Luke 13:31-32
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easily missed here is the intent behind the warning. While it sounds like concerned friends, the scholars suggest these Pharisees may have been acting as a mouthpiece for Herod, or perhaps even trying to force Jesus into Jerusalem where His enemies were stronger, all under the guise of genuine concern for His life.
Some Pharisees approach Jesus, urging him to leave his current location immediately because Herod plans to kill him. This warning comes as Jesus is teaching and healing in the region, and it sets the stage for his defiant response and his lament over Jerusalem, highlighting his awareness of the danger he faces and the ultimate destination of his mission.
When Jesus received a warning about Herod wanting to kill him, it wasn't a straightforward message of concern. Who were these Pharisees, and what were they really trying to achieve?
The Pharisees who approached Jesus had a complex agenda.
A Mask of Friendship
On the surface, their words sound like a friendly warning. They tell Jesus to "get away" because "Herod wants to kill you." This could appear as concern for his safety, especially since Herod had already executed John the Baptist.
The Real Goal
However, the scholars suggest their true motive was to get rid of Jesus. They likely saw him as a threat to their own influence and the established religious order. By urging him to flee, they hoped to remove him from their midst, perhaps even hoping he'd be captured or eliminated by Herod. Some even speculate they were acting on Herod's behalf, indirectly threatening Jesus to leave his territory.
Jesus's response to the warning is striking: he calls Herod a 'fox.' What does this insult reveal about Herod and Jesus's understanding of the situation?
Jesus’s description of Herod as a 'fox' is packed with meaning, revealing both Herod's character and Jesus's awareness.
Cunning and Deceit
The term 'fox' in ancient Near Eastern thought often symbolized cunning, slyness, and deceit. It wasn't just a general insult; it pointed to Herod Antipas's character and methods.
A Calculated Threat
Jesus understood that Herod wasn't necessarily bent on immediate, direct violence. Instead, Herod was likely using indirect threats and political maneuvering. He wanted Jesus out of his territory, perhaps fearing Jesus's popularity or influence, but he didn't want to be directly responsible for another execution like John the Baptist's. He was trying to 'agitate' Jesus and force him out through fear, a classic 'fox-like' tactic.
Jesus's Unwavering Resolve
Understand the original words
Pharisaioi · Greek Noun
A religious and political party in first-century Judaism known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the traditions of the elders. They were often in conflict with Jesus regarding the interpretation of the Law.
alōpēx · Greek Noun
A term referring to the ruler Herod Antipas; biblically and culturally, to call someone a 'fox' implies craftiness, cunning, and treachery.
daimonion · Greek Noun
Spiritual beings who rebelled against God and are associated with evil, sickness, and the opposition to God's kingdom. Jesus' authority over them demonstrates his messianic power and the inauguration of God's reign.
This warning from the Pharisees comes as Jesus' ministry nears its end. It highlights the dangerous political climate, with rulers like Herod Antipas seeing Jesus as a potential threat, and underscores Jesus' unwavering resolve to fulfill his mission despite the danger, a mission he knows will culminate in Jerusalem.
c. AD 28
John the Baptist Imprisoned and Executed
Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, imprisons and later executes John the Baptist at the fortress of Machaerus. This event deeply troubles Herod and likely influences his later fear and caution regarding Jesus.
c. AD 28-29
Jesus Ministry in Galilee and Perea
Jesus conducts a significant portion of his public ministry in the regions of Galilee and Perea, areas under Herod Antipas's jurisdiction. His growing popularity and healing miracles draw the attention of local authorities and crowds.
c. AD 29— this verse
Pharisees Warn Jesus of Herod's Intent
Pharisees approach Jesus with a warning that Herod Antipas intends to kill him, urging him to flee. The sincerity of this warning is questionable, with suggestions that it may be a ploy to drive Jesus into the territory of the Sadducean hierarchy in Jerusalem or a manipulative tactic by Herod himself.
c. AD 29
This passage directly parallels the situation, with Jezebel sending a message to Elijah threatening his life, similar to how Herod (or his agents) is perceived to be threatening Jesus through the Pharisees.
