Expository Thoughts On Luke - Luke 17:11-19
J.C. Ryle emphasizes the importance of heartfelt prayer and spiritual awareness through the healing of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19.
In this expository sermon on Luke 17:11-19, J.C. Ryle explores the story of the ten lepers to reveal profound truths about prayer, faith, and gratitude. He highlights the desperate cry for mercy from those afflicted and the importance of heartfelt prayer born from a true awareness of sin. Ryle also challenges believers to respond with thankfulness, using the example of the one healed leper who returned to give thanks. This sermon offers timeless spiritual lessons on recognizing our need for God and cultivating a thankful heart.
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TEN HEALED OF LEPROSY
Let us mark, firstly, in this passage, how earnestly men can cry for help when they feel their need of it. We read that "as our Lord entered into a certain village there met him ten men that were lepers." It is difficult to conceive any condition more thoroughly miserable than that of men afflicted with leprosy. They were cast out from society. They were cut off from all communion with their fellows. The men described in the passage before us appear to have been truly sensible of their wretchedness. They "stood afar off;"--but they did not stand idly doing nothing. "They lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." They felt acutely the deplorable state of their bodies. They found words to express their feelings. They cried earnestly for relief when a chance of relief appeared in sight.
The conduct of the ten lepers is very instructive. It throws light on a most important subject in practical Christianity, which we can never understand too well. That subject is PRAYER.
How is it that many never pray at all? How is it that many others are content to repeat a form of words, but never pray with their hearts? How is it that dying men and women, with souls to be lost or saved, can know so little of real, hearty, business-like prayer? The answer to these questions is short and simple. The bulk of mankind have no sense of sin. They do not feel their spiritual disease. They are not conscious that they are lost, and guilty, and hanging over the brink of hell. When a man finds out his soul\
Sermon Outline
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I. The Condition of the Ten Lepers
- Their miserable and outcast state
- Their awareness of their need
- Their earnest cry for mercy
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II. The Nature of True Prayer
- Prayer as heartfelt and earnest
- The lack of prayer due to spiritual blindness
- The necessity of recognizing sin
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III. The Example of Faith and Healing
- The lepers’ faith in Jesus’ power
- Their obedience to Jesus’ command
- The resulting healing
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IV. The Lesson of Gratitude
- Only one returned to give thanks
- The importance of thankfulness in the Christian life
- The spiritual consequences of ingratitude
Key Quotes
“They lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” — J.C. Ryle
“The bulk of mankind have no sense of sin. They do not feel their spiritual disease.” — J.C. Ryle
“The conduct of the ten lepers is very instructive. It throws light on a most important subject in practical Christianity, which we can never understand too well. That subject is PRAYER.” — J.C. Ryle
Application Points
- Recognize your spiritual need and pray earnestly from the heart.
- Have faith in Jesus’ power to heal and save.
- Cultivate a habit of gratitude by regularly thanking God for His blessings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the ten lepers cry out to Jesus?
They were aware of their desperate condition and earnestly sought mercy and healing from Jesus.
What does this passage teach about prayer?
It teaches that true prayer is heartfelt, earnest, and arises from a deep awareness of spiritual need.
Why do many people fail to pray sincerely according to Ryle?
Because they lack a true sense of sin and spiritual need, making them unaware of their need for God’s mercy.
What is the significance of only one leper returning to thank Jesus?
It highlights the importance of gratitude and the spiritual danger of ingratitude.
How can this passage encourage believers today?
It encourages believers to pray earnestly, have faith in Jesus’ power, and cultivate a thankful heart.