Daily Bible Reading 15th October 2026 // Luke 13:22-35
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us’, then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 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. 33 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.’ 34 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 would not! 35 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!’”
The word about Herod in 31-33 tells us two things. First of all, Christ's reference to him is one of the most scathing words ever spoken by Him of mortal man. It represents something so terrible that it makes one afraid, for it underlines the fact that Herod was now past the point of no return, with conscience seared and stilled forever. How awful, when this is the only thing that even the compassionate Christ can say! The second thing is this: what they were to say to Herod is full of significance. It is a marvellous word, full of dignity and majesty. Nowhere is the work of Christ in its sovereign aspect more plainly put. Christ was conscious that He was walking a divinely ordained pathway, carrying out a programme with which no power in heaven, earth or hell could interfere. The course of the Messiah is determined, mapped out, in Scripture, and will not be abbreviated or changed because of the threats of a Herod! There is something majestic here in the purposeful going forward of the work of the gospel (cf Acts 28:31, 'none hindering'). The meaning of 33 is: 'It is ordained by divine decree that I go on My way hence, as Herod desires: not, however, because you (or he) may desire it, but because My work at this time requires it'. 'Perfected' in 32 refers to His coming 'into His own' as Saviour and Lord - and this would happen, whatever men might do or decree. God's decree is all decisive here!