...and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.  

Luk 17:16

Luk 17:11-19 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. (12) As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; (13) and they raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (14) When He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they were going, they were cleansed. (15) Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, (16) and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. (17) Then Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? (18) "Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?" (19) And He said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has made you well."

So, exactly what is a Samaritan? According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, The Samaritans were a people of mixed origin from the North areas. Because of the power and might of the Jews, the Samaritans felt that their safety might well depend on them believing in the Jewish God Yahweh. Not being connected to any of the Israeli tribes, there was a huge disconnect resulting in a bitter North / South relationship. The Israelis were seen as the pompous arrogant funny talking Southerners. The Israelis viewed the Samaritans of the North as the lowest of Heathens.

In the Bible verses above, Jesus calls attention to one such Samaritan who was the only leprous man out of ten healed to return and give thanks to the healer.

We have another Samaritan encounter recorded in the Gospel of John between Lord Jesus and a Samaritan woman at a well;

Joh 4:7-10 There *came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus *said to her, "Give Me a drink." (8) For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. (9) Therefore the Samaritan woman *said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) (10) Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

The Samaritan woman and a number of her fellow residents would hear and believe the Gospel this day.

The word Samaritan is common in our language today. No longer is it associated with discord between the North and South. Samaritan is a positive descriptor, a good thing to be. Why?

Luk 10:30-34 Jesus replied and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. (31) "And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. (32) "Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. (33) "But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, (34) and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

Thus we speak of the GOOD SAMARITAN.

HAVE YOU READ YOUR BIBLE TODAY?