Pastor Scott Andrews | February 15, 2026
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Luke 13:31-35
A little while ago, I asked the question, who killed Jesus? We found the answer was rather complicated. Was it the Jews, the Romans, was it the religious leaders, the governmental leaders? The truth is, in our study of Luke we have found many were out to get Him, even from infancy, before they eventually succeeded, or did they?
You remember when He was born, a paranoid and jealous Herod the Great heard the news from some out-of-town magi that the king of the Jews had been born. After careful inquiry, he discovered according to prophecy, the boy was to be born in Bethlehem. So, since the magi skipped town and didn’t report who or where the boy was, Herod summarily dispatched his soldiers to kill every boy under the age of two in Bethlehem. While that first attempt to murder Jesus was not necessarily religious or even political, it was a satanic attempt on His life nonetheless. The Messiah’s family fled to Egypt, where they stayed until this threat passed, when they moved back to Israel, to Nazareth in Galilee.
Kind of interesting. The threat passed when Herod the Great died in 4 BC. His kingdom was divided between his three sons – Archelaus in Judea Samaria, Antipas in Galilee and Perea, and Philip northeast of that. Yes, Herod’s sister was also included in the division, but she died and her part was absorbed into a Roman province. Archelaus’ territory was also absorbed by the Romans when he died in 18 AD. It was subsequently ruled by a series of governors – to include one Pontius Pilate. Now again, Herod Antipas was the tetrarch in Galilee, and he is primarily the Herod we read about in the gospel narratives.
To include that sad story of John the Baptist. You remember that – John condemned Herod Antipas’ marriage to his brother Philip’s wife. As a result, Antipas arrested John the Baptist and kept him in prison in a summer palace called Machaerus to the northeast of the Dead Sea. Antipas used to talk to John regularly – and kept him alive. After all, John was highly regarded by the people and seen as a prophet.
Until a fateful day, on Herod’s birthday, when his wife Herodias’ daughter danced provocatively before a bunch of drunken men. Antipas was inebriated and promised is step-daughter (Josephus tells us her name was Salome) Salome anything she wanted up to half his kingdom. She ran to tell her mom and Herodias saw the opportunity to dispatch John the Baptist. I know just the thing that every teenage daughter wants – ask for John’s head on a platter. Really, everything up to half his kingdom, and you ask for a severed head on a plate? Such was her seething anger toward John.
So, this is the Herod Jesus grew up under while in Nazareth of Galilee. It’s interesting to note – Herod Antipas built what became his capital city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee and named it Tiberias after the Emperor. Through our study in Luke – to include last week – we have found Jesus went from city to city, village to village in Galilee, Samaria and Judea preaching the kingdom of God – but it’s never recorded Jesus visited Tiberias. Was it simply not mentioned, or did Jesus steer clear of Antipas? Antipas had killed cousin John, and Antipas’ father had tried to kill Jesus. These Herods were a problem – a force to be reckoned with, or were they?
Well, back to those trying to kill Jesus. When Jesus first started His ministry at the age of thirty, early on He traveled to the place of His youth – Nazareth in Galilee, Luke 4. He was invited to read the Scripture in the local synagogue – He read Isaiah 61, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor…” and so on. Upon finishing, He looked at the familiar crowd who were waiting for comment and said, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Wait, what? They knew this was a Messianic passage – and Jesus, son of Joseph, the local boy, the carpenter says the passage is talking about Him? Jesus, seeing their growing consternation leading to irritation, pointed out how the Jews always rejected the prophets, which is why Elijah was sent to a Gentile widow and Elisha was sent to a Gentile commander. Because you guys just kill prophets. This was too much – they drove Jesus out of the city to a cliff and were going to throw Him off – kill Him. Attempt number 2. But, we read He walked away right through their midst. That’s interesting, you don’t normally walk away from an angry, violent crowd.
Quite early in His ministry, when Jesus began healing on Sabbath days (remember, the man with the withered hand in the synagogue) the religious leaders were filled with rage and conspired as to how they might destroy Him. That took place as early as Mark 3. Twice in the Gospel of John, they picked up stones to stone Him – why? In John 8, He claimed to be the I Am – He claimed to be God. In John 10, He claimed to be one with the Father, making Himself equal with God. In other words, they sought to kill Him because of His claim to deity. But just as He walked away from the crowd in Nazareth, He also walked away from those seeking to stone Him. Again, you don’t typically walk away from a stoning when the crowd is armed with rocks.
