What is God’s attitude towards a world that rejects the Gospel? Does He force people to believe against their wills? Let’s look at Luke 13:31-35.
Get Out
“On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, ‘Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.’ ” (Luke 13:31 NKJV)
This does not seem to be true, because Herod had not even wanted to kill John, but was forced to do so by circumstances. Perhaps these Pharisees were trying to scare Jesus off. It didn't work.
That Vixen
“And He said to them, ‘Go, tell that fox [lit. vixen, female fox], “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” ’ ” (Luke 13:32 NKJV)
As kings were likened to beasts of prey in prophecy, Herod is likened to a lesser predator. A fox picks on small farm animals like hens. So, Jesus called Herod Antipas a fox, a cowardly predator, like his father Herod the Great who once murdered innocent children trying to kill Jesus as a little child. Jerusalem, who murdered the prophets, was no better.
Jesus insults Herod Antipas further by using the feminine of a fox, a vixen. He is implying that Herod is not a real man, because he victimizes the weak. Not intimidated in the slightest, Jesus tells the Pharisees, he has three day's work left and then he’ll be done, not before.
Casting out demons and healing are two important foretastes of the kingdom of God. Jesus will displace Satan as a power in this present world, and He will heal the world. For now, Jesus casts the evil one out and heals our souls.
On Our Way
“Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.” (Luke 13:33 NKJV)
Jesus repeats the little time He has left. It cannot be? It’s almost as if Jesus is saying with a sigh of resignation, that it would not be right for a prophet to be killed anywhere but Jerusalem. Only the supreme court at Jerusalem could sentence a prophet to death.
O Jerusalem
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34 NKJV)
No “irresistible grace” here! They were not willing. God is a Sovereign who honors the decision of those who seek Him or choose to be distant from Him. We are even now choosing our eternal destination. May we all repent and seek Him! Hell is just eternal separation from God. Why would anybody choose the same eternity as hardened murderers and thieves? What should we do?
“... you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29 NKJV)
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6 NKJV)
“... If you seek Him, He will be found by you ...” (1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 15:2 NKJV)
“... He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)
Blessed is He
“See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ” (Luke 13:35 NKJV)
Our world is desolate. The best among us cannot stop wars, pandemics, floods, and death. Yet God can save us from all these things! Who are those who come in the name of the Lord? Certainly not heretics and apostate leaders! Jesus is referring to those prophets rejected and murdered in Jerusalem and any future preachers faithful to the Lord. We bless those who submit to the authority of God.
Postlude
Predators of the world like Herod see us as a threat. They try to intimidate us at home, or imprison and murder us in countries like Afghanistan, North Korea, Somalia and so on. Jesus sees the world as wayward chicks to be gathered, as needing their demons cast out and healed. There’s work to do. Let’s remain in prayer, not intimidated into silence, but always ready to spread the good news to anyone who will listen.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
