Knowing The Word in Luke 13:31-35, Lament Over Jerusalem

Some Pharisees come to Jesus. Herod may have sent them to encourage Jesus to leave his territory, so he did not have to experience another John the Baptist disaster at his hands. Calling Herod a fox, Jesus uses a contemptuous expression meaning Herod has no majesty or honor. Jesus says he will continue his ministry, so Herod does have a chance to partake, but his ministry will come to an end when it will be too late.

Luke has a major emphasis on Jerusalem, using the name 90 times in his gospel compared to its use only 49 times in the rest of the New Testament. Leon Morris writes, “It was at Jerusalem, before the Sanhedrin, that trials of prophets took place. It was there that the nation’s attitude to Jesus would take its final shape and that death take place that would accomplish God’s purpose for his Messiah.” I think Jesus, in saying “how often I would have gathered your children,” indicates, as we find in John's Gospel, that Jesus went to Jerusalem several times during his ministry and not just once as we see in the Synoptics. Jesus quotes “ Blessed is he who come in the name of the Lord!” from Psalm 118:26, which is what the Galilean pilgrims would say as they entered the city for Passover, as they did when Jesus entered the city on Palm Sunday. But Jesus’ meaning is not that. It is most likely a reference to his second coming when he will draw from Jerusalem this recognition as Messiah, however unwilling it comes.

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 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. 33 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.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Prayer: It is right to praise you, Almighty God, for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son, who entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph and was proclaimed as King of kings by those who spread their garments and branches of palm along his way. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Book of Common Prayer modified