Why did the chief priests avoid arresting Jesus during the "feast"? Setting the Scene Matthew 26:3-5: “At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him. ‘But not during the feast,’ they said, ‘or there may be a riot among the people.’” Fear of the Crowds • Jerusalem swelled with pilgrims for Passover; estimates reach hundreds of thousands (cf. Deuteronomy 16:16). • Jesus had just entered the city to loud acclaim (Matthew 21:8-11). • His daily teaching in the temple kept Him in full public view (Luke 21:37-38). • The leaders knew that a daytime seizure could spark violent backlash, endangering their own standing (Matthew 21:46). Political Calculations with Rome • Rome tolerated Jewish self-rule only so long as public order held (John 11:48). • A riot at Passover—Israel’s great freedom festival—would draw rapid Roman intervention. • Any disturbance could cost the priests their power and even their lives (John 19:15). • Delaying arrest until the crowds dispersed seemed the safest path. Passover Symbolism under Divine Providence • The priests said “not during the feast,” yet Jesus was in fact sacrificed during Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7). • Their human timetable was overruled by God’s sovereign plan; the Lamb had to die when Passover lambs were slain (Exodus 12:6). • Judas’ offer (Matthew 26:14-16) provided the discreet, nighttime opportunity they thought impossible. Prophetic Fulfillment and God’s Timing • Psalm 118:22 predicted rejection by the builders; Isaiah 53 foretold the suffering Servant. • Daniel 9:26 sets Messiah’s cutting off within a precise window. • By arresting Jesus secretly but still during the feast, the leaders unknowingly fulfilled Scripture down to the day. Summary Points • The chief priests postponed open arrest because they feared a riot among the enormous Passover crowds. • They sought to protect their authority and avoid Roman reprisal. • Despite their caution, God orchestrated events so that Jesus was crucified exactly when Passover lambs were being sacrificed, fulfilling prophetic typology. |
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