Amos 7:12Amos was also told by Amaziah to 'flee' to Judah and prophesy there, a similar directive to leave a region under threat, which Jesus addresses directly.
Luke 23:7-8This passage shows Herod Antipas's desire to see Jesus and his questioning of Him, providing context for his potential interest and interaction, contrasting with the threat reported here.
Matthew 4:12This verse explains that Jesus withdrew to Galilee after hearing of John the Baptist's imprisonment, showing His awareness of Herod's actions and a pattern of responding to potential threats or shifts in political dynamics.
vincentLuke 13:31: "The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee."
DayThe best texts read hour.Will kill (θέλει ἀποκτεῖναι)As in so many cases the A. V. renders as the future of the verb to kill; whereas there are two distinct verbs; to will or determine, and to kill. The meaning is, Herod willeth or is determined to kill thee. Rev., would fain, seems rather feeble.
calvinLuke 13:31-33: "The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee."
- The same day some of the Pharisees came, saying to him, Depart, and go hence: for Herod intends to kill thee. 32. And he said to them, Go, tell that fox, Lo, I cast out devils, and I perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I am completed. [280] 33. But yet I must walk today and tomorrow, and the following day; for it is not a usual occurre…
What's easily missed here is the intent behind the warning. While it sounds like concerned friends, the scholars suggest these Pharisees may have been acting as a mouthpiece for Herod, or perhaps even trying to force Jesus into Jerusalem where His enemies were stronger, all under the guise of genuine concern for His life.
Some Pharisees approach Jesus, urging him to leave his current location immediately because Herod plans to kill him. This warning comes as Jesus is teaching and healing in the region, and it sets the stage for his defiant response and his lament over Jerusalem, highlighting his awareness of the danger he faces and the ultimate destination of his mission.
Some Pharisees approach Jesus, urging him to leave his current location immediately because Herod plans to kill him. This warning comes as Jesus is teaching and healing in the region, and it sets the stage for his defiant response and his lament over Jerusalem, highlighting his awareness of the danger he faces and the ultimate destination of his mission.
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By calling Herod a fox, Jesus showed he wasn't intimidated. He saw through the political game and knew that his 'completion'—his destined suffering and death—was not dependent on Herod's plans but on God's timing.
Jesus's response to the Pharisees isn't just about Herod; it pivots sharply to Jerusalem. Why does he bring the city into this warning?
Jesus uses the encounter with the Pharisees and the mention of Herod to reveal a deeper truth about Jerusalem and his own destiny.
A Pattern of Rejection
Jesus declares that it's not typical for prophets to perish anywhere else than Jerusalem. This statement paints Jerusalem not as a safe haven, but as a place with a grim history of rejecting and killing God's messengers. It was the spiritual and political center, yet it had become the 'slaughter-place' for prophets.
Divine Appointment, Not Political Coercion
Jesus's 'completion' or death is not something that will happen randomly or solely due to Herod's threat. He emphasizes that he must 'walk' his path today and tomorrow, and on the 'third day' he will be completed. This frames his impending suffering and death as part of a divine plan, orchestrated by God, not dictated by political fearmongering.
The Inevitable Encounter
While Herod might pose a threat, Jesus knew the ultimate confrontation and his destined death would occur in Jerusalem, the city that tragically had a habit of killing its prophets.
Jesus' Response and Prediction of Death
Jesus dismisses the warning, referring to Herod as 'that fox' and declaring that he must continue his work, implying his divinely appointed path leads to death in Jerusalem, not through flight.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Final Journey to Jerusalem
Jesus resolutely begins his final journey towards Jerusalem, the city he identifies as the place where prophets are killed, despite the perceived threats from rulers like Herod.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Trial and Crucifixion in Jerusalem
Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified in Jerusalem. During his trial, he is sent to Herod Antipas, who questions him but ultimately sends him back to Pilate, highlighting the complex political and religious dynamics.
"At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 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 fini…" — What's easily missed here is the intent behind the warning. While it sounds like concerned friends, the scholars suggest these Pharisees may have been acting as a mouthpiece for Herod, or perhaps e…
