What is the feast of unleavened bread that is called the Passover?

The feast of unleavened bread was a week-long celebration when the people of Israel ate bread made without leaven. It reminded them of the haste of leaving Egypt, when they did not have time for their dough to rise and carried it with them as it was. It is closely joined with the Passover, when God passed over the houses marked by the lamb’s blood and spared their firstborn. By this time the whole festival period could be called Passover, so when the passage says this feast was drawing near, it means that special week was about to begin.

Why were the chief priests and scribes trying to kill Jesus in this passage?

The chief priests and scribes had already made up their minds that Jesus had to be put to death. He challenged their authority, exposed their hypocrisy, and had great influence with the crowds. As the Passover drew near and more people gathered, they began to look for a way to carry out what they had decided. The passage says they “sought how they might kill him,” which shows they were not just angry, but actively planning the method and timing of His death, treating it as something to be arranged rather than seeking truth or justice.

Why did the religious leaders fear the people when planning to kill Jesus?

They feared the people because large crowds were listening to Jesus and many respected Him. People had come with Him from other regions and were still with Him in the city, and even more would arrive for the Passover. The leaders knew that if they seized Him openly, the crowd might rise against them, stone them, or at least rescue Him and block their plans. Their fear did not lead them to rethink their plan, but only to change the way they wanted to carry it out, looking for a time and place where they could act without causing a public uproar.

What does this passage show about God’s timing in Jesus’ death?

The passage shows that the timing of Jesus’ death was not random. It happens as the feast of unleavened bread and Passover draw near, the same season when Israel remembered God’s rescue from Egypt. While the leaders are plotting on their own terms, God’s plan is unfolding at the set time. The events move toward Jesus’ death during this feast, showing that His death lines up with the picture of the Passover lamb given long before. Human plans and fears are at work, but the timing follows what God had already decided, even before these leaders began to scheme.

What does this verse teach about the hearts of the chief priests and scribes?

This verse shows that the hearts of the chief priests and scribes were hard and closed to Jesus. They were supposed to guide the people in God’s ways, yet they spent their time plotting how to kill the very one who preached truth and helped the people. Their main concern is not what is right, but what is safe for them. They fear the people rather than fearing God. That is why they look for a hidden, careful way to reach their goal. It reveals that outward religious position can be very different from a heart that truly loves and obeys God.

What was happening around Jesus when the feast of unleavened bread drew near?

As the feast drew near, the city was filling with people who came to remember God’s rescue from Egypt. Jesus was teaching, and many were listening to Him with interest and hope. At the same time, behind the scenes, the chief priests and scribes were meeting and talking about how to get rid of Him. They were not planning a fair trial, but looking for a way to kill Him without stirring up the crowd. So there is a sharp contrast: the public setting of worship and memory of God’s saving work, and the hidden plans to take the life of His Son.

How can this passage about fear of the people speak to believers today?

The passage shows how fear of people can shape decisions more than fear of God. The leaders knew the people might resist if they acted openly, so they did their planning in secret instead of turning from their plan. For believers today, it is a warning about caring more about what others think than about what is right before God. While we are not in their exact place, we can still be tempted to hide our motives or actions to avoid people’s anger. This verse invites us to examine whether we seek God’s approval first, or bend our choices because we are afraid of human opinion.

Luke.22.1

Luke 22:1

KJV

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

Preparing the Passover

1 Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.

And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.