Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Luke 17:12

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Alexandria

The Saviour next manifests His glory by drawing over Israel to the faith. As it follows, And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, men who were banished from the towns and cities, and counted unclean, according to the rites of the Mosaic law.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

Behold, "ten leprous men" met Jesus when He was about to enter a certain city. They met Him outside the city, for since they were considered unclean, they were not permitted to live inside the city (Lev. 13:46). They stood "afar off," as if ashamed of their supposed uncleanness and not daring to approach, thinking that Jesus too would be disgusted by them, as others did.

Commentary on Luke ↗

Titus of Bostra

They associated together from the sympathy they felt as partakers of the same calamity, and were waiting till Jesus passed, anxiously looking out to see Him approach. As it is said, Which stood afar off, for the Jewish law esteems leprosy unclean, whereas the law of the Gospel calls unclean not the outward, but the inward leprosy.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Western Saints

Bede

And it came to be, etc., ten leprous men met him. Leprous men can not unreasonably be understood as those who, not having the knowledge of true faith, profess various doctrines of error. For they do not hide their ignorance, but present it as supreme expertise to the light and display the boasting of their speech. And indeed there is no false doctrine which does not mix some truths among the false things. …

On the Gospel of Luke ↗

Bonaventure

Second, with respect to the calamity of disease, he adds: And when he entered a certain village, there met him ten men who were lepers. In the literal sense, leprosy is a disease of wretched calamity, because it takes away the remedy of medicine, deprives of the solace of companionship, and afflicts with the burden of infirmity. And such desolate ones ought to have recourse to the Father of mercies; therefore he adds: Who stood afar off, recognizing their uncleanness. …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 17 ↗