Luke 22:1

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G1161} the feast {G1859} of unleavened bread {G106} drew nigh {G1448}, which is called {G3004} the Passover {G3957}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But the festival of Matzah, known as Pesach, was approaching;

Berean Standard Bible

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 22:1 serves as a crucial chronological and theological marker, precisely situating the climactic events of Jesus' Passion within the context of the Jewish Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread. This verse immediately signals the divine orchestration of God's redemptive plan, highlighting that Jesus' ultimate sacrifice was not a random occurrence but a preordained fulfillment tied to the most significant festival commemorating Israel's deliverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Luke 22:1 marks a decisive transition in Luke's Gospel, moving from Jesus' public ministry and teachings (Luke 9-21) to the intensely focused Passion narrative. Prior to this verse, Jesus has been teaching in Jerusalem, confronting religious authorities, and delivering eschatological discourses. The preceding chapter, [Luke 21](/luke/21 "Luke 21 - The Olivet Discourse"), concludes with Jesus teaching daily in the temple, and the people coming early to hear Him. This verse abruptly shifts the focus, establishing the precise timing for the events that will unfold – the Last Supper, betrayal, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection – thereby underscoring their historical and theological significance as the culmination of Jesus' earthly mission.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Passover (Pesach) and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot) were two distinct but intimately connected Jewish festivals. Passover, observed on the 14th of Nisan, commemorated the miraculous deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt, specifically the night the angel of death "passed over" the homes marked with the blood of the lamb ([Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The First Passover")). Immediately following, from the 15th to the 21st of Nisan, was the Feast of Unleavened Bread, during which no leavened bread could be eaten, symbolizing the haste of the Exodus and the purity required for God's people. By the first century, these two festivals were often referred to interchangeably or as one extended eight-day celebration due to their close proximity and shared themes of liberation and purification. Jerusalem would have been teeming with pilgrims from across the Jewish world, creating a heightened atmosphere of religious fervor and, for the Roman authorities, potential unrest.
* **Key Themes:** This introductory verse immediately introduces several profound themes that will permeate the Passion narrative. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Timing and Sovereignty**, demonstrating that Jesus' crucifixion was not an accident but the precise fulfillment of God's predetermined plan, aligning with the ancient Passover sacrifice. Secondly, it highlights the **Fulfillment of Prophecy and Typology**, subtly pointing to Jesus as the ultimate [Passover Lamb](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover"), whose atoning sacrifice would achieve a greater deliverance than that from Egypt – liberation from sin and death. Finally, the mention of these feasts sets the stage for **Sacrificial Atonement and Purity**, as the rituals of Passover and Unleavened Bread, with their emphasis on blood sacrifice and the removal of leaven (often symbolizing sin), provide a rich backdrop for understanding the profound spiritual cleansing and new covenant Jesus would establish through His death.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Feast (Greek, _heortḗ'_):** This word denotes a festival or holy day, emphasizing the religious and communal significance of the occasion. In this context, it refers to a divinely ordained celebration with specific rituals and historical commemorations, setting a sacred stage for the unfolding events.
* **Unleavened bread (Greek, _ázymos'_):** Literally meaning "without leaven," this term refers to the bread eaten during the festival that immediately followed Passover. Symbolically, leaven often represented corruption or sin in biblical thought, making "unleavened bread" a powerful symbol of purity, sincerity, and the putting away of sin, connecting to the spiritual cleansing Jesus would bring.
* **Drew nigh (Greek, _engízō'_):** This verb signifies "to approach" or "to be at hand," conveying a sense of imminent arrival. Its use here is not merely a temporal marker but carries theological weight, suggesting the divinely appointed and unavoidable approach of the climax of God's redemptive plan.
* **Passover (Greek, _páscha'_):** A direct transliteration of the Hebrew _Pesach_, this word encompasses the entire festival, the sacrificial lamb, and the act of God "passing over" the homes of Israel in Egypt. Its inclusion here immediately evokes the themes of liberation, sacrifice, and covenant, foreshadowing Jesus' role as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh":** This opening clause immediately establishes the chronological setting for the Passion narrative. It indicates the approaching time of a major Jewish pilgrimage festival, signaling to the reader that the climactic events of Jesus' ministry are about to commence. The use of "drew nigh" (engízō) conveys a sense of divine appointment and the inevitability of the unfolding drama.
* **"which is called the Passover":** This explanatory clause clarifies that the Feast of Unleavened Bread was commonly identified with, or subsumed under the broader term of, the Passover. This highlights the intertwined nature of the two festivals in popular understanding and underscores the primary theological significance of the Passover as the central event, pointing directly to the themes of redemption, sacrifice, and deliverance that Jesus' death would embody.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 22:1 employs several literary devices to set the tone and context for the Passion narrative. **Chronological Marker** is primary, as the verse precisely dates the beginning of the final sequence of events in Jesus' life. This temporal specificity lends historical weight and emphasizes the deliberate, divinely ordained timing of Christ's sacrifice. **Foreshadowing** is powerfully present; the mention of the Passover feast immediately evokes the original Exodus event, subtly hinting at Jesus' role as the ultimate deliverer and the Lamb whose blood would bring about a new and greater exodus from sin and death. Furthermore, **Symbolism** is at play, particularly with "unleavened bread," which, in Jewish tradition, symbolized purity and the removal of corruption, thereby prefiguring the spiritual purity and cleansing that Jesus' atoning work would achieve.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 22:1 is not merely a historical footnote but a profound theological statement. It firmly anchors the climactic events of Jesus' life and death within God's grand redemptive narrative, demonstrating that His sacrifice was not a tragic accident but the divinely orchestrated fulfillment of ancient prophecies and typologies. The timing of Jesus' crucifixion during the Passover feast underscores His identity as the true Paschal Lamb, whose blood inaugurates a new covenant and provides ultimate deliverance from sin, far surpassing the physical liberation from Egypt. This verse invites believers to marvel at the meticulous precision of God's plan and to recognize the deep continuity between the Old Testament shadows and the New Testament reality found in Christ.

