Luke 13:33

KJV

Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the [day] following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

KJV (with Strong's)

Nevertheless {G4133} I {G3165} must {G1163} walk {G4198} to day {G4594}, and {G2532} to morrow {G839}, and {G2532} the day following {G2192}: for {G3754} it cannot be {G3756}{G1735} that a prophet {G4396} perish {G622} out of {G1854} Jerusalem {G2419}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Nevertheless, I must keep travelling today, tomorrow and the next day; because it is unthinkable that a prophet should die anywhere but in Yerushalayim.

Berean Standard Bible

Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not admissible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Jesus declares His unwavering commitment to His divinely appointed path, asserting that He "must walk" towards Jerusalem despite the threat from Herod Antipas. This statement underscores His sovereign control over His own destiny and timing, emphasizing that His ultimate sacrifice as a prophet, like those before Him, is inextricably linked to the city of Jerusalem, the very place where God's messengers have historically been rejected and put to death.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is part of a larger narrative in [Luke's Gospel](/luke "The Gospel According to Luke") where Jesus is resolutely journeying towards Jerusalem, the place of His passion. Immediately preceding [Luke 13:33](/luke/13-33 "Luke 13:33 - Jesus' Unwavering Resolve"), some Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod Antipas seeks to kill Him ([Luke 13:31](/luke/13-31 "Luke 13:31 - Pharisees Warn Jesus")). Jesus' response, calling Herod a "fox" and declaring His necessary work of healing and casting out demons "to day and to morrow, and the third day" ([Luke 13:32](/luke/13-32 "Luke 13:32 - Jesus' Response to Herod")), sets the stage for the profound statement in [Luke 13:33](/luke/13-33 "Luke 13:33 - Jesus' Unwavering Resolve"). The verse also directly prefaces Jesus' poignant lament over Jerusalem in [Luke 13:34-35](/luke/13-34-35 "Luke 13:34-35 - Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem"), reinforcing the city's tragic role in the history of God's prophets and its ultimate rejection of the Messiah. This entire section highlights Jesus' divine authority and His determined march towards His redemptive purpose in the capital city.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, was known for his cunning and ruthlessness, exemplified by his execution of John the Baptist ([Luke 3:19-20](/luke/3-19-20 "Luke 3:19-20 - John the Baptist Imprisoned")). His desire to kill Jesus reflects the political and religious tensions of the time, as Jesus' growing popularity challenged both Roman authority and the Jewish religious establishment. Jerusalem, as the religious and political center of Judaism, held immense significance. It was the seat of the Temple, the Sanhedrin, and the destination for all major Jewish festivals. Culturally, there was a deeply ingrained pattern of prophetic rejection and persecution within Israel's history, often culminating in the prophets' deaths in or near Jerusalem. Jesus' statement about a prophet perishing "out of Jerusalem" taps into this historical memory, acknowledging the city's tragic reputation as the slayer of God's messengers, a theme echoed in other prophetic warnings (e.g., [Jeremiah 26:20-23](/jeremiah/26-20-23 "Jeremiah 26:20-23 - The Death of Uriah")).
* **Key Themes:** [Luke 13:33](/luke/13-33 "Luke 13:33 - Jesus' Unwavering Resolve") powerfully articulates several key themes central to [Luke's Gospel](/luke "The Gospel According to Luke") and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty and Necessity**: Jesus' use of "I must walk" (Greek _dei_) signifies a divine imperative, not a human choice, emphasizing that His path and ultimate fate are part of God's predetermined plan, unthwarted by human threats. Secondly, the verse highlights **Prophetic Destiny and Suffering**: Jesus identifies Himself with the long line of prophets who suffered and were rejected, foreshadowing His own impending passion. The phrase "it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem" encapsulates the tragic historical pattern of Jerusalem rejecting and killing God's messengers, a pattern Jesus Himself will fulfill as the ultimate Prophet. Thirdly, it demonstrates **Unwavering Resolve and Courage**: Despite knowing the certain suffering and death that await Him in Jerusalem, Jesus exhibits profound courage and an unshakeable determination to complete His ministry and fulfill God's redemptive purpose, setting an example for His disciples to follow the path of costly obedience ([Luke 9:23](/luke/9-23 "Luke 9:23 - The Cost of Discipleship")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **must (Greek, _deî_):** This impersonal verb signifies a divine necessity or obligation. It conveys that Jesus' actions are not merely a personal choice or a human compulsion, but an expression of what is divinely appointed and inescapable for the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. It implies a sense of destiny and divine imperative, highlighting that His journey and ultimate sacrifice are part of God's sovereign will, not subject to human interference or fear.
* **perish (Greek, _apóllymi_):** This verb means "to destroy fully," "to perish," or "to lose." In this context, it refers to the violent death of a prophet. Jesus uses it to describe the fate awaiting Him in Jerusalem, linking His impending death to the historical pattern of prophets being killed in the holy city. It underscores the severity and finality of the rejection that God's messengers, including Jesus Himself, faced.
* **Jerusalem (Greek, _Hierousalḗm_):** The capital of Palestine, Jerusalem is more than just a geographical location here; it functions as a symbolic representation of the religious and political heart of Israel. It is the city where God's presence was uniquely manifested in the Temple, yet tragically, it was also the place that consistently rejected and killed God's prophets. Jesus' specific mention of Jerusalem highlights its paradoxical role as both the holy city and the place of prophetic martyrdom, setting the stage for His lament over its spiritual blindness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following":** This clause reveals Jesus' resolute determination and divine timetable. "Nevertheless" (G4133 _plḗn_) indicates a strong contrast to Herod's threat, asserting that external dangers will not deter Him. The phrase "I must walk" (G1163 _deî_ + G4198 _poreúomai_) conveys a divine imperative; Jesus is not merely choosing to go but is compelled by God's will. The temporal progression "to day, and to morrow, and the day following" is a Semitic idiom for a short, definite period of time, emphasizing that His ministry, including healing and teaching, will continue uninterrupted until its divinely appointed climax in Jerusalem.
* **"for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.":** This clause provides the reason for Jesus' unwavering journey towards the capital. The phrase "it cannot be" (G3756 _ou_ + G1735 _endéchetai_) expresses an impossibility or an unlikelihood based on established pattern. It is a profound, ironic statement rooted in Jerusalem's tragic history. The city, meant to be the center of God's worship and revelation, had become notorious as the place where God's prophets were rejected, persecuted, and killed. Jesus, the greatest Prophet, acknowledges that His own death will fulfill this sorrowful pattern, making Jerusalem the inevitable location for His ultimate sacrifice.

