Time after Pentecost · Year A
Thanksgiving Day (USA)
November 26, 2026
Overview & Insights
“Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:19)
In 17:11 Luke reminds us that Jesus and his disciples are still on the journey to Jerusalem. Much of the journey narrative (9:51–19:44) consists of teaching given to the disciples. In the last few chapters this has largely taken the form of parables, and we will return to parables at the beginning of chapter 18. But in this section we find four separate units of teaching (17:1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–10), loosely connected in that all relate to the nature and demands of discipleship, followed by a brief exemplary story. The story involves a Samaritan, whose action, like that of the good Samaritan in 10:30–37, shows up the failure of the Jews in the story and so reinforces Luke’s insistent challenge to accepted social conventions.
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Commentary
Commentary on Luke 17:11-19 Working Preacher
The Lutheran home commentary on the one healed leper who returns to give thanks.
Luke 17:11-19 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary on gratitude as the act of faith that sets the Samaritan apart.
Luke 17 - The Grateful Samaritan Enduring Word · David Guzik
A verse-by-verse evangelical study of the cleansing of the ten and the thanks of the one.
Luke 17 Commentary Precept Austin
An inductive study page collecting word studies and cross references on the chapter.
Luke 17:11 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentaries gathered verse by verse on the healing of the ten lepers.
Luke 17:11 Verse-by-Verse Commentary StudyLight
A large library of expositors stacked verse by verse for a further voice on the passage.
Background & Word Study
Luke 17:11 Interlinear BibleHub
The Greek of the passage word by word with parsing, including the words for cleansing and thanks.
Enter the Bible: Luke Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's book introduction to Luke and its concern for outsiders and mercy.
Overview: Luke 10-24 BibleProject
An animated overview of the second half of Luke on the road to Jerusalem.
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
Why is the healing of the ten lepers read at Thanksgiving?
Ten lepers are healed, but only one, a Samaritan, turns back to thank Jesus (Luke 17:11–19). The story sets gratitude at the center of faith: “your faith has made you well.” It is the appointed Gospel for Thanksgiving Day in Year A.
What are the Thanksgiving Day readings?
For Thanksgiving Day, Year A, the Revised Common Lectionary appoints Deuteronomy 8:7–18, Psalm 65, 2 Corinthians 9:6–15, and Luke 17:11–19.
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