Luke 13:32-33
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. Nevertheless, 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.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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When Jesus calls Herod a "fox," it's not just about his slyness, but a pointed jab at his subtle, manipulative schemes versus Jesus' open healing work. The phrase "today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course" isn't about Herod's timetable, but Jesus' own determined march toward His ultimate completion, no matter what earthly rulers plot.
Some Pharisees have just warned Jesus that Herod wants to kill him, urging him to leave the area. Jesus responds by telling them to inform Herod that his ministry of casting out demons and healing is nearing completion, and he will soon move on. He emphasizes that his course is set, and death is inevitable, but it will be in Jerusalem, not at Herod's hands.
Why did Jesus call Herod a 'fox'? And what does this insult reveal about Jesus' own power and authority?
Jesus uses the term 'fox' to describe Herod Antipas. This wasn't just a casual insult; it was a strategic declaration of spiritual authority.
A 'Fox' of Cunning, Not Fear
The scholars point out that 'fox' was a term associated with cunning, slyness, and artifice. While Herod was known for his vices, Jesus here focuses on his deceptive schemes. Herod, through the Pharisees, was trying to intimidate Jesus, using a thinly veiled threat of death to force him out of his territory.
Jesus' Undeterred Mission
Jesus, however, is completely unfazed. He tells the messengers to inform Herod that Jesus has his own agenda: casting out demons and performing cures. These are acts of divine power and mercy, directly opposing the works of darkness that Herod, as a 'fox,' might represent. Jesus isn't driven by fear of Herod's power but by the divine mandate he's fulfilling.
Authority Over All Powers
By calling Herod a 'fox' and stating His own powerful works, Jesus draws a sharp contrast. Herod operates in the earthly realm with cunning and threats, but Jesus operates in the spiritual realm with divine authority. He's not intimidated because He knows His ultimate authority transcends any earthly ruler like Herod.
Jesus speaks of 'today and tomorrow' and finishing 'the third day.' What does this urgent timetable signify for His mission and His ultimate destiny?
Jesus’ mention of 'today and tomorrow' and finishing on 'the third day' isn't just about avoiding Herod; it’s a profound declaration about the limited time He has to complete His divinely appointed mission.
A Proverbial Urgency
Scholars suggest this phrase, 'today and tomorrow,' was a common way to express a short, definite period of time. Jesus isn't setting a casual schedule; He's emphasizing that His work in Herod's territory, and indeed His earthly ministry, is rapidly nearing its conclusion. It's a sense of purposeful urgency.
Understand the original words
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.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
A person who acts as a spokesperson for God, receiving divine messages to deliver to the people. Prophets were frequently rejected or persecuted by those to whom they were sent.
The 'third day' Jesus refers to signifies the culmination of his earthly mission, which he understood would occur in Jerusalem, despite Herod's threats. This highlights his deliberate progression towards the cross, even as he navigated political dangers.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry in Galilee
Jesus conducts much of his public ministry in Galilee, a region under the rule of Herod Antipas. His teachings and miracles draw large crowds and attract the attention of religious authorities.
c. AD 30— this verse
Pharisees Warn Jesus About Herod
Some Pharisees approach Jesus, warning him that Herod Antipas intends to kill him. Their motives are debated, but a likely aim is to frighten Jesus into leaving Herod's territory.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Response to the Pharisees
Jesus responds to the Pharisees' warning by calling Herod 'that fox' and stating his intention to continue his work of casting out demons and healing until his appointed time.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Journey to Jerusalem
Jesus begins his final journey to Jerusalem, understanding that his 'completion' or 'perfection' will occur there, implying his suffering and death.
This passage echoes Jesus' final words on the cross, 'It is finished,' which directly relates to the 'perfected' or 'completed' state Jesus refers to in Luke 13:32, signifying the completion of His earthly mission.
1 Corinthians 15:4This verse speaks of Christ's death and resurrection 'according to the Scriptures,' aligning with Jesus' foreknowledge of His own end and His statement about finishing His course on the third day.
Hebrews 2:10This passage states that God, 'bringing many sons to glory, made their pioneer of salvation perfect through sufferings,' which aligns with Jesus' understanding of His path to 'perfection' involving suffering and completion.
