Go shew yourselves unto the priests

" And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them,

Go shew yourselves unto the priests.

And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. "

Luke 17: 12-19

Ten lepers asked for mercy and the cure for them was quite simple, "Go shew yourselves unto the priests." All ten were healed from their leprosy, a state of physical uncleaness. Ironically, none of the ten express their gratitude for the one who healed them save one stranger.

Interestingly, the samaritan, when he realised that he was cured of his leprosy, did not proceed in showing himself to the priests, but turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.

Ten were healed of their physical defect, but only one turned back and gave thanks. Mercy were shown to all ten, but only one who acknowledged the High Priest. As for the samaritan who acknoledged Him, things did not stop there. The Lord Jesus Christ said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

To the samaritan, further grace was shown to him. As a result of his faith in Him, he was made whole, spiritually. Observe what Christ said to him, go thy way but not shew yourself unto the priests. This samaritan, who put faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, did indeed shew himself to a Priest and now have no need to show himself to any priest as He said go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. No more offerings to be made through Levitical priesthood, no more lenghty procedure in the temple, no more practices which are but shadows of things yet to come, nay, things that are already here.

As for the other nine, nothing was stated about them after they left cured. They might have showed themselves to the priests. And even if they did, they did not put faith in the High Priest who was the the one who cleansed them, as they revert themselves back to the now futile Levitical priesthood.

He is the way, the truth, the life. No man can reach God but by Him.

O spiritual lepers, have you shew yourselves unto the Priest?

Sweet hour of prayer

Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer, May I thy consolation share
Till from Mount Pisgah's lofty height, I view my home and take my flight

This robe of flesh I'll drop and rise, To seize the everlasting prize
And shout while passing through the air,
Farewell, farewell sweet hour of prayer

William W.Walford

The last part of the song, does touch me a lot.

The writer wrote about death, how we shall drop our robe of flesh and head for our home, heaven.
And we know that when we reach heaven, we will be with Him , yes we will meet Him there, which is something much better than staying here on earth.

But notice the last line.. "Farewell, farewell sweet hour of prayer".
The writer appreciates the privilege of praying so much, that though he is heading for something better, he bids farewell to sweet hour of prayer.

Lord, guide me in Your way... that I may treasure every moment spent in prayer with You.