But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
Parallel translations
- WEB But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”
- BSB “But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”
- NKJV But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”
- NASB But they were saying, “Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”
- NLT “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The leaders decide to avoid acting during the feast, fearing a riot. Yet God's timing, not theirs, would prevail.
Overview
The leaders want to delay until after Passover to prevent unrest among the crowds. But their plan is overruled: Judas's unexpected offer accelerates events so that Jesus dies precisely at Passover as the true Paschal Lamb. This shows God's sovereign hand directing even the schemes of men to accomplish His appointed purpose.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Matt 27:24When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
- Matt 14:5And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
- Matt 21:26But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
- Prov 21:30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
- Mark 14:12And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
- Mark 14:2But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.
- Prov 19:21There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
- Mark 14:27And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
- Isa 46:10Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
- Ps 76:10Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
- John 18:28Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
- Lam 3:37Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
- Luke 22:7Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
- Acts 4:28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
- Luke 20:6But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 26:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.