There are more – there was the time in John 5. Not only for healing on the Sabbath (the guy at the pool of Bethesda) but also for calling God His Father, making Himself equal to God. We read they were “seeking all the more to kill Him.” There’s the time when He raised Lazarus from the dead, which became widely known. This infuriated the religious leaders, “What are we doing? If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him.” And so, “from that day on they planned to kill Him.”
They were clearly out to destroy Jesus. Why? Because of His teaching, claims, and miracles. The point is, they wanted to kill Him – from the time of His birth all the way to when they did. All the way to when they succeeded, or did they? You see, if He walked away from death many times, why didn’t He walk away in Jerusalem? We get a glimpse of the answer in our text today – Luke 13:31-35.
He had just told them, warned them, that some who expected to be in the kingdom, who expected to be seated at the Messianic table, would not, because they refused to enter through the narrow door of the gospel. Not only that, He told them there is a limited time to enter – when time is up, the door will be closed, locked, no more entry. Then He said these startling words, “they will come from east and west and from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”
Jesus was clearly suggesting that those near will miss the narrow door, because they think they’re in by physical birthright, and those far off will be brought near by spiritual birthright. Which means most Jews would miss it, while many Gentiles would enter. It was a stunning reversal of expectations. And it was just at that time, or at that very hour, some approached and suggested things were getting a little hot – suggesting He flee to escape pending death. What will Jesus do? Here’s the short outline of the text:
I. Encouragement to Leave (31)
II. Jesus’ Response (32-33)
III. Jesus’ Passion (34-35)
While that seems a bit disconnected, I think you’ll see how it relates as we make our way through, starting with the encouragement to flee in verse 31. Again, it was just as Jesus said to enter through the narrow door – and those you expect to enter, won’t, and those you don’t expect, will. The Jews had to know Jesus was talking about them. Then we read, “Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him, ‘Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill you.’”
That’s a bit surprising, even confusing. Of the twenty-five times the Pharisees are mentioned in Luke, they are all pejorative – opposing Jesus, lest it be this singular event. If they wanted to kill Him, why would they encourage Him to go away – flee from Herod’s murderous intent? Why wouldn’t they just let Herod do their dirty work? A couple thoughts are offered. One is obviously these could be some Pharisees who were sympathetic to Jesus and His movement. Could be, but again, that would be way outside of the norm.
Others suggest they were working with Herod to get Jesus back to Judea where He could be more closely monitored, and perhaps even killed. They wanted to kill Him. Notice, for example, how Jesus told them, go tell Herod… That seems to imply these Pharisees were somehow working with Herod. The fact is, we don’t know what the motivation was for these Pharisees.
But they said, you need to go away because Herod wants to kill you. This would be no idle threat. Again, Jesus grew up under Antipas, who was the ruler of the region. He knew Herod’s character. He knew Herod had killed another prophet of God, His forerunner, John the Baptist, so it is not unreasonable to expect he may kill another. Undoubtedly, Herod had heard of Jesus’ large following and popularity. If he was anything like his father, he would be jealous and want to deal with the potential rival. This is a tense situation. Herod wants to kill you. What would you do? What did Jesus always do? He never seemed to run from danger – even from those who sought to kill Him. But typically, He just walked away. Which brings us to Jesus’ response in verses 32 and 33.
Jesus said to them, “Go and tell that fox.” Stop right there. Tell that fox – some suggest this is Jesus at His most harsh throughout the gospels. I’m not so sure – I thought it was fairly harsh when He told the Pharisees they were of their father the devil. And later, when He says several times, woe to you Pharisees, you hypocrites. Seems strong.
But it is true, Jesus did not have much nice to say to or about Herod. Later, when He is arrested and handed over to Pilate, Pilate discovered Jesus was a Galilean, so he sent Him to Herod since Herod was in Jerusalem for the festival. Only Luke records it, and we’ll get to it eventually, but Jesus was silent – didn’t answer Herod at all, even when the chief priests and scribes were accusing Him vehemently. Herod, then, with His soldiers, mocked Jesus, dressed Him in a robe and sent Him back to Pilate.
Herod was a scumbag. Go tell that fox – at this time, fox was primarily a negative term referring to a cunning, destructive and nothing (a no-count) person. This was not a term of endearment or respect. There is a sense in which it was name-calling, but it was true. Jesus was simply highlighting Herod’s character. Go tell that fox, “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.” That’s also confusing – lots of discussion about that statement. Many want to suggest this is a reference to the resurrection – but in what way besides this reference to the third day? And Jesus wasn’t actually three days from Jerusalem and the cross.
