Luke describes ten men with conditions called leprosy standing at a distance and calling to Jesus. Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priests.
Jesus in Context
Lepers, Distance, and Priestly Examination
The ten afflicted men stand at a distance, and Jesus sends them to priests in accordance with biblical procedures concerning skin disease.
Introduction
Historical and Cultural Context
The biblical category traditionally translated leprosy covers a range of serious skin conditions rather than simply modern Hansen's disease. Leviticus assigns priests responsibility for examining such conditions and for procedures connected with restoration after cleansing.
Why It Matters
The command to show themselves to priests therefore belongs to an established biblical purity system. Their distance and their journey to the priests are culturally meaningful parts of the episode.