The Last Supper
“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.” Matthew 26:5 · Berean Standard Bible
They agree: not during the festival, or the people might riot. They are afraid of Jesus' popularity.
Jerusalem was packed with pilgrims for Passover. The leaders knew that many of these people loved Jesus and would not stand for His arrest.
The religious leaders speak among themselves, calculating the safest moment to strike.
Even in their scheming, they cannot ignore how deeply Jesus has touched the people. Their fear of the crowd reveals just how influential Jesus truly was.
The leaders determine to avoid acting during the feast (heorte) to prevent a popular uprising (thorybos), revealing their fear of Jesus' widespread public support.
Jerusalem's population swelled dramatically during Passover, making crowd control a critical concern for both Jewish leaders and Roman authorities.
The chief priests and elders voice their strategic concern about timing.
Their caution about public reaction reveals an ironic truth — they fear the people more than they fear God, even as they claim to act on God's behalf.
3At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas,
4and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.
5“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
6While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper,
7a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He reclined at the table.
Read all of Matthew 26 — Bread broken. Wine poured. A betrayal predicted. The longest night in history begins around a table.
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