Luke 13:31-35
A Hen Gathers Her Brood
Read the passage
31At that very hour, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.”
32But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’
33Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not admissible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.
34O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!
35Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Some Pharisees tell Jesus to leave because Herod wants to kill Him. Jesus answers that He will continue casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day He will finish His course.
He must go on His way because it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem. The city has a history of killing and stoning the prophets God sends to it.
Jesus laments over Jerusalem. He has wanted to gather its children as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but they were not willing. Their house is left desolate, and Jesus says they will not see Him until they say, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
His courage is not cold defiance. He continues the work before Him while grieving the refusal of people He longs to shelter.
How We Know
Jesus' final words draw on Psalm 118:26, which blesses the one who comes in the Lord's name. In Luke, the saying follows his grief over Jerusalem's refusal to receive him. The Psalm connection helps explain the contrast: those who resist him must come to welcome the one God has sent.
Questions
1 What warning do the Pharisees give Jesus?
AnswerThey tell Him to leave because Herod wants to kill Him. Jesus answers that His work will continue according to the Father's purpose.
2 What work does Jesus say He will continue?
AnswerHe will cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, then finish His course on the third day.
3 How does Jesus describe Jerusalem?
AnswerHe describes it as a city that kills and stones the prophets sent to it, even while He longs to gather its children.
4 What does the hen's image reveal?
AnswerIt reveals protective affection. Jesus wants to shelter Jerusalem, but the people are unwilling to come under His care.
What This Means for Us
Jesus' lament holds together courage and grief. He does not let threat redirect His mission, but He also does not become numb toward people who resist Him.
Families can learn to set firm boundaries without losing compassion. Faithful warning should leave room for sorrow over what people refuse, not satisfaction that they are punished.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, gather us beneath Your care and soften our resistance. Give our household courage to continue faithful work under pressure, along with tears for people who remain unwilling to receive mercy. Amen.