Actually, this was a Jewish colloquialism, much like we might say, today, tomorrow, and the day after that – which speaks of continuity. This Jewish saying spoke of continuity as well, but it also spoke of a short, definite time. Jesus was saying, Herod wants to kill Me? Go tell Herod that I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing till I’m done. I am casting out demons to demonstrate My kingdom is in victorious conflict with Satan’s evil kingdom. I will keep casting demons out of needy and broken people, till I’m done. I’m also going to keep performing cures – healing people in need, till I’m done. You think you’re going to kill Me before then? You’re not. In other words, I have a mission to accomplish, and no idle threat from some two-bit potentate will stop Me until I reach My goal. I’m in charge here, Herod, you’re not. Don’t forget that – it is always true our sovereign and good God is control; the enemy is not. By the way, when Jesus says, I will continue until I reach My goal – that is the same word He will use on the cross when He declares, it is finished. Herod, I will continue until it is finished – and from the cross, He will cry, now it is finished.
He goes on, “Nevertheless, I must [don’t miss that word] I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day” – again, same idea, not a literal three days, but a definite period of time – “for it cannot be [don’t miss that either] that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” We have to pull all these loose threads together. Herod wants to kill Me? Tell that rascal I will complete the mission. I must is a divine imperative – this is something I must do, for it cannot be that a prophet – namely Me – would perish outside Jerusalem. Herod, I’m on the way. I started the journey up in Caesarea Philippi. I told My closest followers we’re headed to Jerusalem where I will be handed over to the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees; I will be killed; but I will rise again the third day. This is the unalterable plan, and you have nothing to do with it, Herod. You’re just a pawn. You think you’re in charge, you’re not. So, who killed Jesus? Jesus seems to be saying, it’s not you, Herod.
It’s interesting to note, not all, but many true prophets of God were put to death in the religious and political capital of the chosen nation. Understand, a reading of the OT and its old covenant demonstrates the continuing need for the New Covenant and its Christ. The people mistreated and killed God’s prophets. A list of those mistreated or killed in Jerusalem includes Jeremiah, Zechariah, traditionally Isaiah, and ultimately the Son of God.
This city that was the place God chose to put His Temple and His name did not live up to its privilege or calling. Repeatedly, they committed idolatry, turning from the true God. They refused to listen to God’s messengers. As a result, they were disciplined, ultimately carried into captivity, only to return and continue to fall short. The Messiah was desperately needed. But when He came, they sought to kill Him, too. There’s a parable in Matthew 21 called the parable of the landowner. It’s right after the triumphal entry, and we read these words:
33 “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey.
34 “When the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce.
35 “The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third.
36 “Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them.
37 “But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’
38 “But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’
39 “They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
They killed His prophets and they would kill His Son. And Jesus says, this is how I will go. And yet, in verses 34 and 35, we read incredible words of passion, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!”
We see His pathos, His compassion, His grief in the way He cries out, O Jerusalem. The holy city, the city of God, the city of peace – the place God chose for His house – the place He chose for His name had become a place that killed His prophets and stoned His messengers. There was no peace there, no righteousness there, and soon, in a sense, there would be no God there; they would kill Him.
In the midst of His rejection, He still loved these rebellious people. How often He had desired to gather Jerusalem suggests He’d been there many time, but all He faced was rejection. They would not have it – they would not receive Him. Don’t miss it, He wanted them, but they refused Him. The narrow door was open, but they rejected it.
And so, Jesus grieved. He took no pleasure, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, as Ezekiel declared long ago. In Luke 19, just before the cleansing of the Temple on Monday morning, as Jesus was approaching Jerusalem, Luke tells us Jesus wept. He wept over Jerusalem saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you when your enemies will throw up a barricade against you, and surround you and hem you in on every side, and they will level you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”
As Jesus foresaw the judgment and destruction that was coming on them, He wept bitterly. Why was judgment coming? Because they did not recognize the day of their visitation. Jesus had been there. He had lived with them, moved among them, taught them, healed them, raised the dead, driven out demons, and they refused to believe. They rejected Him, so now God would reject them. To be clear, God will judge, but He takes no joy in it. It is not His desire for people to reject Him – He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He was deeply grieved by their rejection.
