would be a sublime joy. Your Son is our Hope and Anchor. As our ship sails this life, Jesus inhabits the deepest wonder of our souls. Thank You, Father, for Christ! May all glory be to You dear Father! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

When he saw them, he told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And while they were going, they were cleansed.

Luke 17:14 (CSB)

Jesus did not do all of His miracles this way. But this is truly amazing, and is a beautiful testimony to His power and glory.

Very significantly, it teaches a truth that Jesus drives home many times in the gospels. Faith in Christ is the primary need of any individual. Though each of these persons were impacted by a terrible disease, their most important need could not be met by being released from it. They needed not just to be well; they needed to be whole.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and mercy! Thank You for leading us to the truth and being straightforward with us. Your ways are wonderful to us. You are full of glory! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.