Philippians 2:8This verse describes Jesus being 'found in human form... obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,' underscoring the context of Jesus' deliberate march towards His ultimate suffering and completion as stated in Luke.
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…
jfbLuke 13:32: "And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected."
- that fox—that crafty, cruel enemy of God's innocent servants.Behold, I cast out devils and I do cures—that is, "Plot on and ply thy wiles; I also have My plans; My works of mercy are nearing completion, but some yet remain; I have work for to-day and to-morrow too, and the third day; by that time I shall be where his jurisdict…
When Jesus calls Herod a "fox," it's not just about his slyness, but a pointed jab at his subtle, manipulative schemes versus Jesus' open healing work. The phrase "today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course" isn't about Herod's timetable, but Jesus' own determined march toward His ultimate completion, no matter what earthly rulers plot.
Some Pharisees have just warned Jesus that Herod wants to kill him, urging him to leave the area. Jesus responds by telling them to inform Herod that his ministry of casting out demons and healing is nearing completion, and he will soon move on. He emphasizes that his course is set, and death is inevitable, but it will be in Jerusalem, not at Herod's hands.
Some Pharisees have just warned Jesus that Herod wants to kill him, urging him to leave the area. Jesus responds by telling them to inform Herod that his ministry of casting out demons and healing is nearing completion, and he will soon move on. He emphasizes that his course is set, and death is inevitable, but it will be in Jerusalem, not at Herod's hands.
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The Purposeful Journey to Perfection
The 'third day' points directly to His ultimate destiny. While it has immediate implications for His departure from Herod’s jurisdiction, it symbolically points to His death and resurrection. The word 'perfected' (or 'completed') here signifies not a personal lack of perfection, but the completion of His redemptive work on the cross. He is heading towards His Passion, and nothing, not even Herod’s threats, will deter Him.
A Determined March to the Cross
Jesus is moving with deliberate resolve towards Jerusalem and the cross. His declaration is a bold statement that His timeline is God's timeline, and it is fixed. He will continue His works of mercy until His appointed time arrives, at which point He will be 'perfected' through suffering and death, thereby accomplishing God's plan.
Jesus contrasts His work with the fate of prophets. Why does He specifically mention Jerusalem in this context, and what does it reveal about His own impending death?
Jesus' response to the Pharisees’ warning about Herod isn’t just about Herod; it’s a pointed critique of Jerusalem and a prophetic foreshadowing of His own fate.
A Familiar Pattern of Rejection
Jesus points out the irony: the Pharisees warn Him about Herod, but Jesus knows the real danger isn't from Herod's 'fox-like' schemes, but from Jerusalem itself. He states that it's not typical for a prophet to perish anywhere else than Jerusalem. This isn't a new phenomenon; it's a tragically consistent pattern.
The City That Kills Prophets
Scholars highlight that Jerusalem had a notorious reputation for rejecting and killing God’s messengers. It was the spiritual and religious center, yet it had become the place where prophets met their end. Jesus implies that His own journey towards Jerusalem is a march towards this very destiny—a destiny of rejection and death at the hands of the city that claims to be God's own.
Foreseeing His Own Sacrifice
By identifying Jerusalem as the place where prophets die, Jesus is directly signaling His own impending suffering and death. He’s not afraid of Herod because He understands the greater danger lies in fulfilling His mission in the very place that is known for executing God's prophets. His 'completion' on the third day is intimately tied to the fate He foresees in Jerusalem.
c. AD 30
Prophets Often Killed in Jerusalem
Jesus notes that prophets are often killed in Jerusalem, highlighting the city's history of rejecting God's messengers and foreshadowing his own fate.
c. AD 30
Jesus Laments Over Jerusalem
Following his statement about prophets being killed in Jerusalem, Jesus utters a lament over the city, foreseeing its destruction.
c. AD 30
The Passion Week in Jerusalem
Jesus enters Jerusalem for the final week of his earthly ministry, culminating in his crucifixion and resurrection.
"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. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be…" — When Jesus calls Herod a "fox," it's not just about his slyness, but a pointed jab at his subtle, manipulative schemes versus Jesus' open healing work. The phrase "today and tomorrow, and the third d…
