“Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” Luke 17:17
On the way to Jerusalem, ten lepers called to Jesus for mercy. He sent them to the priests, and as they went, they were healed. Only one, a Samaritan, turned back to thank Him, and Jesus told him his faith had made him whole.
As Jesus traveled toward Jerusalem through Samaria and Galilee, ten lepers met Him at a village. They “stood afar off” and called, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” He told them, “Go shew yourselves unto the priests,” and as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, seeing he was healed, turned back, glorified God with a loud voice, and fell at Jesus’ feet giving Him thanks. He was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” Then He told the man, “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
Who’s who
Jesus Christ: who heals all ten and waits for the one
Ten lepers: who live apart because of their disease
The Samaritan: the one who turns back to give thanks
Where and when
At a village on the border between Samaria and Galilee, as Jesus traveled to Jerusalem.
Watch for the Savior
Watch when the healing happens, and who comes back.
Eight stops from the edge of a village to His feet. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
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The story, plainly
Four scenes: ten voices, the road, the one who returned, and the word “whole.” Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Luke 17:12“ten men that were Meaning: people with a serious skin disease who had to live apart from others.”
Luke 17:12“which stood Meaning: far away; at a distance.”
Luke 17:14“Meaning: show. yourselves unto the priests”
Luke 17:15“and with a loud voice Meaning: praised; gave honor to. God”
Luke 17:18“Meaning: except. this stranger”
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Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders, Church resources or outside sources. Each card says which.
0 of 9 turned
All nine. The ten together, the call, the road, the cleansing, the turn, the kneeling, the stranger, the nine and the word “whole.” Luke 17:11–19
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Where are you?
Far off, asking for help, rushing ahead, or turning back to thank Him. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
Your choice is saved only on this device.
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Turn back
Nine kept walking. One turned back. Press and hold to walk back to the Savior, and read what He did.
“And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks.” Luke 17:16
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Their world, their words
A little background on leprosy, the priests, the Samaritan and two Greek words helps the story come alive. Outside sources are labeled.
Scripture · Luke 17
Between two regions
Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem, passing “through the midst of Samaria and Galilee,” when the ten met Him.1
A Samaritan among Jews.
Scripture · Luke 17
Why the priests
The law of Moses said a healed leper “shall be brought unto the priest” to be examined.2 Jesus sent all ten to the priests before they were healed.1
Faith before proof.
Church resource · Student manual
Cleansed and whole
“Although all ten lepers in this account were ‘cleansed,’ only the Samaritan man who returned was made ‘whole.’”3
Healed inside and out.
Church resource · Student manual
Living in gratitude
From this healing, “we learn the importance of living in gratitude to God and recognizing our indebtedness to Him.”3
The Samaritan fell at Jesus’ feet giving thanks. His gratitude was worship.1
What the text does not say
The scripture doesn’t say the nine lost their healing. All ten “were cleansed.”1 But only the one who returned heard, “Thy faith hath made thee whole.” Gratitude opened the way to a deeper blessing.1,3
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Look to Him
He heard ten voices from far away, healed them all, and waited for the one who came back.
“The expressed gratitude by one merited the Master’s blessing; the ingratitude shown by the nine, His disappointment.”
“Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” Luke 17:17
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Seek Him today
A question to ask in prayer
Lord, what hast Thou done for me that I have not thanked Thee for? Luke 17:15
Ask, then make a list as blessings come to mind.
Try it today
One way to turn back and give thanks each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.
0 of 7 today
This week:0 of 7 days
Seven days of turning back. Come again tomorrow.
A quiet moment
“Turned back.”
Read Luke 17:11–19 slowly. Picture the one man stopping on the road, turning around and running back. Then think of one blessing you want to turn back and thank Him for. Luke 17:11–19
A verse to hold
Talk about it
Why did the ten men stand far away?
When were they healed?
What did the one man do that the others didn’t?
What do you think “made thee whole” means?
Open
For adults and deeper study
Go deeper
Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
Prophet
President Thomas S. Monson, “The Divine Gift of Gratitude” (2010)
The ten lepers and how gratitude helps us recognize our blessings.4
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
The Ten Lepers is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for April 26–May 2, 2027 (Luke 12–17; John 11).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The words are in Luke 17:11–19; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
