Did Herod Want to Kill Jesus?

"Go and Tell That Fox..."

Herod the Great did indeed want to kill the infant Jesus, and failed because Jesus' family fled to Egypt. But did his son Herod Antipas "the tetrarch" say he wanted to kill the thirty-something Jesus?

Yes?  You say that's in the Bible?

Let's Look Again...

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, saying, "Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill you." And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach my goal.' Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside Jerusalem" (Luke 13:31-33).

Ah. It was the Pharisees who said that. But can we trust these Pharisees? Let's dig some more...

Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus, and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him" (Matthew 14:1-2).

But when Herod heard [the news], he kept saying, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen!" (Mark 6:16). 

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again. Herod said, "I myself had John beheaded, but who is this man about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him (Luke 9:7-9).

When Pilate learned that Jesus belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time, Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had been hearing about him and was hoping to see some sign performed by him. He questioned Jesus at some length, but Jesus answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there accusing him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating him with contempt and mocking him, dressed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him back to Pilate (Luke 23:7-11).

Herod Antipas had wanted to see Jesus for a long time. Now He with his soldiers had Jesus in his custody, and could do anything he wanted with Jesus. But instead, Herod sent him back to governor Pilate. It doesn't seem as if Herod had wanted to kill Jesus. We must also remember that Herod never wanted to kill John the Baptist, but was maneuvered into doing so by Herod's wife.

Was the Pharisee lying when he said that to Jesus? Or was he just repeating an unfounded rumor that he had heard? We cannot tell. But we can be sure that he had a malicious intent to disrupt Jesus' ministry. He was taking advantage of a time when Jesus had crossed the Jordan River into Perea, which was the second of two kingdoms (along with Galilee) over which Herod Antipas reigned.

Who's Guarding the Hen House?

Jesus had a word for those Pharisees from Jerusalem, turning their murderous threat back against them in a prophecy.

"O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate, and I say to you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' " (Luke 13:34-35).