And He was a Samaritan

Christ healed ten lepers; only one of them returned to thank him. They ought to have all thanked him—a fact which Christ points out. Only one returned. The returnee gives us a real shock when Luke tells us: "And he was a Samaritan" (Luke 17.16). Ouch. That hurt. We don't know what race the other nine belonged to, what we do know is that the only one who showed proper gratitude was the one who belonged to the hated race of half-breeds. Their theology was mixed up. They were no pure Jews. They were worthless. In this incident, the Samaritan is the only one who acts properly. It is apparent that the Samaritan's faith makes him whole, not only in body, but in spirit.