Luke 13:31-35
Jesus presses on toward Jerusalem with sovereign resolve and grieving compassion over the city that refuses His saving shelter.
31 On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”
32 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 complete my mission.
33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.’
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!
35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Jesus presses on toward Jerusalem with sovereign resolve and grieving compassion over the city that refuses his saving shelter.
Luke records Jesus refusing intimidation from Herod, declaring his determined continuation of exorcising, healing, and completing his mission, and lamenting over Jerusalem as the prophet-killing city that refuses his protective gathering and will face desolation until it recognizes the blessed coming one.
This concludes Luke 13, following warnings about the narrow door. It transitions from personal repentance to national rejection and prepares for intensified conflict in Jerusalem.
At that time some Pharisees warn Jesus to leave because Herod wants to kill him. This likely refers to Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee and Perea, who had already executed John the Baptist and appears in Luke as curious and threatening. Jesus responds by telling them to report to that fox that he will continue driving out demons and healing today and tomorrow, and on the third day he will reach his goal. He then declares that he must press on, because no prophet can die outside Jerusalem. Jesus laments Jerusalem, the city that kills prophets and stones those sent to it. He says he has often longed to gather Jerusalem’s children as a hen gathers chicks under her wings, but they were not willing. Therefore their house is left to them desolate, and they will not see him until they say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'
Repentance, Kingdom Reversal, and the Urgent Narrow Door
The kingdom of God demands urgent repentance, bears merciful fruit, reverses human presumption, and reveals Jesus as the Savior who both warns and weeps.