31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Luke 13: 31-35 ESV
Luke 13: 31-35
Some Pharisees came and said to Him, get away from here, for Herod wants to kill You - Jesus was in Herod country now, and Herod had killed John the Baptist, who was herald of the Messiah. It is very likely that Herod wanted Jesus to go away, especially with the Messianic buzz about Him. If He is a King that John the Baptist goes before, and Herod killed His messenger, then he may fear retribution. He has heard of the miracles that Jesus is performing, plus he knows that he took innocent blood in a moment of drunken, incestuous lust. The Pharisees warning Jesus in order to protect Him is unlikely though. They hate Him, and they would like to see Him die, but He is in the land of Perea, outside their jurisdiction.
Just at that time (hora) - More literally "At that very hour," (ESV) the very hour Jesus had given the stern, serious warning for everyone's need to enter the "Strait gate." (Lk 13:24-30) If the the Pharisees heard Jesus warning about Jews not entering the Messianic Banquet in the Kingdom of God, then they were very likely "gnashing of teeth" (cf Lk 13:28) at His remarks! The exact reason for the warning by the Pharisees is not clear because we know they wanted to kill Him and as noted, they were probably seething at His "Strait gate" sermonette!
MacArthur agrees noting that "At the time, Jesus was ministering in Perea (cf. Matt. 19:1; Mark 10:1; John 10:40–42), a region located east of the Jordan River opposite Samaria and Judea that, like Galilee, was also ruled by Herod Antipas. The Pharisees may have been trying to force Jesus to leave Perea and go to Judea, where the Sanhedrin had jurisdiction. After His strong words of warning that unbelieving Jews will be shut out of the kingdom (see the discussion of Lk 13:23–30), they were even more determined to silence Him temporarily, and eventually permanently. (See Luke Commentary) - Precept Austin
Go and tell that fox - This is interesting to study, because in western culture that would be a way of describing someone as cunning, but that's not the implication here. Herod is a ruler, and he sees himself as a big man, but when we see these sort of references or comparisons made about other kings, like Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus and Alexander the Great, they are represented by the much more powerful and fierce. It's like a comparison between a Tidal king to a local minion. Rome was the real rule in the region.
17 “Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first to devour them was the king of Assyria; the last to crush their bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” Jeremiah 50:17
…3Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others: 4The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man. 5Suddenly another beast appeared, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. So it was told, ‘Get up and gorge yourself on flesh!’…
…6Next, as I watched, another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule. 7After this, as I watched in my vision in the night, suddenly a fourth beast appeared, and it was terrifying— dreadful and extremely strong— with large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed; then it trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the beasts before it, and it had ten horns. 8While I was contemplating the horns, suddenly another horn, a little one, came up among them, and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like those of a man and a mouth that spoke words of arrogance.… Daniel 7: 3-8
Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today, tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course - Basically, the Lion of Judah, the King of kings, is saying to the little fox, "that's nice, but I am not running away, this is my itinerary for the time until it's done." He is the Messiah, the King of kings, and He is also our High Priest and a prophet. When a true prophet speaks, he speaks on behalf of God Who is above all earthly rule and authority. This is why John the Baptist confronted Herod and Elijah confronted Ahab. We are told to respect those in authority who have rule over us, but that rule comes from God, and when God has something to say to them, He sends a messenger. What will it be like for those who kill God's messengers?
…10So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?” 11Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.” 12From then on, Pilate tried to release Him, but the Jews kept shouting, “If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is defying Caesar.”… John 19: 10-12
For it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem - It is easy to see in this that Jesus is not concerned because it is not His time, that will come in Jerusalem.
…17The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” 19Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message.… John 10: 17-19
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to it - Well for those new to the Bible or those who haven't read the OT, John the Baptist was in a long line of prophets that were hated for one simple thing - they repeated what God said. It was divisive because it wasn't what people wanted to hear, and they couldn't kill God, yet they wanted their own human autonomy, and they wanted the words to stop. The Jews did not receive Jesus because they had their own form of Judaism now, apostate Judaism that put more on traditions, men's words, what they added to the law. When the messenger comes and tells you that you're wrong, that you are not good or special for your deeds or for what lineage you were born into, then it always occurred to them next, to kill the messenger because they can't reach God. This time the Messenger is God, and they plot to kill Him.
…37They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated. 38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground. 39These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.… Hebrews 11: 37-39
How often I would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing - Every time God sent the prophets this was first a sign of grace. The church today is guilty of sending very little warning, of not confronting sin, of preaching a different God than the One of Holy Scripture, yet thinking this is gracious. The prophets and Jesus preached repentance, which acknowledges sin, and ask that the hearer turn away from sin. In modern times people drop the preaching of sin, actually refuse to confront what the culture has deemed as "not sin." This was Israel's problem. They had a religion of works that the Pharisees falsely assumed made them right with a Holy God Who promised to destroy the wicked, yet they consistently broke God's actual law. The more liberal Jews, called Sadducees, dealt with the problem another way. They said there was no resurrection, no hell, now worries. Both were self righteous and refusing God's word first, and then His Messiah of Whom is His word spoke. People today think it's mean to warn people about their sin because it makes people feel bad about themselves. Feelings aren't inherently evil, and feeling bad isn't inherently evil, but many people get to the point that they feel nothing regarding sin, or even feel good about doing what God calls sin, a result of our falleness, our depraved natures. If what you feel is contrary to what God says, I am going to suggest siding with God over your feelings. Wanting something to be true won't make it that, and being so arrogant as to side with culture over God, and then trying to say it's because of how compassionate or empathetic you are, well you're actually quite cruel and godless. You are directing men toward the broad gate, patting them on the back along the way, reassuring them about what good people they are. I can't think of anyone more mean than that, especially you who do it from the pulpit. These apostates refuse to give the call to repentance, the call to "go and sin no more."
15Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. 16But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy. 17So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,… 2 Chronicles 36: 15-17
…2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.… 2 Timothy 4: 2-4
…6They said this to test Him, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger. 7 When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” 8And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.…
…9When they heard this, they began to go away one by one, beginning with the older ones, until only Jesus was left, with the woman standing there. 10Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” 11“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.”… John 8: 6-11
16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” John 4: 16-26
You will not see Me until you say, "blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord - They had missed the time of their visitation. They were the first that would be last. They had heard the word of God, had the miracles, the prophets, the temple and a long and wonderful history of both the word and the pictures in the sacrifices. The story of salvation came through the Jews. Jesus was born a Jew, and He fulfilled the prophecies of His coming and came in great power, performing many miracles, but they hated His message. People still hate it today, and will only take clips, parts that they like, adding it to their own vain imaginations, sculpting a new Jesus in the stone of their hearts. Now the time of the gentiles continues, the preparing of the bride, the church age, but one day, Israel will say, "blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord." That is the day of their repentance. Listen to the words of Isaiah.
…4Surely He took on our infirmities and carried our sorrows; yet we considered Him stricken by God, struck down and afflicted. 5But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 6We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.… Isaiah 53: 4-6
…25I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.… Ezekiel 36: 25-27
25I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. 27And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.”… Romans 11: 25-27
