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Introduction
   And it came to pass, as He went to Jerusalem, that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 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, “Yahshua, 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 Yahweh, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving Him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Yahshua answering said, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to Yahweh, save this stranger.” And He said unto him, “Go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole, Luke 17:11-19. (King James Version used throughout, unless otherwise noted.) 
  This is the classic passage used by Word Expositors when speaking on the subject of GRATITUDE.
  And before proceeding further, we would be remiss in not mentioning four prominent features found in This Passage:
    • Verse 14: “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.” – for reason that the Levitical kohanim, according to what we’ve learned in Leviticus 14:1-32, were charged with pronouncing one clean of tsaw-rah’- oth (H.6883) leprosy;
    • Verse 14: “… and as they went, they were cleansed” – so that they could through observation, see and feel themselves being made clean;
    • Verse 16: “… and he was a Samaritan” – giving credence to Yahshua’s observation that “a prophet is not without honor, save in his own country and in his own house” (Matt. 13:57). He had come to His own, but His own received Him not (John 1:11);
    • Verse 17-18: “… Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to Yahweh, save this stranger” – ought not Yahshua to have expected receiving their expression of GRATITUDE? and;
    • Verse 19: “… thy faith hath made thee whole” – we are told, So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Yahweh, Romans 10:17 – though we might read something else in Yahshua’s commendation to the Samaritan inasmuch as, FAITH is SUBSTANCE, and GIVING THANKS is EVIDENCE.

  This word “WHOLE” is significant, because most all of us have suffered in our flesh from health issues. Just consider the different physicians specializing in different medical disciplines to whom we give attendance, and the medications prescribed us and the reasons for which we take them.
  Nevertheless, when Yahshua declared to one, “go thy way, thy faith hath made thee whole,” it may be supposed that He addressed the whole of his being and not just the infirmity for which he had sought redress. And with respect to our narrative of the ten, we can’t but wonder that the nine, in failing to return, falling down upon their faces at His feet, manifested their ATTITUDE was not one of GRATITUDE and hence, they probably retired from the priests unwhole with residual infirmities, and all because they hadn’t been as HONORABLE as this Samaritan.

