Certain Pharisees Warn Jesus (Luke 13:31-35)

Submitted by admin on Wed, 2008-06-11 10:39.

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As tetrarch, Herod Antipas ruled over Galilee and Perea. While Jesus was on the east side of the Jordan River (in Perea), certain Pharisees told him to leave the area, saying that Herod wanted to kill him. Their warning, whether based on rumor or fact, appears to have been designed to intimidate Jesus. With apparent reference to Herod’s cunning or craftiness, Jesus called him “that fox” and told the Pharisees to say to him, “Behold! I am expelling demons and completing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third [day] I am finished.” (Luke 13:31, 32; see the Notes section for additional comments on verse 31.) His reply to the Pharisees suggested that only a short time remained for him to complete his work and that no threat to his life would interfere with his doing so.

To indicate that his mission would be completed at Jerusalem and that he would die there, Jesus told the Pharisees, “I must travel today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not allowable for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.” Over the centuries, the inhabitants of Jerusalem had made themselves bloodguilty. Therefore, Jesus referred to the city as having killed the prophets and stoned those whom God had sent. Although he knew full well what lay ahead for him, Jesus still felt great compassion for the people of Jerusalem and, in fact, for all of the Jews. He had often wanted to gather them like a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, providing care and protection. The people, however, did not want this, rejecting his love and concern for them. (Luke 13:33, 34)

Their failure to put faith in him would lead to serious consequences. The “house” that would be left to them probably meant the temple, suggesting that no longer would the Most High regard it as his house. Without a sacred status, the temple would eventually come to ruin. (Luke 13:35; see the Notes section for additional comments.)

As for the people, they would not see Jesus again until they acknowledged him as “blessed” and as coming in his Father’s name or as representing him. It appears that God’s Son here referred to his future return in glory that would occur at a time known exclusively to his Father. Only believers would then welcome Jesus, pronouncing him blessed, whereas those persisting in unbelief would give way to lamentation. Although their “house” would be left to them and so neither it nor they would have any special standing with God, the people would not be debarred from accepting Jesus in faith and being among those who would acknowledge him as the one coming in his Father’s name.

Notes:

In Luke 13:31, the words “in that hour” are to be understood as meaning “at that time.” This would have been after Jesus had been questioned about whether those being saved would be few.

It is most unlikely that the Pharisees would have told Jesus to leave Galilee, as it had been his area of residence since early childhood and where he primarily carried out his activity. This serves to confirm the location to have been Perea, the only other region under the control of Herod Antipas.

In their renderings of Luke 13:35, a number of translations make the reference to the temple specific. “Now your temple will be deserted.” (CEV) “Look! There is your temple, forsaken by God.” (REB)