At that time some Pharisees came to him and said, “Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He replied, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. 33 Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day, for it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem. 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were unwilling! 35 Behold, your house will be abandoned. [But] 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.’”
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem (Lk. 9:51), he passed through the territory of Herod Antipas near where Herod executed John. Some of the Pharisees warned him that he should leave the area because Herod wanted to kill him. The Pharisees were portrayed on many occasions as plotting to kill Jesus (Jn. 11:47-53; Mk. 10:33; Mt. 20:18-19; Lk. 18:31-33), but in this instance, their intentions were unclear. The Pharisees were primarily a religious group concerned with religious law and practice, while Herod had political and military authority over the regions of Galilee and Perea. They might have been trying to get Jesus out of Herod’s territory and into Judea where they would have some power over him.
Jesus the prophet was on his way to Jerusalem in obedience to God to fulfill his mission. Jesus called Herod a “fox” (v. 32) because he was a tricky and sly person and referred to himself as a “hen” (v. 34). Jesus’ teaching runs counter to some of the accepted social norms of the time so he had enemies in powerful positions. Jesus would continue the works his Father gave him to do until he completed his mission and was raised up in Jerusalem where he must die and be resurrected (vv. 32-33).
Jesus had tried to place the House of Israel under his loving care and protection like a hen gathering her chicks, but they rejected the prophets and are now rejecting him (Mt. 23:37-39). The “house” that will be abandoned has been interpreted to foretell the cessation of Mosaic worship in the Temple when it is destroyed (70 CE). Jesus ended his comments with a quote from the Psalms, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” (Ps. 118:26). The Jews will not understand who Jesus truly is until his second coming in His Glory (Mt. 24:30).
Almighty God, just as your son fulfilled his divine purpose, help us to see Your divine plan unfolding in our lives, to remain faithful to Your will, and to fulfill our purpose. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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