Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?”
- KJV There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
- NKJV Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
- NASB Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
- NLT Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus observes that only the foreigner returned to give God glory. Insiders by birth can miss what outsiders embrace by faith.
Overview
Calling the Samaritan a "stranger" (foreigner) sharpens the irony: those nearest the covenant often respond least, while the outsider gives God glory. This anticipates Israel's broad rejection of Jesus and the inclusion of Gentiles in the gospel. Giving glory to God is shown to be the heart of a right response to his saving work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ps 50:23He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and to him who rights his way, I will show the salvation of God.”
- Matt 15:24–28He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
- Ps 106:13Yet they soon forgot His works and failed to wait for His counsel.
- Isa 42:12Let them give glory to the LORD and declare His praise in the islands.
- Rev 14:7And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.”
- Matt 19:30But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.
- Matt 8:12But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Matt 8:10When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
- Ps 29:1–2A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
- Matt 20:16So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 17:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.