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Author: Stephen Weller
587 words, 3 minutes read time

Get Away from Here

Scripture: Luke 13:31-33

With this lesson we begin the last minor section of the main section 22, which covered the time Jesus was in Judea, according to the harmonization, by Jerry Peyton, that I have been following. The section we are beginning is titled, “Jerusalem – The Place of Death for Prophets”.

There is some question about where Jesus was at the time of this lesson. We know from Luke 13:22 that Jesus is on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. As we pick up the journey at Luke 13:31, it appears that Jesus has not yet reached Jerusalem.

^{Lk 13:31} “At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”’

When one reads what others have said about this verse it becomes unclear if Jesus is in Galilee or in Judea and whether the Pharisees who came to Jesus with a warning were friends or enemies. As we look ahead to the next major section in our timeline, we see Jesus leaving Judea and going towards Galilee.

We have watched a hostile sentiment growing on the part of Jewish authorities and it wouldn’t be surprising that Herod felt the same way. I may be in the minority saying that a few friendly Pharisees came to Jesus with the warning, indicating that it is no longer safe for Jesus to be in Judea, especially in Jerusalem, and so plans are to head north to Galilee; the content of our next section on the timeline. With that said, let us look at the remining verses of this section.

^{Lk 13:32} 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.’

The response Jesus makes has some difficulties in it. “Go and tell that fox” is a metaphor for deceitful cunning on the part of Herod. Jesus must be careful not to be trapped by him along the way. The next part of his statement is simply a description of his ministry which is to continue for some time (“tomorrow”). “The third day I finish my course” looks ahead to the day of Jesus’ resurrection.

“Nevertheless” (Jesus continues speaking) “I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following” indicates that Jesus is nearing the end of his ministry; it indicates a limited time. “I must go” indicates that Jesus is committed to finishing his course.

The next phrase “for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem” does not mean that no prophet had ever died outside Jerusalem, for some had. What Jesus was doing was expressing irony that Jerusalem, the center of Jewish religion and worship, was more dangerous to a true prophet of God than any threats from Herod in Galilee.

Conclusion

Jerusalem should have been a place where people could come and learn about God and how to have a meaningful relationship with him, but it was a place sin had taken hold of Jewish leadership and as a result they were acting more like wolves among the sheep that the shepherds God wanted them to be.