Luke 13:31-35

Butler's Comments

SECTION 5

Repentance or Doom (Luke 13:31-35)

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came, and said to him, Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you. 32And 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. 33Nevertheless 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.-' 34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35Behold, 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 13:31-33 Denunciation: Herod Antipas was tetrach of Galilee and Perea. He was the son of Herod the Great by Malthace (a Samaritan woman) one of his father's eight wives. Antipas married the daughter of Aretas who was a Nabatean king. While married to her he seduced and married his half-brother's wife, Herodias, who was also his niece. He was sly, treacherous, weak-willed, insecure, sensual, opportunistic and grovelled before the Caesars for his office. Accused of treason to Caligula by his nephew, Herod Agrippa I, he was deposed about 36 A.D. and spent the remainder of his days in exile. His attitude toward Jesus was one of curiosity (to see miracles, Luke 23:7-12), yet He was jealous and fearful of Jesus-' popularity (Luke 9:9 ff.see comments there) lest Jesus be a threat to his throne. Jesus would not present Himself before Herod, either by invitation or threat. Jesus never feared Herod, neither his influence (Mark 8:15) nor his power (Luke 13:31 ff.).

It is interesting to note that the Pharisees, of all people, warned Jesus of Herod's intentions. It is possible that some of the Pharisees (like Nicodemus and perhaps Joseph of Arimathea) were sincerely trying to protect Him. But it is more probable that these Pharisees were hoping to scare Jesus out of Perea (Herod's domain) into Judea or Jerusalem where the Sadducees and Pharisees had control (supervised, of course, by Pontius Pilate). They especially wanted to get Jesus away from the Galilean and Perean multitudes with whom He was still very popular. The Greek word alopeki is she-fox and some think Jesus intended His reply for Herodias who was the murdering conniver behind most of Herod's orders. She had married Herod because he was ruler of more territory than her former husband and she was power-hungry. Whatever the case, Jesus-' reply was that of the sovereign Son of God. His answer to Herod might be paraphrased:

a.

I work miracles; I have divine power; I have more of that to do in Perea. I will leave when I am readynot before.

b.

My program is definitely set by God. Herod will not be able to thwart it.

c.

My mission will reach its goal.

d.

I will leave at the exact time that fits My appointed schedule.

e.

I must leave here, and go to Jerusalem (sarcasm) because that is where all prophets are killed. The holy city, the messianic city of peace and righteousness is the murderess of holy men.

Three days was merely a proverbial expression for a short time. Jesus remained in Perea longer than three days. He does not go to Judea until He is called there because of the death of Lazarus (cf. Luke 17:11 with John 11:1-16).

Herod was a moral weakling. He could be manipulated by those who played on his sensual appetites. Occasionally, he regretted his wicked deeds, but he did not repent (change his mind and life). Jesus knew his heart and denounced him for what he wasa cunning, predator-like animal, a fox. Jesus-' refusal to appear before Herod is a classic demonstration of His teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, Do not give dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under foot and turn to attack you (Matthew 7:6).

Luke 13:34-35 Desolation: The reminder that He would soon (in about 3 months) be killed in Jerusalem pierces His heart, not for Himself, but for the impenitent people of the city who shall do the deed. God tried desperately to save these people and their city. He sent prophet after prophet to call them away from their own self-righteousness and to repentance, but they killed the prophets. Finally, God sent His Sonnow they will kill Him. What more can God do? He will not violate their own freedom to choose. They have chosen not to accept God's will (cf. Jeremiah 6:16-19). He must leave them to their own rebellious designs. The Greek word here is aphietai meaning leave in the sense of abandoning, forsaking. Luke uses the Greek word eremosis in Luke 21:20 which means literally, desert, desolate place, uninhabited place. A storm of terrible destruction is coming upon this people and their city (cf. Matthew 23:37-39; Luke 21:20-24; Luke 19:41-44). It was predicted by Daniel that the Jewish nation would, after rejecting its Anointed One, bring about its own destruction in conjunction with the abomination of desolation (Roman armies) (cf. Daniel 9:24-27).

What did Jesus mean when He said, ... you will not see me until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord?

a.

He may have meant that, while these Pharisees were trying to get Him to go to Jerusalem immediately, Jerusalem would not see Him until about 3 months later when the Passover multitudes would shout, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (cf. Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9; Luke 19:38).

b.

He may have meant that Jerusalem did not want Him when He wanted to gather her under His wings, but she would definitely see Him again when He came in power and judgment with the Roman armies (cf. comments Luke 21:25-32).

c.

