Luke 17:14 (KJV)

What does Luke 17:14 mean?

Luke 17:14 describes Jesus telling a group of people with leprosy to go and show themselves to the priests, and as they obeyed and went, they were healed of their disease. The verse highlights that the healing happened while they were on their way, not before.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking directly to ten men who had leprosy and had called out to him for mercy. According to Jewish law, only priests could officially declare someone clean from leprosy, allowing them to rejoin society. The verse emphasizes both Jesus’ authority and the importance of following the instructions given, as the healing occurred as they acted in faith and went to the priests.

The Greek behind Luke 17:14

• "Go" (πορεύομαι, poreuomai): This word means to travel or proceed. Jesus’ instruction is not just about movement but about following a specific direction with purpose, which in this context meant heading toward the priests for inspection.
• "Shew" (ἐπιδείκνυμι, epideiknymi): This word means to show or present oneself. In the Jewish context, this was the required step for someone who believed they were healed from leprosy to be officially recognized as clean.
• "Cleansed" (καθαρίζω, katharizō): This word means to make clean or pure, especially in a ritual or ceremonial sense. The use of this word emphasizes that the men were not just physically healed but also restored to a state where they could participate in community and religious life.

Why Luke 17:14 matters

• Luke 17:14 clarifies that the healing of the lepers was tied to their obedience to Jesus’ command, not to any ritual or action performed by the priests.
• The verse connects to Old Testament law, showing Jesus’ respect for established procedures while also demonstrating his unique authority to heal.
• This moment sets up the following verses, where only one of the healed men returns to thank Jesus, highlighting themes of gratitude and recognition of Jesus’ power.