The Heart Determines Attitude
   The most of humanity, like the nine, by their fallen nature, are not THANKFUL and, moreover, even we who are day by day being renewed in the spirit of our mind and conformed into His Image, also struggle being THANKFUL.
  And there are several markers by which we can measure GRATITUDE, and from the abundance of our hearts, our ATTITUDE.
  His Word says that He makes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the good and the just, and the evil and the unjust alike (Matt. 5:45) and that so long as the earth remains – seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease (Gen. 8:22). But sometimes we, like all the rest of the world, Gripe, Murmur, and Complain (GMC) that it’s too hot; or it’s too cold; or it seems like the sun forgot us; or we wish it would rain; or that it would stop raining.
  The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:12 “every where and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need,” but we … well, we’ll complain when we are hungry, suffer need and are abased, instead of learning from that instruction that in whatsoever state we are in, therewith to be content (Phil. 4:13).
  The Scripture advises, “the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name” (Heb. 13:15). But all too often, whether to Him as our Benefactor or to some other, it is become too much a sacrifice to say, “THANK YOU,” for an expression of His, or another’s beneficence. Our neglect may be owing to a disposition of entitlement that thinks or says to another, “you have but done that which was your duty to do” (see Luke 17:10). Nevertheless, if we could have been instructed in, learned, and practiced saying “THANK YOU,” we might just encourage the other to want to do more even, than what might have been expected.
  The heart of GRATITUDE spends and will be spent; won’t mind being inconvenienced in aiding another, loving more abundantly though it should be less loved.
  The heart of GRATITUDE exercises itself “void of offense toward Yahweh, and toward men” (Acts 24:16); overcomes the self by bringing every thought into captivity; ruling its spirit, and making every one of its member – eye, ear, tongue, hands, and feet to become subject to, and yielded to, the Commandment.
  Before GRATITUDE, is humility but our pride (we call it self-respect) deems meekness as weakness and prevents us from being GRATEFUL.
  We marginalize the very young – as in, “children should be seen and not heard” – instead of intreating the very young as they are, “the heritage of Yahweh” (Psa. 127:3) and presenting ourselves exemplary in word, behavior, love, faith, and purity. We marginalize the very old, and instead of honoring the elderly, regard addressing their life-needs as annoying and an inconvenience.
  The heart of our INGRATITUDE neglects opportunity to reconcile, and to be reconciled with them of whom we have been offended (or offended) but instead, reasons the other should assume the initiative because after all, they started it … we, oblivious to the Truth, assuming that uncomfortable initiative is a good measure of our SPIRITUALITY.
  GRATITUDE bears one another’s burdens and so fulfills the law of Messiah, but we counter with another Scripture, saying, “let every man bear his own burden” (Gal. 6:2).
  GRATITUDE distributes to the necessity of others without hope of receiving as much again. On the other hand, INGRATITUDE dismisses them that are in any need, saying, “Be ye warmed and filled” (James 2:16) and, moreover, retorts, “I’ve got mine; let them get theirs” when in Truth, no one has anything but what he hasn’t received of Yahweh.
  GRATITUDE practices All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the TORAH and the prophets, Matthew 7:12. This Way is not tit for tat, neither does It think or say, “I don’t get mad, I get even” but rather, if it be possible, as much as lies within me, seek to live peaceably with all men, overcoming their evil by my good. And one thing is certain: seeking reconciliation with, or not seeking reconciliation with, one thought an adversary, will reveal what is the ATTITUDE of my heart.
  GRATITUDE doesn’t go around looking like it’s been baptized in lemon juice – with disfigured face and a sad countenance, so as to get others’ notice of pity. Remember this: A smile trumps a scowl every time and at the same time, improves one’s face value. If we see someone without a smile, give them one of ours; A man that shows himself friendly, will have friends.
  One of the GRATITUDE BEATITUDES, reads: Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy, Matthew 5:7 – as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good and NOT as the Priest and the Levite, passing to the other side – out of sight, out of mind?
  Whatsoever the hand of GRATITUDE finds to do, it does it with all its might. GRATITUDE is faithful in much, because it has first been proved faithful in that which is least – doing more than what it’s paid to do and assured, on the great and notable day, getting paid for what it’s done.
  GRATITUDE leaves GRATITUDE as a legacy-heritage to ITS children’s children.
  GRATITUDE makes no recitation of Murphy’s Law: If anything can go wrong, it will. Neither does GRATITUDE say, “If it wasn’t for bad Luck, I wouldn’t have any luck at all.

Conclusion: “THANK YOU”
   The Truth is, people appreciate being appreciated, to hear a “THANK YOU,” but we refrain from saying it, because we wouldn’t want anyone’s head to swell by complimenting what is their reasonable service and whole duty to have done.
  Two words – “THANK YOU” – whether expressed by a Hallmark Card, a telephone call, a letter, or accompanying a handshake, hug, or pat-on-the-back – will do more toward advancing and promoting us in the estimation of people with whom, and for whom, we work. Two words – “THANK YOU” – will improve relationships with them from whom we may be estranged. Two words – “THANK YOU” – will obtain for us favor from them who are in a position to gladly return a favor upon us in a time of our need.
  Lastly, there is something else for which we need to be GRATEFUL: Blessed [be] the Sovereign, Who daily loadeth us [with benefits], even the Elohim of our salvation, Psalm 68:19:
    • Who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy, forgiving all our iniquities, trespasses, and sins;
    • Who crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, not dealing with us after our sins, nor rewarding us according to our iniquities;
    • Who heals all our diseases;
    • Who redeems our lives from destruction and executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed;
    • Who satisfies our mouths with good things (Deut. 34:6 and Psa. 103:2-10).

  THANKS [be] unto Yahweh for His Unspeakable Gift, 2 Corinthians 9:15. We have reason for GRATITUDE, let us use IT.


-Elder John W. Reece


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