Probably the lepers did not expect Jesus to respond as He did. Rather than touching them, or pronouncing them clean, He gave them a command. The command implied that by the time they reached the priest they would have experienced healing. Normally a command to show oneself to a priest followed a cure ( Luke 5:14; cf. Leviticus 13:49; Leviticus 14:2-3). The priestly examination would result in the lepers resuming normal lives. However these lepers could have refused to go and could have repeated their request to Jesus. Jesus was testing their faith and obedience. If they really regarded Him as their master, they should obey Him. They decided to obey and immediately experienced healing (cf. Luke 5:12-16). Jesus healed them from a distance (cf. 2 Kings 5:10-14). [source][source][source]
The lepers" response would have taught the disciples and everyone else present the importance of trusting and obeying Jesus" word. This was a lesson that Jesus had been teaching the Pharisees and the disciples ( Luke 16:15-31). This miracle showed the benefit of obeying Jesus" word because of belief in Him (cf. Luke 6:10; Matthew 12:13; Mark 3:5). This lesson was not the main reason Luke recorded this incident, however. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Luke 17:11-21 - The Man Who Was Grateful
Their common misery drew these poor outcasts together and made them forget the fierce national antipathies of Jew and Samaritan. When bidden to go to the priest, before there were any outward signs of healing, they started, and thus gave evidence of their faith that they were healed. It was this faith that saved them, because faith like this lets in the whole tide of God's saving health. In the case of the poor alien, it was clear that he was not only healed, but saved, as his gratitude and worship indicated. Do we thank God, not only for His miracles, but for His daily providence?
The best things are stillest. The deepest work of God, in the individual and in the community, does not reveal itself to the newspaper reporter, but steals on the world like Spring through garden and woodland. [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 17
1Jesus teaches to avoid occasions of offense; 3and to forgive one another 5The power of faith 6How we are bound to God 11Jesus heals ten lepers 22Of the kingdom of God, and the coming of the Son of Man
Greek Commentary for Luke 17:14
As they went [εν τωι υπαγειν αυτους] Favourite Lukan idiom of εν en with articular infinitive as in Luke 17:11 and often. [source]
What do the individual words in Luke 17:14 mean?
Andhaving seen [them]He saidto themHaving goneshowyourselvesto thepriestsit came to passinthegoingthemthey were cleansed
Greek Commentary for Luke 17:14
Favourite Lukan idiom of εν en with articular infinitive as in Luke 17:11 and often. [source]