Luke 13:31-35 A Message for the Fox
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 21, 2018 Luke 13:31-35
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 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. 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.’ O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
(Understanding the Text) It says that this happened when Jesus was talking to the people about the narrow door and the first being last. Jesus was slowly on His way to Jerusalem stopping at towns and villages along the way. He must have still been in Herod’s territory. The SDA commentary says that Herod’s territory was Galilee and Peraea. It says that Jesus had already left Galilee several weeks before, so Jesus must have been in Peraea on the east side of the Jordan River at the time this took place. From the map, it looks like when Jesus was refused by the Samaritans, He left their territory and traveled through Peraea to Jerusalem instead of going through Samaria like He usually did. This is one more indication that Jesus does not force Himself on us.
At first, I thought that this was an indication that not all of the Pharisees were against Jesus because they gave Him a warning that Herod wanted to kill Him. However, the SDA commentary points out that Herod had given indications that He was in awe of Jesus and wanted to see Him, so it was not likely that He wanted to kill Jesus. Instead, it indicates that the Pharisees were likely trying to push Jesus back into Judea where they had power. In Peraea, they would have been in trouble with Herod if they tried to kill Jesus there, but in Jerusalem, they were confident of their ability to kill Jesus. Edersheim disagrees with the SDA commentary in saying that Herod might really have wanted to capture Jesus (not kill), but he agrees that it was probably a plot of the Pharisees to get Jesus out of Peraea. “Probably, therefore, the danger of which these Pharisees spoke might have been real enough, and they might have special reasons for knowing of it. But their suggestion, that Jesus should depart, could only have proceeded from a ruse to get Him out of Peraea, where, evidently, His works of healing were largely attracting and influencing the people.” Edersheim thinks that the reason for wanting to get Jesus out was to stop the spread of His influence that seemed to be spreading too rapidly.
Jesus calls Herod a fox. What does He mean by that? The SDA commentary says that it was a reference to Herod’s craftiness, but why refer to him by a name at all? Was this a common nickname of Herod Antipas? Was it a reference to the Pharisee’s trickery?
(Revelation of God) Jesus was asserting power in the present and near future and saying that the finish of His ministry was on the third day. The SDA commentary calls this “inclusive reckoning” and says that it indicates the idea of the day after tomorrow. The time of His death had not come yet and it was not in the immediate future, but it was not far off either. Jesus said that He would continue His journey without fear of Herod because He would not be killed away from Jerusalem. His implication is that He will be killed in Jerusalem. Maybe, He was indirectly telling the Pharisees that He knew what they were trying to do.
Jesus speaks of Jerusalem with regret and longing. He speaks of her rebellion and His desire to hold her close, but not being able to because of her unwillingness. He sent representative after representative and finally came Himself, but in the end Jerusalem rejected Him. Now, He says that the time of wooing is at an end. When they kill Jesus, they will be alone. There will be no more special treatment. Instead, they will be as the Gentiles and the temple will be empty of any divine presence.
I don’t understand the last part where Jesus says that they would not see Him until they said “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Is that saying until they choose to follow Him? Is it a reference to the second coming?
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that God longs for our acceptance of Him as who He is. He is hurt by our rejection of Him. I need to strive to see Him as He is and accept Him. He wants me to be saved and wants to gather me in to His safety and warmth. I just need to let Him. Teach me to let You gather me in Your arms. I don’t know how.