m the east and west, and from
the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God."

Thus Jesus gave a very practical turn to the question which had been asked
in mere curiosity. It is not important to know exactly how many will be
saved; it is for each who hears the gospel to place himself in that
number, now and at any cost. It is not enough that one lives in a
Christian land, and in a religious home, and possesses knowledge of saving
truth; each must repent and accept Christ for himself. The sad truth is
that many who, like the Jews, have the largest religious opportunities are
the furthest from salvation: "There are last who shall be first, and there
are first who shall be last."

2. The Message to Herod and the Lament Over Jerusalem. Ch. 13:31-35

31 In that very hour there came certain Pharisees, saying to him,
Get thee out, and go hence: for Herod would fain kill thee. 32 And
he said unto them, Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out
demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third _day_
I am perfected. 33 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. 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth
the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often
would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen
_gathereth_ her own brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35
Behold, your house is left unto you _desolate_: and I say unto
you, Ye shall not see me, until ye shall say, Blessed _is_ he that
cometh in the name of the Lord.

A report reached Jesus that Herod was threatening his life. This report
was brought by the Pharisees who hoped that it would terrify the followers
of Jesus and induce him to flee to Jerusalem where he would fall into the
hands of the Jewish rulers.

Instead, Jesus sent to the king a message of defiance and irony; it has no
note of insolence, but reveals the courage and indignation of a true man.
"Go and say to that fox"--Jesus thus addressed Herod because he saw the
craftiness of the king. Herod did not wish the disrepute of killing
another prophet so soon after the death of John, but he wished his realm
to be rid of one whom he regarded as a dangerous leader; so he did not
arrest Jesus but tried to put him to flight. The Pharisees were asked to
bear this message to the king because Jesus saw that they were