In this passage, Jesus heals ten men with skin conditions, only one of whom, a Samaritan, comes back to thank him. The emphasis in the story is probably less on the miracle and more on the faith of the one man who returned to Jesus, and it may have been put here by Luke to show what faith-in-action actually looked like after Jesus has told the disciples to trust in their faith. 

The passage begins with some geography that might not make literal sense. We are told that Jesus is between Galilee and Samaria, but that’s hard to square with where he has been up to this point, heading toward Jerusalem. But he is between Galilee and Samaria culturally in that the ten men have both Jews and Samaritans among them. The geography is foreshadowing of this reveal later when the man returns. 

The men cry out to Jesus for help, and Jesus sends them off to the priest which is when their healing takes place. This is because, when their healing is complete on the way, they will need to confirm this with a priest in order to be welcomed back into society from their leper colony. The Samaritan may or may not have had to do this given that he wouldn’t really have been welcome among Jews as an outsider even if he were healthy. Arguably, he has gained the least from Jesus’ healing. He has his health, but he has not regained a community of belonging. Nevertheless he is the one to come back and offer thanks. 

Luke’s audience would have easily identified with the Samaritan’s situation since, as Gentiles, they would have been considered outsiders to the Jewish community, too. This passage would serve as a reminder to be bold in faith and humble in thankfulness for being welcomed into the community of faith by Jesus.