Luke 22:7

KJV

¶ Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G1161} came {G2064} the day {G2250} of unleavened bread {G106}, when {G1722}{G3739} the passover {G3957} must {G1163} be killed {G2380}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then came the day of matzah, on which the Passover lamb had to be killed.

Berean Standard Bible

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed.

American Standard Version

And the day of unleavened bread came, on which the passover must be sacrificed.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 22:7 precisely marks the beginning of the Passover festival, identifying it as "the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed." This verse sets the immediate chronological and ritualistic stage for Jesus' final acts before His crucifixion, emphasizing the divinely ordained timing of His sacrifice in direct correlation with the ancient Jewish Passover tradition, where the sacrificial lamb was ritually slaughtered.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse opens the final, climactic section of Luke's Gospel, detailing Jesus' passion. Immediately preceding it, Jesus has been teaching in the temple, confronting religious leaders, and prophesying His death and the destruction of Jerusalem ([Luke 21:20-24](/luke/21-20-24 "Luke 21:20-24 - Prophecy of Jerusalem's Destruction")). The narrative has also introduced Judas's betrayal ([Luke 22:3-6](/luke/22-3-6 "Luke 22:3-6 - Judas's Betrayal")). Luke 22:7 transitions the focus from public teaching and private warnings to the intimate preparations for the Passover meal, which will become the Last Supper, establishing the new covenant ([Luke 22:19-20](/luke/22-19-20 "Luke 22:19-20 - Institution of the Lord's Supper")) and leading directly to Jesus' arrest, trials, and crucifixion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "day of unleavened bread" refers to the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzot), which immediately followed the Passover (Pesach). While technically distinct, the two festivals were so closely linked in practice and popular speech that "Passover" often encompassed the entire eight-day period, beginning with the Passover lamb's sacrifice on the 14th of Nisan and continuing with seven days of eating unleavened bread. Jewish families would meticulously remove all leaven from their homes before this time. The Passover lamb was slaughtered in the late afternoon of the 14th, and the Passover meal was eaten after sunset, marking the beginning of the 15th of Nisan. This annual festival commemorated Israel's liberation from slavery in Egypt, specifically the night when the angel of death "passed over" the homes marked with the blood of a lamb ([Exodus 12](/exodus/12 "Exodus 12 - The First Passover")). Jerusalem would be bustling with pilgrims coming to observe the feast.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 22:7 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Luke and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Timing and Sovereignty**, demonstrating that Jesus' death was not a random event but meticulously orchestrated by God to coincide with the very festival designed to foreshadow His atoning sacrifice. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Sacrifice and Atonement**, implicitly connecting Jesus to the Passover lamb whose blood provided protection and redemption. The "killing" of the Passover lamb points directly to the necessity of a sacrificial death for the forgiveness of sins, a theme profoundly expanded in the New Testament. Lastly, it emphasizes the **Fulfillment of the Old Covenant**, as Jesus, through His actions in the subsequent verses, transforms the ancient Passover ritual into the institution of the Lord's Supper, inaugurating the [new covenant in His blood](/luke/22-20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **unleavened bread (Greek, _ázymos'_):** Derived from a negative particle and "leaven," this term literally means "without leaven" or "unleavened." Figuratively, it can denote uncorruptedness. In its neutral plural form, as used here, it specifically refers by implication to the Passover week or the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This highlights the ritual purity and the commemorative aspect of the festival, recalling the hasty departure from Egypt when there was no time for bread to rise ([Exodus 12:34](/exodus/12-34 "Exodus 12:34 - No Time for Leaven")).
* **must (Greek, _deî'_):** This impersonal verb signifies a divine necessity or obligation. It indicates that something "is necessary," "is binding," or "ought to" happen. In this context, it conveys that the killing of the Passover lamb was not merely a custom but a divinely mandated requirement, setting the stage for the even greater divine necessity of Christ's own sacrificial death. It points to God's sovereign plan.
* **be killed (Greek, _thýō'_):** A primary verb meaning "to rush (breathe hard, blow, smoke)," and by implication, "to sacrifice," particularly by fire, but generally "to immolate" or "slaughter for any purpose." Here, it specifically refers to the ritual slaughter of the Passover lamb. The passive voice ("must be killed") emphasizes the action being performed upon the lamb, directly foreshadowing Jesus' passive submission to His crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then came the day of unleavened bread":** This phrase establishes the precise chronological setting for the events that follow. It signifies the arrival of the festival period, which, in common Jewish parlance, encompassed both the Passover sacrifice and the subsequent seven days of unleavened bread. This timing is crucial, as it links Jesus' passion directly to the most significant redemptive feast in the Jewish calendar.
* **"when the passover must be killed":** This clause specifies the central ritual act of the Passover festival: the slaughter of the Passover lamb. The use of "must" (Greek: _deî_) conveys a divine imperative, indicating that this act was not optional but a necessary fulfillment of God's command. This statement serves as a powerful foreshadowing, subtly pointing to Jesus Himself as the true Passover Lamb who "must be killed" as part of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 22:7 employs several significant literary devices. **Foreshadowing** is prominent, as the mention of the Passover lamb's necessary killing directly anticipates Jesus' impending crucifixion. The traditional Passover sacrifice, a central element of the festival, serves as a **type** for Christ's ultimate atoning sacrifice. The lamb's death, which historically provided salvation from death for Israel, now points to Jesus as the true Lamb whose death provides eternal salvation. There is also a profound sense of **Irony** and **Symbolism**: the very religious festival commemorating liberation through a lamb's blood becomes the context for the Son of God, the Lamb of God, to be sacrificed, bringing about a greater, spiritual liberation for all humanity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 22:7 anchors the unfolding passion narrative within God's meticulously planned redemptive history. Theologically, it underscores that Jesus' death was not an accident but a divinely ordained necessity, fulfilling the ancient types and prophecies of the Old Testament. The Passover, a historical event of liberation through sacrifice, finds its ultimate meaning and completion in Christ. His death, coinciding with the slaughter of the Passover lambs, reveals Him as the definitive sacrifice, whose blood establishes a new and eternal covenant, providing true freedom from sin and death. This connection highlights the continuity of God's redemptive work from Exodus to the cross, culminating in the perfect and sufficient atonement offered by Jesus.

