What is the meaning of Matthew 26:5? But not during the feast The religious leaders set a clear limitation: they do not want their plot to intersect with the high point of Israel’s annual worship. • Passover—mandated in Exodus 12:1-14 and Deuteronomy 16:16—drew hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem. • Their caution shows they understood the sacredness of the week, yet they were willing to violate its spirit by plotting murder (Matthew 23:27-28). • Though they forbade themselves from acting during the feast, God’s sovereign plan overruled them: Jesus was sacrificed precisely at Passover as the true “Lamb of God” (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7). • Parallel wording in Mark 14:2 confirms that this caution was widespread among the leaders. they said This short phrase highlights consensus. • Matthew 26:3-4 reports that “the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people” were meeting. Their agreement shows institutional opposition to Jesus, fulfilling Psalm 2:2. • Luke 22:2 adds that “they were afraid of the people,” matching their joint statement here. • Their united decision stands in stark contrast to the unity Jesus prays for in John 17:20-21. or there may be a riot Their fear is political, not theological. • Jerusalem had a history of volatile crowds (Acts 21:27-36). • Earlier attempts to seize Jesus failed for this very reason (John 7:30; 8:20; 10:39). • The leaders worried about Rome’s reaction, since any riot could bring swift military intervention (John 11:48). • Ironically, the commotion they hoped to avoid erupted anyway when Jesus entered Jerusalem (Matthew 21:8-11) and at His trial before Pilate (Matthew 27:20-24). among the people The leaders recognize Jesus’ popularity. • After the raising of Lazarus, “many of the Jews were… believing in Jesus” (John 12:10-11). • The crowd listened to Him “with delight” in Mark 12:37, and they welcomed Him with palm branches (John 12:13). • Even temple guards admitted, “No one ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46). • Their popularity anxiety shows hearts hardened against clear evidence (John 12:37-40) and fulfills Isaiah 53:3: the Messiah would be “despised and rejected.” summary Matthew 26:5 exposes religious leaders carefully timing their plot to avoid public backlash. They feared people more than God, prized position over truth, and yet, in God’s providence, their restriction was overturned so that Jesus—God’s Passover Lamb—was slain exactly during the feast they wanted to avoid, fulfilling centuries of prophecy and securing salvation for all who believe. |
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