Luke 13:31Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, Christ proclaimed to them, ‘Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye enter not in yourselves, but hinder them that enter in.’ It was clear that they had descended into such malice and hostility towards God that they wished for Him to be absent from Jerusalem, fearing He might uplift humanity by inspiring awe through His divine miracles and illuminating them with a true understanding of God through teachings that transcended the law. This line of thought is highlighted in the account of their warning to Him, ‘Depart and go hence, for Herod is about to kill Thee.’ Thus, we should closely examine the intentions behind their words. We must discern whether they are to be classified as His friends or His adversaries. It becomes evident that they were indeed His clear opponents. For example, Jesus raised the dead by invoking divine authority, commanding, ‘Lazarus, come forth,’ and speaking to the widow’s son, ‘Young man, I say unto thee, arise.’ However, they used these miraculous acts to fuel their envy, gathering to discuss, ‘What shall we do, because this man works many miracles? If we leave Him alone, the Romans will come and take our people and our land.’ Then Caiaphas, scheming malevolently, asserted, ‘As for you, you do not know at all that it pleases you that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.’ Their opposition was manifold; they mocked Him, belittled His wondrous power, and even accused Him of performing His works by the aid of Beelzebub, while they also attempted to trap Him into answering whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. They approached Him with trickery, suggesting, ‘Is it lawful to pay tribute to Caesar or not?’ How could those who laid traps for Him, who in their arrogance and brutality would stop at nothing, including murder, be counted among His followers? Why did they approach Him to say, ‘Go away, for Herod is about to kill thee,’ and what was their true aim? The Evangelist hints at their motives by stating, ‘In the same hour they drew near to Him.’ What significance lies in this careful wording? What moment does the Evangelist refer to when the Pharisees spoke to Christ? He was engaged in teaching the Jewish people when someone posed the question about the number of those being saved. He chose to overlook the inquiry as unworthy and proceeded to explain how men should live to attain the kingdom of heaven. For He said, ‘Endeavour to enter by straight doors;’ and warned that those who reject Him would see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, only to be cast out. He further stated, ‘if they were the first, they should be the last,’ indicating the calling of the Gentiles specifically. These statements incited the Pharisees' wrath; they recognized that the people were beginning to repent and accept faith in Him, needing only a bit more guidance to comprehend His glory and the wonderful mystery of the Incarnation. Fearing the loss of their positions of authority and already stripped of their influence and wealth due to their greed, they pretended to care for Him, approaching with the deceitful claim, ‘Stand back and go away from here, for Herod wants to kill You.’ O Pharisee with a hardened heart, if you were prudent, if you truly understood the law as taught by the wise Moses, and if your thoughts were anchored in the truths of the Scriptures, you would see the futility of concealing your duplicitous affection while harboring bitterness inside. He is not merely a man susceptible to deception but God cloaked in humanity: a God who comprehends all, who ‘knows the mysteries,’ as written, and ‘examines hearts and reins;’ ‘to whom all things are naked and open,’ and from whom nothing is concealed. Yet you failed to grasp this precious, profound mystery; you believed you could mislead even Him who asks, ‘Who is this, who hides his mind from Me, and silences the words in his heart, and thinks that he hides them from Me?’

How often have I desired to gather your children as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling. He foretold the impending consequences: ‘Behold, your house is left desolate. Everything I have brought to earth is no longer for you. You will not see me until the appointed time when you will declare, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Therefore, the first of the nations called to the kingdom of Christ will be the last to be redeemed at the end of the ages.

Will he not seek retribution against me?’ Meanwhile, some Pharisees approached Jesus, ostensibly to show their support, and urged Him to escape from Herod's jurisdiction, stating, ‘For he seeks to take your life.’ Their counsel could not be genuinely aimed at assisting Jesus, as they were consistently His adversaries; thus, it can be inferred that they were acting on Herod's behalf, who was anxious about the people's wrath, as they continually thronged to Jesus, prompting him to desire that Jesus depart from his territories.

