Luke 13:31 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

There came certain of the Pharisees,— From the known disposition of the Pharisees, who were always the professed enemies of Christ, as well as from his answer, it is more than probable that their concern for his safety was feigned, and that their real design was to intimidate him, and make him flee into Judea, not doubting that the haughty priests would fall upon some method of putting him to death. Herod too seems to have been in the plot; he now began to take umbrage at Christ's fame and authority, fearing that it might occasion him some embarrassment, either with his people or with the Romans; but he dreaded to make an attempt on his life, remembering the agonies of mind that he had suffered on account of the Baptist's murder. Probably therefore, he insidiously sent the Pharisees to him, with the message in the present verse, Get thee out, and depart hence, for Herod is determined to kill thee. Such is the force of the original; and in this view there is a peculiar propriety in our Lord's reply, and in his calling Herod a fox, rather than a lion, wolf, or bear. See the note on Matthew 3:7.