* [Exodus 12:21-27](/exodus/12-21-27 "Exodus 12:21-27 - Instructions for the Passover")
* [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")
* [1 Corinthians 5:7](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 22:1 calls us to reflect deeply on the intentionality and sovereignty of God in orchestrating human history for His redemptive purposes. The fact that Jesus' ultimate sacrifice coincided with the Passover feast is a powerful reminder that God's plan is meticulously detailed and perfectly executed, even amidst human treachery and suffering. For us today, this means we can trust in a God who is in control, whose purposes will ultimately prevail. It encourages us to view our own lives and the challenges we face through the lens of His overarching plan, finding peace in His perfect timing. Furthermore, understanding Jesus as our Passover Lamb should lead us to profound gratitude for His sacrifice, prompting us to live lives that reflect the purity and newness of life we have received through His shed blood, striving to remove the "leaven" of sin from our hearts and homes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the precise timing of Jesus' death during the Passover deepen your understanding of God's sovereignty and meticulous planning?**
* **In what ways does recognizing Jesus as the ultimate Passover Lamb transform your appreciation for His sacrifice?**
* **What "leaven" (sin or impurity) in your life might God be calling you to remove, in light of the symbolism of the Feast of Unleavened Bread?**

### FAQ

**Why are "the feast of unleavened bread" and "the Passover" referred to in such close proximity, almost interchangeably?**

Answer: Historically, the Passover feast (Pesach) was observed on the 14th day of Nisan, followed immediately by the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot) from the 15th to the 21st of Nisan. Due to their consecutive nature and shared themes of liberation from Egypt, by the first century, it was common practice to refer to the entire eight-day period collectively as "the Passover" or to speak of the "Feast of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover." Luke's phrasing reflects this common usage, emphasizing the overarching significance of the Passover event as the central focus of the combined festival period. This linguistic fluidity highlights the deep connection between the initial Passover sacrifice and the subsequent week of living out the implications of that deliverance, particularly the removal of leaven as a symbol of purification ([Exodus 12:15](/exodus/12-15 "Exodus 12:15 - Removing Leaven")).

**What is the theological significance of Jesus' death occurring specifically during the Passover feast?**

Answer: The timing of Jesus' death during the Passover feast is profoundly significant and not coincidental. It underscores Jesus' identity as the ultimate [Passover Lamb](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") foretold in the Old Testament. Just as the blood of the lamb protected the Israelites from death in Egypt ([Exodus 12:13](/exodus/12-13 "Exodus 12:13 - The Blood as a Sign")), Jesus' shed blood on the cross provides ultimate atonement and deliverance from sin and eternal death for all who believe. His sacrifice fulfills the Old Testament typology, inaugurating a new covenant and a greater exodus, not from physical slavery, but from spiritual bondage to sin ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). This divine orchestration highlights God's sovereignty and the meticulous precision of His redemptive plan.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 22:1, by setting the stage for the Passion narrative with the approach of the Passover, profoundly points to Jesus Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of this foundational Old Testament festival. He is the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose perfect, once-for-all sacrifice far surpasses the temporary atonement offered by the Passover lambs of old. Just as the original Passover marked Israel's liberation from slavery, Christ's death during this very feast inaugurates a new and eternal deliverance from the bondage of sin and death for all humanity. His blood, shed on the cross, establishes the [new covenant](/luke/22-19-20 "Luke 22:19-20 - The New Covenant in His Blood"), making purification and reconciliation with God possible. Through Him, the symbolism of the unleavened bread—purity and the putting away of sin—is realized, as believers are called to live a new life, made holy by His atoning work ([1 Peter 1:18-19](/1_peter/1-18-19 "1 Peter 1:18-19 - Redeemed by Precious Blood")). Thus, Luke 22:1 is not merely a historical detail but a divine signpost, directing our gaze to the cross where the ancient shadows give way to the glorious reality of Christ, our Passover.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 14:1

¶ After two days was [the feast of] the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put [him] to death.

Mark 14:2

But they said, Not on the feast [day], lest there be an uproar of the people.

Leviticus 23:5

In the fourteenth [day] of the first month at even [is] the LORD'S passover.

Leviticus 23:6

And on the fifteenth day of the same month [is] the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.

Matthew 26:2

Ye know that after two days is [the feast of] the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Matthew 26:5

But they said, Not on the feast [day], lest there be an uproar among the people.

John 11:55

And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.