What does Luke 13:31 mean?
What is the meaning of Luke 13:31?

At that very hour

“At that very hour” (Luke 13:31) anchors the scene to the exact moment Jesus finished teaching about the narrow door (Luke 13:22–30).

• Scripture repeatedly highlights precise timing to show God’s sovereign control—see “At that time” in Matthew 11:25 and Luke 10:21.

• The phrase reminds us that every event in Jesus’ ministry unfolds on schedule, fulfilling the Father’s plan (Galatians 4:4).

• Because the Word is fully reliable, we can trust that this detail is recorded to underscore God’s hand in even the smallest moments (Psalm 31:15).


some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him

Pharisees usually opposed Jesus (Luke 11:53 – 54), yet here they act as messengers.

• Their motive may have been mixed—genuine concern, political fear, or an attempt to push Jesus out of their territory.

• Scripture shows other Pharisees displaying curiosity or guarded respect (John 3:1 – 2; 7:50 – 51; 12:42), reminding us that hearts can differ even within hostile groups.

• The encounter illustrates Proverbs 21:1—God can use any person, friend or foe, to forward His purposes.


"Leave this place and get away"

The warning sounds urgent: “Leave this place and get away.”

• Similar flight advice appears when Jesus’ family escaped to Egypt from Herod the Great (Matthew 2:13)—another link showing repeated opposition from Herodian rulers.

• Yet Jesus consistently moves according to divine schedule, not human pressure (John 7:6; 10:39–40).

• The contrast between their alarm and His calm response in the next verse (Luke 13:32) highlights His fearless obedience to the Father.


"because Herod wants to kill You"

Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, had already executed John the Baptist (Mark 6:16–28).

Luke 9:7–9 records Herod’s earlier agitation over Jesus, showing long-standing hostility.

• The threat fulfills Jesus’ prior prediction that He would suffer rejection (Luke 9:22).

Psalm 2:2 pictures rulers plotting against the Lord’s Anointed; here that prophecy echoes through Herod’s intent.

• Yet Acts 4:27–28 affirms that such plots only accomplish “whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to occur,” underlining Scripture’s literal truth: God’s will cannot be thwarted.


summary

Luke 13:31 reveals an immediate, credible threat from Herod delivered through unexpected messengers. The verse underscores God’s sovereign timing, the varied motives of human hearts, and the certainty that Christ’s mission proceeds exactly as foretold. Jesus is never driven by fear but by the Father’s plan, and every detail recorded here assures believers of the absolute reliability of Scripture and the unstoppable advance of God’s redemptive purpose.

Why does Jesus emphasize reversal of roles in Luke 13:30?
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