Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 13:33

"Nevertheless I must go on my way to-day and to-morrow and the [day] following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem." — Luke 13:33 (ASV)

In Luke’s last mention of him (9:7–9) Herod was troubled at the reports of Jesus’ miracles. By having John the Baptist beheaded, Herod thought he had done away with prophetic opposition. But Jesus, far from being threatened by Herod, called him “that fox.” Today foxes connote cleverness; in Jesus’ day they also connoted insignificance (cf. Nehemiah 4:3). Jesus intended to continue his ministry and to manifest the power of the kingdom, but not indefinitely. That time was short. Since “today and tomorrow” are not literal days, the same goes for the “third day,” which must have reminded Luke’s readers of the day of Jesus’ resurrection. The “goal” of v.32, however, undoubtedly meant his death (cf. the parallel expression “die [in] Jerusalem” in v.33).

The programmatic statement of Jesus’ purpose and progress continues in v.33 with two additions: the specific reference to suffering (“die”) and the word “must” (GK 1256). Luke strongly conveys Jesus’ sense of purpose and necessity . The way Jesus was traveling was leading him to the cross and on to glory (cf. v.34; 11:50; Acts 7:52).