Luke 13:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I must remain here today and tomorrow, meaning for a certain duration, to perform signs and wonders, and then proceed to Jerusalem the following day, for I have resolved to endure suffering there. When the Pharisees warned Him, "Come out, for Herod seeks to kill You," in Galilee, which was under Herod's authority, He responded by asserting that even with Herod's fierce intent, it would be impossible for him to take His life; His decision was to suffer not in Galilee but in Jerusalem. To clarify the message in the Gospel, I would say: do not interpret that I must go today and tomorrow, but focus on the words "today" and "tomorrow," and then read: and on the day after tomorrow, I must depart.

He also demonstrates disregard for human cruelty in His statement: “But I must go today and tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.” When He says “I must,” it is not to suggest that some unavoidable fate compels Him, but rather indicates that by the power of His own free will, He will journey wherever He chooses, moving through Judea unopposed and without anyone plotting against Him, until in accordance with His own purpose, He reaches His fulfillment on the sacred cross. Thus, let not the slayers of the Lord take pride or elevate themselves over Him. You have not conquered the One who escaped suffering. You have not captured the One who chose not to engage with your deceit.

‘A prophet shall not meet his end outside Jerusalem,’ which aligns with the subsequent proclamation: ‘thou canst by no means slay thy paschal sacrifice wherever thou wilt, but only in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, that there His name may dwell’ (cf. Deut. 12:8, 11); as the apostle affirms, ‘by our paschal sacrifice was slain... Christ’ (cf. 1 Cor. 5:7), to illustrate that Israel possessed only a shadow, while the true reality was revealed through Jesus. (A few chapters later) Moses, in his admonition, instructed them to present their sacrifices in a designated location, to offer the lamb there, and to fulfill the redemptive pattern.

But I must perform miraculous deeds today and tomorrow, and on the next day, I shall depart. Some believe that the phrase ‘today and tomorrow’ refers to the two days during which I will work wonders, and the third day indicates the following one when I will conclude my miraculous works and embark on the path toward death, making my way to Jerusalem. I must fulfill what I have stated—today and tomorrow, or for a short while—before I move on the day after, meaning I will transition from this earthly existence. This signifies my impending death at the hands of those in authority in Jerusalem, for it is impossible for a prophet to meet his end outside of Jerusalem. He speaks this with irony, ridiculing Jerusalem as the slayer of the prophets. The implication of His words is that since He is regarded as a prophet, His fate is sealed; it is customary for a prophet to perish within its bounds.

The Pharisees could no longer tolerate such insinuations. Capitalizing on the rumors, whether true or false, that Herod, the governor of Galilee, intended to harm Jesus, they suggested that He leave Herod's territory. In His response, the Lord made it clear to the Pharisees that 1) there was nothing in His deeds warranting any rebellion from Herod; He only performs acts of kindness; 2) a specific time has been set and ordained for His mission, which cannot be altered by anyone; 3) if the Son of Man is to suffer at the hands of human wickedness, it must take place in Jerusalem—the city that the Pharisees and others regard as sacred, yet where the blood of all the previous prophets was spilled.

In response to the Pharisees' warning, Jesus Christ states: "Go and tell that fox: Behold, I cast out demons and heal today, tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete My work; no one can cut short the time set by God for My purpose. However, I must travel no further than today, tomorrow, and the day after, for it cannot be that a prophet meets his end outside of Jerusalem.” This pertains to the majority of instances, though some prophets, like John the Baptist, did meet their fate outside the holy city, which I must soon visit. Some interpreters perceive this as Christ’s general indication of the proximity of His impending sufferings, understanding "today, tomorrow, and on the third day" as a proverb that signifies a brief but precisely defined period for specific events.

After stating this, Jesus further noted that he was not afraid of any danger posed by Herod, as there was no instance of a prophet being killed outside of Jerusalem. He also indicated that he too would endure suffering in that city rather than in Galilee or Perea, which were under Herod's authority.

This message, however, did not intimidate the divine Preacher, and He instructed them to relay to Herod, the unfortunate ‘fox’ on his illusory throne, that His appointed time had yet to arrive, and it would not occur in Galilee, but rather where so many prophets had previously met their end. “It does not happen that a prophet should perish outside Jerusalem.” Following this, Christ resumed His ministry in Galilee for a while longer, during which He performed notable miracles, including the healing of a grieving woman who had endured suffering for eighteen years, along with the healing of a man afflicted with dropsy.

Understanding the contemptible nature of this king, Christ had previously marked him with the unflattering title of ‘fox'—a stark contrast to the image of ‘lion’ with which the ruler fancied himself.

"But I must," indicates that I need to continue my journey, share my message, and perform miracles a while longer to fulfill my divine purposes, after which I will depart. This is not out of fear of Herod or his threats, nor am I oblivious to his cunning; rather, my time to die is approaching, and as the Messiah, it is necessary that I meet my end in Jerusalem. "For it does not happen that a prophet should perish outside Jerusalem"—a profoundly tragic sacred irony! This holy city, home to the temple of the one true God and the focal point of the people's spiritual life, holds the somber distinction of being the first to violently silence prophets. History demonstrates that many prophets faced violent deaths in Jerusalem (2 Macc. 11:18). This phrase reflects a broader truth: all prophets met their ends in Jerusalem, emphasizing the multitude who suffered there instead of suggesting it was merely a few.

The Pharisees struggled to accept the vivid anticipation of their impending rejection. Despite the undeniable authority radiating from the words of Jesus Christ, they found themselves at a loss on how to rid themselves of their formidable adversary. In this instance, they sought to accomplish their aim by relaying news about Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, who had already tainted himself by orchestrating the death of the holy Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, John. It remains unclear whether they fabricated this information themselves or if it was disseminated by the treacherous Herod, who sought to eliminate the Lord from Galilee. Regardless, it served as an effective tool to silence the Divine Teacher and to make Him contemplate His own safety.