He may have meant that although Jerusalem would see Him again in the flesh when she crucified Him, she would not acknowledge Him as who He really is, Lord and God, until she sees Him at His Second Coming when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Him as Lord (cf. Philippians 2:9-11).

Quite frankly, we do pot know which is the correct meaning. We prefer the first one because it fits the context here in Luke most suitably. We also acknowledge that Jesus made exactly the same statement in Matthew 23:37-39 after He had already made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The third alternative does not appear suitable because at His Second Coming all are not going to say, Blessed is he who comes. although all will acknowledge who He is.

STUDY STIMULATORS:

1.

Do you know people today who think natural disasters or physical diseases signal the victims are worse sinners than others? Will this passage in Luke 13:1-9 help you answer them?

2.

If repentance is a continuing thing in a man's relationship to Christ, and is brought about by knowing and doing the revealed will of Christ, how important is Bible study or Sunday School or preaching the word?

3.

Are you fulfilling the purpose for which God created you or are you merely cumbering the ground like the fruitless fig tree? What did God create you for?

4.

Is it really true that doing good to a human being in need should take precedence over religious ceremonies?

5.

Is your whole Christian life a sabbath-kind-of-life? What needs to be improved?

6.

Do you see the church today being the unpretentious but infectious kingdom Jesus characterized in these parables?

7.

Why will there not be many who are saved?

8.

Do you think Jesus treated Herod correctly?

9.

Why did Jesus leave Jerusalem to herself?

Applebury's Comments

The Warning From Herod
Scripture

Luke 13:31-35 In that very hour there came certain Pharisees, saying to him, Get thee out, and go hence: for Herod would fain kill thee. 32 And he said unto them, Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am perfected. 33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her own brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Comments

In that very hour.There is a close connection between this incident and the one in which Jesus answered the question about whether few are saved. The warning came in the very hour when He was teaching.

The threat of Herod raised another question, since some thought of Jesus as a temporal king. If Herod should kill Him, how could the kingdom become the mighty force which He had described in the parables of the Mustard Seed and the Leaven? But His kingdom was spiritual and He had no fear of the threats of petty rulers like Herod or even the mighty Caesars.

Herod would fain kill thee.This is Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee and Perea. Jesus was operating in Perea at this time. The father of this ruler had tried to kill Jesus at His birth. Herod Antipas had caused John the Baptist to be beheaded. Perhaps the Pharisees were aware of all this and thought there was some real threat to Jesus-' safety in the matter. It may be, of course, that they were trying to discourage people from following Him. At any rate, Jesus was unmoved by the warning.

Go say to that fox.He called Herod a fox because he was cunning like a fox.

Today, tomorrow, and the third day.No threat of violence from any ruler could stop the program of the Son of God. He intended to go on casting out demons and performing cures. He was waging war against the devil and all who were associated with him, Herod included.

The suggestion about today, tomorrow and the third day simply indicates that Jesus was moving steadily toward the goal for which He came into the world. There is no reference in the remark to the years of His ministry or the time of His resurrection. See John 10:18 for Jesus-' own view of His mission which He would accomplish in Jerusalem.

and the third day I am perfected.That is, I am finished with my earthly task. See John 17:4; John 19:30.

no prophet perish out of Jerusalem.He had set His face to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51; Luke 13:22; Matthew 20:17). Jerusalem was the center of the nation. The temple was there; the sacrifices for the sins of the people were continually being offered there. Jerusalem was the place where He would offer Himself as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the people. See Hebrews 9:11-15; Hebrews 10:1-10; Hebrews 13:10-14. Jerusalem was the city that killeth the prophets and stonest them that are sent unto her.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem.According to Matthew, the lament occurred after the Triumphal Entry and shortly before the death of Jesus (Matthew 23:37-39). Luke indicates that Jesus first uttered these words as He was approaching Jerusalem while still in Herod's territory. Some find it difficult to believe that He could have spoken these deeply emotional words more than once. But who can say that He didn-'t? Luke had made a careful study of all that he wrote. He was in a better position to know than today's critics. Since Jerusalem was the heart of the nation that Jesus had tried so hard to win back to God, why should it be thought impossible that their rejection and plan to kill Him should cause such extreme sorrow? He had tried to gather them under His protective care but they would have none of it.

Behold, your house is left unto you.The word desolate is given in italics in the American Standard Version to indicate that it is supplied by the translators to make the meaning complete. R. S. V. supplies is forsaken for the same purpose. Whether He meant the temple or the nation, Jesus said your house is left to you. There was nothing more He could do for them. Within a few short years the invading armies of Rome would bring desolation to Jerusalem. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.The words are quoted from Psalms 118:26. According to Matthew, they were uttered after the Triumphal Entry, but Luke has them before. Assuming that Jesus could have spoken them on two different occasions, the problem is to determine the meaning in each context.

