11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

When Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, he was going along between Samaria and Galilee; and, as he entered a village, ten lepers, who stood far off, met him. They lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity upon us.’ When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he was cured, turned back, glorifying God with a great voice. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and kept on thanking him. And he was a Samaritan. Jesus said, ‘Were the ten not cleansed? The nine—where are they? Were none found to turn back and give glory to God except this foreigner?’ And he said to him, ‘Rise and go! Your faith has made you well.’

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

No story in all the gospels so poignantly shows human ingratitude. The lepers came to Jesus with desperate longing; he cured them; and nine never came back to give thanks. So often, once people have got what they want, they never come back.