And so should our response be when people, even wicked people, reject Christ. We should take no glory, no satisfaction, no contentment, no pleasure when people choose to deny/reject Christ. When they die, they enter a Christless eternity. O Jerusalem, O Iraq, Iran – fill in the blank. I’m not talking about political enemies – I’m talking about those who choose to reject Christ and follow false gods. It should grieve us to the depths of our soul – no smug indifference, no self-righteous condemnation – but rather bitter, grief-filled, emotive, painful woe.
How often, Jesus said, have I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. When a hen gathers her chicks, it is for protection and care. In that act, we see the helplessness of the chicks, the care of the mother hen, and the safety available under her wings. Jesus desired that for them. Whatever your picture of Christ, you see Him with arms open wide, tears streaming down His face, desiring to gather you under His wings.
Jerusalem’s problem? They didn’t realize they were in the presence of the God of Israel. And the God of Israel, full of compassion, wanted to gather them, but they were not willing. He had come to His own, but His own did not receive Him. It’s important you notice that – they rejected Him. Regardless of your position on election, one thing is sure – people have the responsibility to receive, to respond to Christ. Divine sovereignty and human responsibility. The invitation is for all to respond. He had desired – expressed by words and actions He wanted Jews to come – the kingdom was theirs for the taking. But they would not – they refused – they chose to reject the message of grace. The invitation is for all – for you, this morning.
The house, likely referring to the city itself, was being left desolate – it was empty, void, meaningless, useless, of no value. The point is God was leaving, and leaving the house to them, empty. Write Ichabod across the top of the door – the glory of the Lord was departing. It was no longer His, it was their house – He was leaving it desolate to them. And without the power and protection of God, it would spell doom for them. You only have to read the history of the Jewish nation to know this is true. Beginning with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD when over a million Jews were massacred, extending through the Crusades and to the Holocaust when 6 million Jews were murdered, their history has been a horrendously bloody one. Their house has been left desolate. But notice, it won’t stay that way.
Because He says to them, “you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” That’s a quote of Psalm 118, a psalm of deliverance. In fact, it was often called the conqueror’s psalm. By this time, it was seen as a Messianic psalm – the Messiah would be hailed as the Son of David coming to deliver them. Of course, we know many shouted that Psalm when He entered Jerusalem in a few short weeks, riding on a donkey. But, while they were ascribing Psalm 118 to Him – they didn’t really mean it. We know the same fickle crowds who are yelling, “Crown Him!” would by the end of the week yell, “Crucify Him!” In a few days, they won’t want to crown Him – they’ll seek to condemn Him. The same crowd that was claiming Him as their King would by the end of the week say, “We have no king but Caesar.” The same crowd proclaiming “Hosanna!” which means “Save us now!” would say, “You who saved others, why don’t you come down off the cross and save yourself.”
All that to say, it’s doubtful Jesus was referring to His so-called triumphal entry, but rather to His second coming. I believe there is coming a day when Jesus comes in the clouds of the sky with great glory, they will look on Him whom they have pierced, and all will bow the knee and acknowledge who He is and declare, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
I close with these thoughts. Many were trying to kill Jesus. They tried and failed. Until it was His time. He set His face toward Jerusalem, knowing what awaited Him there. He voluntarily went to the cross – He laid down His life for the sheep. When Pilate questioned Him, Jesus was silent. Pilate exploded, what’s wrong with You? Why don’t You answer me? Don’t You know I have power to release You, or power to crucify You? To which Jesus responded, you would no power over Me at all, if it were not given you from above. You’re not in charge, Pilate, God is. I am. I lay My life down, and if I lay it down, I can take it up again.
Many were trying to kill Jesus; He simply walked away. They could not, because the time, place and way of His death were predetermined. It’s interesting to note, the religious leadership, the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees, were eager to destroy, trying many times. Jesus kept proclaiming, not yet. Then came the last Passover. Jesus will complete the six-month journey to Jerusalem. But there’s a challenge. It’s Passover – so the religious leaders said, we wouldn’t want to cause a riot. Look at Matthew 26:
1 When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples,
2 “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.”
3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas;
4 and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him.
5 But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”
Do you see? They tried many times, plotting, seeking to destroy Him, even picking up stones to stone Him. And Jesus, who was in charge, said, not yet. Then, when it was Passover, the Sanhedrin, the chief priests and the elders said, not yet. And Jesus said, you’re not in charge. That is exactly when you will take Me, kill Me – because I am the lamb of God, the Passover lamb, come to die for the sins of the world. Passover is the perfect and predetermined time that I will die. Herod, Pilate, Caiaphas, Sanhedrin, Pharisees, people, you’re not in charge. I will lay down My life for My people.