According to Luke, Jesus was anticipating His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, for at that time the people did say, Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord (Luke 19:38). According to Matthew, they may anticipate a time of acceptance after the death and resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 22:39). There are many who are acknowledging Him as King in the period that began on Pentecost and will end with His Second Coming.

Summary

Things were happening fast in the busy ministry of Jesus. He was meeting the opposition, teaching the disciples and the crowds, and healing the sick. He was hurrying to Jerusalem, for no prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.
He taught a lesson on repentance. It was based on two tragic events, the death of the Galileans and of those on whom the tower of Siloam fell, But these were not worse sinners than all other, for all will perish who do not repent. The lesson of the fig tree showed that time was running out; the warning was: Repent or perish.
Jesus clashed again with the ruler of the synagogue when He healed a woman on the sabbath. Ridiculously, the ruler held that there were six days for work to be done but not on the sabbath; he called the healing work. Jesus-' answer drew a sharp contrast between their attitude toward the ox or the ass and the woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom He had loosed from Satan's bonds. The people were with Him, for they glorified God for what they had seen that day.
The growth of the kingdom was presented in two parables. Like the mustard seed, it would grow to great proportions; like the leaven, the gospel of the kingdom would transform those who hide that Word in their hearts.
As He was going on the way to Jerusalem, someone asked Him, Lord, are there few that are saved? The answer seemed to say, Yes, but all should strive to enter the kingdom and be one of them.
Word came about Herod's threat to kill Him. Jesus said to tell that fox that nothing could interfere with His program. But as He thought of Jerusalem where He was to die, He mourned over the city that was rejecting her King.

Questions

1.

How does Luke indicate the continuity between the events reported in this chapter and those of the previous Chapter s?

2.

Why was the question raised about those whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices?

3.

What lesson did Jesus teach from it?

4.

Why mention those on whom the tower of Siloam fell?

5.

What lesson did Jesus teach from this incident?

6.

What is repentance?

7.

What are the forces that lead to repentance?

8.

What will happen to those who do not repent of their sins?

9.

Does accidental death suggest that God is punishing the one involved?

10.

What do the Scriptures teach about the longsuffering of God?

11.

What lesson did Jesus teach from the parable of the Fig Tree?

12.

What is represented by the three years mentioned in the parable?

13.

What is represented by the year of special care given the tree?

14.

What was the purpose of healing the woman in the synagogue?

15.

What was her difficulty? How long standing?

16.

Why did Jesus say, You are loosed from your infirmity?

17.

Why is it called a spirit of infirmity?

18.

Why did Jesus lay His hands on the healed woman?

19.

What did the ruler of the synagogue say about the miracle?

20.

What is the point of the contrast between what Jesus had done and the custom of the Jews?

21.

Why did Jesus refer to the woman as a daughter of Abraham?

22.

What effect did Jesus-' answer have on the adversaries?

23.

What was the reaction of the people?

24.

Why did Jesus speak of the growth of the kingdom at this point?

25.

How does the parable of the Mustard Seed illustrate the nature of the growth of the kingdom?

26.

What do the Scriptures say about the ultimate growth of the kingdom?

27.

What lesson does the parable of the Leaven teach about the growth of the kingdom?

28.

What must be done with the Word in order for it to transform the life of an individual?

29.

Why did they ask if the saved are few?

30.

What did Jesus-' answer imply?

31.

What do the Scriptures say about the limit God places on the Day of Salvation?

32.

Why is the door to salvation called narrow?

33.

What will happen to the workers of iniquity who come too late?

34.

Why weeping and gnashing of teeth?

35.

What do the Scriptures teach about recognition of persons in heaven?

36.

What does being on the outside and looking in on the heavenly banquet suggest as to the nature of punishment of the wicked?

37.

Why did Jesus speak of those coming from east, west, north, and south?

38.

How are all these to be invited?

39.

What is meant by saying that the last shall be first?

40.

Why did Jesus refer to Herod as a fox?

41.

Was this a real threat or were the Pharisees trying to frighten Jesus?

42.

What was Jesus-' answer to the reported threat?

43.

What did Jesus mean by reference to the third day?

44.

Why was He going to Jerusalem?

45.

Why did He mourn over Jerusalem?

46.

What was to happen to their house? Why?

47.

Where is the quotation about the coming of the Lord found?

48.

To what does it refer?