Luke 13:31-35 Meaning: Jesus Moves Forward Undeterred
31On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”
32He 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.
33Nevertheless 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!
35Behold, 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!’”
31The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
32And 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.
33Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
35Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
31In that very hour there came certain Pharisees, saying to him, Get thee out, and go hence: for Herod would fain kill thee.
32And he said unto them, Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I am perfected.
33Nevertheless I must go on my way to-day and to-morrow and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her own brood under her wings, and ye would not!
35Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
31On that day there came near certain Pharisees, saying to him, `Go forth, and be going on hence, for Herod doth wish to kill thee;'
32and he said to them, `Having gone, say to this fox, Lo, I cast forth demons, and perfect cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I am being perfected;
33but it behoveth me to-day, and to-morrow, and the day following, to go on, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish out of Jerusalem.
34`Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that is killing the prophets, and stoning those sent unto her, how often did I will to gather together thy children, as a hen her brood under the wings, and ye did not will.
35`Lo, your house is being left to you desolate, and verily I say to you--ye may not see me, till it may come, when ye may say, Blessed is he who is coming in the name of the Lord.'
31The same hour certain Pharisees came up, saying to him, Get out, and go hence, for Herod is desirous to kill thee.
32And he said to them, Go, tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and accomplish cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third [day] I am perfected;
33but I must needs walk to-day and to-morrow and the [day] following, for it must not be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the [city] that kills the prophets and stones those that are sent unto her, how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen her brood under her wings, and ye would not.
35Behold, your house is left unto you; and I say unto you, that ye shall not see me until it come that ye say, Blessed [is] he that comes in the name of [the] Lord.
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus refuses to be scared off by Herod and laments Jerusalem's rejection. A passage about courage, divine purpose, and God's persistent love.
Context
Jesus is on the road to Jerusalem. He has been teaching and healing in towns and villages, knowing exactly where the journey ends. Luke tells us earlier that Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem” (9:51). Now he is in territory ruled by Herod Antipas, the same ruler who beheaded John the Baptist. Some Pharisees come with what sounds like a friendly warning: Herod wants to kill you, get out of here. But Jesus sees through the ruse. He sends back a sharp reply, then turns his gaze toward the city that kills prophets. What follows is a strange mix of defiance and tenderness, a steady commitment to his mission, and a heart aching over those who refuse to be gathered.
Key Words
Three words carry the weight of this passage. The first is the Greek word for fox (alōpēx). In the ancient world, a fox meant more than slyness; it suggested a small, cowardly creature that does its damage in hiding. Jesus is not afraid of Herod. He knows the king’s threats are empty bluster from someone who will not act openly.
The second word is perfected (teleioumai), which Jesus uses in the present tense: “I am being perfected.” It does not mean becoming morally better. It means bringing something to its goal, completing a task. Jesus sees his work, casting out demons and healing, as moving toward an appointed end. Nothing will rush it or stop it.
The third is the verb gather (episunaxai), used in the lament over Jerusalem. It is the same word used for a hen gathering her brood. That image is so personal: a vulnerable bird stretching her wings to shelter her young. Jesus uses this word to show what he has longed to do, not to judge, but to protect. The tragedy is that the people would not let him.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read the Pharisees’ warning in different ways. Some, like Wesley and Matthew Henry, allow that the Pharisees might have acted out of genuine concern for Jesus’ safety. Others, including Calvin, Gill, and Barnes, see the warning as a trick, either Herod sent them, or they were cooperating with him to drive Jesus out of their region. The text itself does not settle the question, but Jesus’ sharp answer (“that fox”) suggests he was not fooled.
Across traditions, the lament over Jerusalem is read as a window into Jesus’ heart. It echoes the Old Testament prophets who grieved over Israel’s stubbornness. Catholics and Orthodox see it as a preview of the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70, while Protestants often emphasize the free will of those who refuse God’s invitation. Both agree: Jesus does not reject easily; he weeps first.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to assume the Pharisees were simply being kind friends. They sound helpful, warning Jesus of danger. But Jesus does not thank them. He calls Herod a fox and keeps walking. This suggests the warning was a scheme, probably sent by Herod himself, to pressure Jesus into leaving. The Pharisees were not protectors; they were pawns. Jesus saw the trap and refused to be moved.
Living This Out
This passage asks you to hold two things together. First, do not let threats push you off course. You may have someone, a boss, a family member, a critic, who tries to intimidate you into silence or retreat. Jesus shows you another way. He knows his time frame and his destination. He does not run early. He keeps doing what he came to do: casting out what harms people and healing what is broken. This week, ask yourself: what good work am I being pressured to abandon? Then hold your ground, trusting God’s timing, not your fear.
Second, let Jesus’ lament shape how you see people who oppose you. They are not just enemies. They are the ones he longed to gather. When someone rejects your kindness or your faith, the right response is not anger but grief. Jesus grieved over Jerusalem. You can grieve over those who will not come home.
Main takeaway: Jesus will not be deterred from his mission, and he grieves over those who refuse the shelter of his love.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Jesus was brave. Some people tried to scare him by saying a king wanted to kill him. But Jesus trusted God and kept going. He also loved people very much, like a mother hen loves her baby chicks.
For ages 9, 12
When the Pharisees warned Jesus about Herod, they might have been pretending to be his friends. But Jesus wasn’t fooled. He called Herod a “fox” because foxes are sneaky and not very strong. Jesus knew his real mission was to go to Jerusalem, no matter what. Then he cried over Jerusalem because the people there kept saying no to God’s love. Jesus wants us to trust him and not run away from what he asks us to do.
Questions People Ask
Why did Jesus call Herod a fox?
In the ancient world, a fox was a symbol of cunning and cowardice. Jesus was pointing out that Herod was sneaky but not truly powerful. He saw through Herod’s scheme to scare him into leaving.
Were the Pharisees trying to help Jesus?
It is possible they meant well, but most commentators think they were either sent by Herod or cooperating with him. Jesus’ sharp reply suggests he knew the warning was a trick to drive him out of the region.
What does Jesus mean by 'the third day I am perfected'?
The word 'perfected' means completed or brought to its goal. Jesus is saying that his work of healing and teaching will continue for a short time, and then he will reach his appointed end, his death and resurrection in Jerusalem.
Why did Jesus lament over Jerusalem if the people rejected him?
Jesus’ lament shows his deep love and sorrow. He wanted to gather the people like a hen protects her chicks, but they refused. He grieves over their choice, not because he is angry, but because he knows the pain they will bring on themselves.
What does 'your house is left to you desolate' mean?
Jesus is referring to the temple in Jerusalem, which was the center of Jewish worship. Because the people rejected him, God’s presence would depart. Many Christians see this as a prophecy of the temple’s destruction in A.D. 70.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study