Luke 22:1-2
Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Luke, writing to a non-Jewish audience, explicitly calls the Feast of Unleavened Bread "the Passover," showing he anticipates his readers might not know they are the same event. This explains why he clarifies the name, ensuring everyone understands the significance of the upcoming festival.
The Passover feast, a crucial time of remembrance and celebration, is fast approaching. This annual observance, with its deep historical and religious significance, sets the stage for Jesus' final days. As the leaders plot to arrest and kill him, they are concerned about the crowds, making their timing around this popular festival a delicate matter.
Every year, certain times of year hold special significance. For Jesus and his followers, the approach of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, known as Passover, marked a pivotal moment.
The verse sets the stage by telling us that the Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called the Passover, was drawing near.
Luke's mention of this approaching feast isn't just historical context; it's a crucial signal. This was the feast that Jesus would celebrate with his disciples in a new, profound way, and it was intrinsically linked to the events that would soon unfold.
Passover wasn't just a religious holiday; it was a potent reminder of God's powerful intervention and His people's liberation.
The Passover feast was deeply rooted in the Exodus narrative, a cornerstone of Israelite identity.
For Jesus, heading towards this feast meant confronting the ultimate act of deliverance – His own sacrifice, which would bring spiritual freedom from sin and death for all who believe.
Understand the original words
pascha · Greek Noun
A Jewish festival commemorating the Exodus from Egypt, characterized by the sacrifice of a lamb and the eating of unleavened bread. It serves as a typological foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Christ, the true Passover Lamb.
azumos · Greek Adjective/Noun
A seven-day festival following the Passover, marked by the removal of leaven from houses, symbolizing the removal of sin and the holiness of God’s people.
archiereus · Greek Noun
The leading religious and political authorities in Jerusalem, consisting of the high priest and heads of priestly families, responsible for the temple administration and the Sanhedrin.
grammateus · Greek Noun
Luke begins his account of Jesus' final days by marking the approach of Passover. This timing is crucial, as the Passover festival, with its themes of liberation and sacrifice, sets the stage for Jesus' own ultimate sacrifice and the inauguration of a new covenant.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus' Final Passover Week
Jesus arrives in Jerusalem for His final week, knowing His arrest and crucifixion are imminent.
c. 1500 BC
Exodus and Passover Institution
God institutes the Passover during the Exodus from Egypt, commemorating Israel's liberation and passing over their homes. This festival becomes central to Jewish life.
Ongoing
Roman Occupation of Judea
Judea is under Roman rule, with Roman governors and soldiers maintaining order, especially during large religious festivals when crowds gather in Jerusalem.
c. 30-33 AD
Jewish Leadership Plots Against Jesus
The chief priests and scribes, fearing Jesus' popularity and influence, actively seek a way to arrest and execute Him without causing public unrest.
This passage lays out the original institution of the Passover, providing the foundational context for the feast Jesus is about to observe and its deep significance in Israel's history of deliverance.
Leviticus 23:4-8This section of Leviticus details the specific instructions for observing the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Passover, highlighting its sacred nature and prescribed rituals.
John 13:1-2John's Gospel directly precedes the Passover in its narrative timing and describes Jesus' awareness of his impending death during this significant feast, mirroring Luke's setup.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8Paul connects the imagery of Passover and unleavened bread to spiritual purity and the new life believers have in Christ, drawing a direct parallel between the ancient festival and Christian reality.
vincentLuke 22:1: "Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover."
Feast (ἑορτὴ)Properly festival. See on Mark 14:1.Drew nighImperfect: "was drawing nigh."
expositorsLuke 22:1: "Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover."
Chapter 24THE WATCH IN GETHSEMANE . HITHERTO the life of Jesus has been comparatively free from sorrow and from pain. With the exception of the narrow strip of wilderness which fell between the Baptism and His inaugural miracle, the Divine Life has lain for the most part in the sunshine, above the fret and fever of anxious thought and care. True, He had enemies, whose hatred was persistent and virulent; the…
Luke, writing to a non-Jewish audience, explicitly calls the Feast of Unleavened Bread "the Passover," showing he anticipates his readers might not know they are the same event. This explains why he clarifies the name, ensuring everyone understands the significance of the upcoming festival.
The Passover feast, a crucial time of remembrance and celebration, is fast approaching. This annual observance, with its deep historical and religious significance, sets the stage for Jesus' final days. As the leaders plot to arrest and kill him, they are concerned about the crowds, making their timing around this popular festival a delicate matter.
The Passover feast, a crucial time of remembrance and celebration, is fast approaching. This annual observance, with its deep historical and religious significance, sets the stage for Jesus' final days. As the leaders plot to arrest and kill him, they are concerned about the crowds, making their timing around this popular festival a delicate matter.
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Experts in the Mosaic Law who were responsible for interpreting, copying, and teaching the Scriptures to the people.
c. 30-33 AD
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, conspires with the chief priests to betray Jesus for money, agreeing to identify Him to the arresting party.
"Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people." — Luke, writing to a non-Jewish audience, explicitly calls the Feast of Unleavened Bread "the Passover," showing he anticipates his readers might not know they are the same event. This explains why he…
