Foreigners and faith: The story begins by telling us that Jesus was travelling along the border between Samaria and Galilee. In other words he was close to Samaritan territory. Jews and Samaritans did not have good relations. Jews were not supposed to associate with Samaritans. However the story suggests only some of the lepers were Samaritans. Jesus comments at the end that the only one to give thanks was a foreigner. Some of the other lepers must have been Jews. Jesus is pointing out a difference in the way his own people responded, compared to the way the foreigner responded. This difference continued after Pentecost. Paul and the other apostles had to explain how Gentiles and Samaritans are able to receive God’s blessings of salvation when many Jews were rejecting the gospel. Their answer is the same as Jesus’. He says to the leper, “Your faith has made you well.” The man was healed because he did what Jesus said. He believed Jesus. Anyone, from any background, can receive God’s blessings of salvation if they believe what Jesus says.
Dale