This situation intensified Antipater's animosity, stirring their father's ire towards them, driving them to fear a fate similar to that of Mariamne's sons, who had met tragic ends due to unfounded accusations. Antipas, however, managed to elude Antipater's schemes and appeared to prosper following Antipater’s execution, as Herod, in his second will, unable to overcome his biases against Archelaus and Philip, designated Antipas and Philip as tetrarchs, with Archelaus appointed king. Antipas's name honored his great-great-grandfather, while his half-brother Aitipater was named after their grandfather. Interestingly, while in Rome, he befriended a boy named Menaimus or Manahel (Acts 13:1), who later became a Christian teacher in Antioch. Unlike Archelaus and Philip, who were summoned back to Judea, Antipas remained in Rome due to his calm demeanor, which somewhat shielded him from Antipater’s deceitful tactics and his father's skepticism. Nevertheless, he was not devoid of notable abilities; otherwise, Herod would not have considered him as a potential successor. His ambition also garnered support from Salomia and influential members of Herod's court, who prioritized their own interests over Antipas's capabilities. When Antipas took command of Galilee around 4 B.C., he was approximately seventeen years old. The territories of Galilee and Perea were distinct and situated far apart, with Galilee in the northwest and Perea in the southeast, separated by free cities known as Decapolis. Both areas, particularly Galilee, were valued for their wealth, ranking second in Herod's estate. Under the prudent guidance of his father’s advisors, Antipas focused on revitalizing his kingdom, which had suffered extensively during the conflicts between the Romans and Arabs, and on solidifying his rule. He fortified the city of Sepphoris, located two hours north of Nazareth, making it his capital and a defensive stronghold against potential invaders. This city had previously been burned by Bar, the son of the proconsul, who was ordered to quell the rebellion led by Judas the Galilean, and after subduing Judas's group near Arbela, Bar enslaved the populace. Consequently, Antipas had to attract new residents to repopulate the city. Strengthening his southwestern border, Antipas directed his efforts to Perea, where he enhanced the castle of Maher against Arab raids, fortifying it with towering walls and constructing a personal residence within its confines. Originally fortified by Alexander Janneus but ravaged during the Roman conquest of the Asmonean War, these defenses became formidable under Antipas's oversight. Little did he know that within these walls, he would commit the grievous act of executing the esteemed prophet. Rather than solely relying on his fortifications, he allied himself with the neighboring Arab ruler Arete by marrying his daughter to fend off potential threats. Furthermore, to appease Livia, the empress and mother of Augustus, he constructed a new city at the north end of the Dead Sea, which he named Livia, and received several territories through Salomia, which enhanced his relations with her. Livia gained the favor of the Jewish people by contributing gold vessels and other valuable offerings to the temple. In his early years of governance from 4 to 14 A.D., under Augustus, Antipas implemented a cautious approach as he had difficulty establishing a closer rapport with the emperor. After Archelaus's exile, he sought to claim his father's inheritance, as outlined in Herod's second will, and acted as the chief accuser against his overthrown brother. Yet, Augustus opted to annex Judea to Syria, allowing Antipas to call himself the sole Herod, a title he claimed on his coins. Interestingly, the Gospels refer to him simply as Herod (Mark 6:14; Matthew 14:1; Luke 23:7, 8, 11, etc.). His relationship with Tiberius was more favorable, and through countless displays of servitude and loyalty, often involving denunciations and espionage, he eventually won the emperor's favor. To express his gratitude, Antipas decided to construct a new capital near the warm springs of Emmaus along the shores of Lake Gennesaret, naming it Tiberias in honor of the emperor. This location, celebrated for its stunning landscape and fertile soil, had been chosen for its beauty, despite its initial unhealthiness due to the marshy shoreline. Unfortunately, during construction, evidence of an ancient burial site was uncovered, prompting the rabbis to declare the area unclean. Antipas disregarded this, swiftly populating the newly established city with numerous newcomers. However, filling Tiberias proved challenging, leading him to offer housing and privileges to slaves and beggars to populate his capital. The stigma of defilement endured, and visiting the city was thought to render a person unclean, requiring purification rites to be removed. Tiberias is mentioned only once in the Gospels (John 6:2), and there is no evidence that Christ ever visited. Nevertheless, Antipas moved his residence from Sepphoris to Tiberias, lavishly decorating his palace with pagan adornments, much to the dismay of the Jewish community. The palace was adorned with sculptures and a luxurious interior that astonished the populace, with tales recounting its opulence. When the palace and fortress were besieged during the Jewish revolt, the exquisite treasures within were plundered. Near the palace, he built a large amphitheater for public gatherings, remnants of which can still be seen today. The city was embellished with Greek colonnades and marble statues, and even today, remnants of these magnificent constructions, such as granite columns and costly marble, can be found along the deserted shores. Despite his fondness for Roman elegance, Antipas did not neglect his Jewish subjects. He built a sizable synagogue to accommodate a significant number of worshippers, which later witnessed assemblies during the great conflict with Rome. The provincial archives were relocated to Tiberias, along with the governmental headquarters, and a castle was erected for the garrison housing weapons for 70,000 men. For the subsequent fifty years, Tiberias remained the undeniable capital of Galilee and, with the exception of Caesarea, was the most splendid city in Palestine. Its development stirred much conversation and interest among neighboring towns throughout the years of Christ's ministry. Tiberias's construction commenced between A.D. 16 and 19, with completion around A.D. 22, located only about twenty-five miles from Nazareth. Sepphoris continued to serve as the second city in the region until the reign of Nero.