#### Literary Devices
[Luke 13:33](/luke/13-33 "Luke 13:33 - Jesus' Unwavering Resolve") is rich with literary artistry. **Irony** is prominent, as Jesus' statement about prophets perishing in Jerusalem is both a historical observation and a chilling prophecy of His own fate. The very city that should welcome God's messengers is the one that destroys them. There is also strong **Foreshadowing**, as Jesus explicitly points to His impending death in Jerusalem, setting the tone for the passion narrative that dominates the latter part of [Luke's Gospel](/luke "The Gospel According to Luke"). The phrase "to day, and to morrow, and the day following" functions as a **Merism**, a figure of speech where two contrasting parts represent a whole, indicating a short, definite period of time until His mission's culmination. Furthermore, **Symbolism** is at play with Jerusalem not merely as a geographical location but as a symbol of Israel's historical rejection of God's messengers and its spiritual blindness, a theme Jesus will lament over in the subsequent verses ([Luke 13:34-35](/luke/13-34-35 "Luke 13:34-35 - Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem")).

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
[Luke 13:33](/luke/13-33 "Luke 13:33 - Jesus' Unwavering Resolve") profoundly underscores the theme of divine sovereignty and the necessity of Christ's suffering. Jesus' declaration of "I must walk" signifies that His journey to Jerusalem and His ultimate death were not accidental or forced by human adversaries, but were part of God's predetermined plan for salvation. This verse highlights Jesus' self-awareness as the climactic prophet in a long line of God's messengers who faced rejection and persecution, culminating in His own sacrificial death in Jerusalem. It reveals the paradox of God's chosen city becoming the place of His Son's crucifixion, a testament to humanity's deep-seated rebellion against divine truth, yet simultaneously the very place where God's redemptive plan would be fully realized through the atoning work of Christ.

