Luke 23:8-9

Interestingly, the poorest beggar asking for the relief of his necessities was never denied by Jesus yet here we see Jesus passing on performing even the smallest miracle for this prideful prince. Scripture always rings true as it tells us:

3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:3-6 (NIV)

“Wonder not, if thou prayest in such a manner as this, that thou receivest nothing. Labour to get a deep sense of the majesty of God, and of his mercy, upon thy mind, that thy prayers may be fervent and earnest; and God will bless thee.” K. H. Von Bogatzky

Falsely thinking he was in control and wanting to be entertained by the performance of the miraculous, Herod’s pompous heart did not move Jesus – He remained silent. The next verse clearly shows Herod’s true intentions of ridicule and mockery:

11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Luke 23:11 (NIV)

“He might have seen Christ and his wondrous works many a time in Galilee, and would not. Now he would see them, and shall not; because he knew not the day of his visitation. Miracles must not me made cheap, nor Omnipotence be at the beck and call of the greatest potentate.” Matthew Henry

“Pride alienates man from heaven; humility leads to heaven.” Bridget of Sweden

Jesus saw through Herod’s duplicity as nothing in a man’s heart is hidden from His sight – nothing. The writer of Hebrews tells us:

13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Heb 4:13 (NIV)

We also find in 2 Chronicles:

9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2 Chron 16:9 (NIV)

Sadly, because of his prideful heart, Herod had missed his day of opportunity. Paul tells us plainly in 2 Corinthians:

1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says,
"In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you."
I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor 6:1-2 (NIV)

Jesus inaugurated this wonderful message of God’s grace in Luke:

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:18-21 (NIV)

“Jesus was claiming to be the Messiah who could bring the kingdom of God which had been promised for so long—but His First Advent was not His time for judgment. The crowd was fascinated at His teaching—The eyes of everyone... were fastened on Him (Luke 4:20). Jesus’ words plainly stated that the offer of the favorable year of the Lord (i.e., the kingdom time) was being made to them through Him (v. 21).” Bible Knowledge Commentary

“The present time is the only proper season to accept the grace that is offered...Tomorrow is not ours; we do not know what will be tomorrow.” Matthew Henry

We are not to spurn the grace held out to us in this present Age of Grace:

“The voice of God is a friendly voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it.” A.W. Tozer