This sermon undoubtedly made a significant impact on the crowd, much to the dismay of the learned Pharisees, who, following the Savior’s example, returned to Galilee to engage in their usual plots. This time, they sought to disrupt Christ's ministry by warning Him of a supposed threat from Herod, who purportedly intended to take His life.

While Herod would not have dared to treat Jesus as he had treated John the Baptist, he likely recognized the deep affection the Galileans held for Christ, making it improbable for him to capture the Lord without inciting a significant uproar, one that he might struggle to survive. Consequently, Herod attempted to push Jesus out of his region, believing that instilling fear in Him through the Pharisees, who themselves wished to diminish His influence over the crowds, was the most effective strategy. Their suggestion that “Herod wants to kill Thee” may not have seemed far-fetched given Herod’s actions toward the Baptist, and they might have been subtly implying this danger to Him.

On the same day that He resolved the quandary of His interrogator, the Pharisees approached Him, disguised as if they were offering friendly advice, and warned Him, "Begone, and go away from here, for Herod seeks to kill you." However, their attempt to intimidate Him was in vain: with a strong sense of His righteousness, He also had profound insight into the future and informed the Pharisees that divine ordination had established a specific timeframe for His ministry. Until that time came, He would persist in His work, and ultimately, His death would occur in the very city that had previously slain many prophets. "I will cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will finish my course. It is necessary for Me to proceed on My journey today, tomorrow, and the next day, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem."

In this poignant declaration, a deep sorrow is conveyed, attributing to Jerusalem the tragic distinction of being the place where the harshest acts of persecution against those who bear witness to the truth were either conceived or carried out. Then, shifting the focus of His listeners to the impending doom of that sinful city and nation, the Savior expressed those solemn words, filled with the earnest lament of a loving heart, which He later reiterated during His final visit to the temple: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate." The first coming of the Messiah was drawing to a close, and soon, due to the disbelief of the people who failed to recognize their time of visitation, the land, city, and temple would face destruction and desolation. Yet, at His second glorious coming, the time will come when even the most steadfast in disbelief will witness His divine might and bow before Him: "I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.'"