* [Acts 2:23](/acts/2-23 "Acts 2:23 - God's Predetermined Plan")
* [Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Matthew 23:37 - Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem")
* [Isaiah 53:10](/isaiah/53-10 "Isaiah 53:10 - The Lord's Will for the Suffering Servant")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
[Luke 13:33](/luke/13-33 "Luke 13:33 - Jesus' Unwavering Resolve") offers a powerful model of faithful obedience and unwavering resolve in the face of certain suffering. Jesus' commitment to His divine purpose, even when it led to His death, challenges believers to consider the true cost of following Christ. It reminds us that our lives, like His, are part of a larger divine narrative, and that God's purposes will ultimately prevail, regardless of human opposition or perceived threats. This verse encourages us to trust in God's sovereign timing and plan, even when the path is difficult or leads through hardship. It calls us to persevere in our God-given callings, knowing that our ultimate security and fulfillment are found in faithfully walking the path He has set before us, rather than seeking to avoid discomfort or danger. It also serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's truth and His messengers, urging us to respond with humility and repentance to the divine invitations we receive.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' unwavering resolve in the face of danger challenge my own tendencies to avoid difficult paths or uncomfortable truths in my faith journey?**
* **In what areas of my life do I need to embrace a "must walk" mentality, trusting in God's divine timing and purpose rather than my own fears or preferences?**
* **What does Jerusalem's history of rejecting prophets teach me about the human heart's resistance to God's truth, and how can I guard against such resistance in myself?**
* **How does understanding God's sovereign plan for Jesus' suffering and death impact my understanding of suffering in my own life?**

### FAQ
**Why does Jesus say "I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following"?**

Answer: Jesus' statement "I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following" signifies His divinely appointed schedule and unwavering commitment to His mission. The Greek word for "must" (G1163 _deî_) indicates a divine necessity or obligation, not merely a personal choice. It means His actions are compelled by God's will and are essential for the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The phrase "to day, and to morrow, and the day following" is a common Semitic idiom for a short, definite period of time, emphasizing that He will continue His ministry of healing and teaching for the appointed duration before His ultimate journey to Jerusalem for His crucifixion ([Luke 13:32](/luke/13-32 "Luke 13:32 - Jesus' Response to Herod")).

**What is the significance of Jerusalem in this verse?**

Answer: Jerusalem holds profound significance in [Luke 13:33](/luke/13-33 "Luke 13:33 - Jesus' Unwavering Resolve"). It is referred to as the city where "a prophet perish out of Jerusalem." Historically, Jerusalem was the spiritual and political capital of Israel, the place where the Temple stood and where God's presence was uniquely manifested. However, it also had a tragic history of rejecting and killing God's prophets, as Jesus laments in [Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Matthew 23:37 - Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem"). Jesus' statement is deeply ironic; the city that should have been the most receptive to God's messengers became the place of their martyrdom. By declaring that He, too, must "perish out of Jerusalem," Jesus identifies Himself with this long line of rejected prophets, simultaneously prophesying His own impending death in the city and highlighting its unique, sorrowful role in salvation history.

**Did Herod Antipas truly want to kill Jesus?**

Answer: While the Pharisees' warning in [Luke 13:31](/luke/13-31 "Luke 13:31 - Pharisees Warn Jesus") suggests Herod Antipas wanted to kill Jesus, Jesus' response in [Luke 13:32](/luke/13-32 "Luke 13:32 - Jesus' Response to Herod"), calling Herod a "fox," indicates that Jesus saw Herod's threat as cunning but ultimately ineffectual against His divine timetable. Herod had previously executed John the Baptist ([Luke 3:19-20](/luke/3-19-20 "Luke 3:19-20 - John the Baptist Imprisoned")) and was known for his suspicious and volatile nature. It is plausible Herod felt threatened by Jesus' growing influence. However, Jesus' statement in [Luke 13:33](/luke/13-33 "Luke 13:33 - Jesus' Unwavering Resolve") asserts that His fate was not in Herod's hands, but divinely predetermined to culminate in Jerusalem, not at the whim of a regional ruler.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Luke 13:33](/luke/13-33 "Luke 13:33 - Jesus' Unwavering Resolve") powerfully foreshadows the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Jesus' declaration, "I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem," reveals His self-awareness as the ultimate Prophet whose suffering and death were not a tragic accident but a divine necessity. His journey to Jerusalem, the city notorious for killing prophets, was the deliberate fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Suffering Servant ([Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant")). Jesus, the Lamb of God ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), willingly embraced this path, knowing that His death in Jerusalem would be the climactic act of atonement for the sins of the world. His "perishing" was not an end but the means to new life, for through His crucifixion and resurrection, He conquered sin and death, opening the way for all who believe to receive eternal salvation. Thus, Jerusalem, the place of prophetic martyrdom, became the stage for the greatest act of divine love and the ultimate triumph of God's redemptive purpose, demonstrating that even humanity's darkest acts of rejection were woven into God's perfect plan for our salvation ([Acts 2:23](/acts/2-23 "Acts 2:23 - God's Predetermined Plan")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 9:53

And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

Matthew 21:11

And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

Acts 13:27

For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled [them] in condemning [him].

Matthew 20:18

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death,

John 4:34

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

John 9:4

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

John 12:35

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.