* [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 22:7 invites us to pause and consider the profound intentionality behind God's plan of salvation. The fact that Jesus' ultimate sacrifice occurred precisely on the day the Passover lambs were being killed is not mere coincidence but divine orchestration, revealing God's perfect timing and unwavering commitment to redeem humanity. This should fill us with awe and gratitude for a God who meticulously plans and executes His purposes, even to the smallest detail. It reminds us that our salvation is not an afterthought but the culmination of centuries of divine preparation and prophetic anticipation. As we reflect on this verse, we are called to deeper worship of the Lamb of God, whose shed blood provides true freedom and eternal life, and to live in light of this profound truth, recognizing the immense cost of our redemption.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the specific timing of Luke 22:7 deepen your appreciation for God's sovereignty in salvation history?**
* **In what ways does Jesus' fulfillment of the Passover highlight the continuity and culmination of God's redemptive plan from the Old Testament to the New?**
* **How might reflecting on the "divine necessity" of Christ's sacrifice (implied by "must be killed") impact your daily walk and understanding of grace?**

### FAQ
**Why is the "day of unleavened bread" mentioned as the time for the Passover to be killed, when they were technically distinct?**

Answer: While the Passover sacrifice (14th of Nisan) technically preceded the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread (15th-21st of Nisan), in common Jewish parlance and practice, the two festivals were often spoken of as a single, extended celebration. The preparation for Passover involved removing leaven, making the entire period feel like one continuous festival of unleavened bread. Luke, writing for a broader audience, uses this common designation to refer to the entire festive season that began with the Passover sacrifice, emphasizing the overarching context of the festival that commemorated Israel's deliverance from Egypt.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 22:7, by pinpointing the "day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed," powerfully sets the stage for the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. Jesus, the true [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), perfectly embodies and fulfills the ancient Passover ritual. The Old Testament Passover lamb, whose blood protected Israel from the angel of death ([Exodus 12:13](/exodus/12-13 "Exodus 12:13 - The Blood as a Sign")), was a prophetic type pointing to Christ. Just as the physical lamb was sacrificed to secure physical deliverance, Jesus' voluntary sacrifice on the cross, occurring precisely as the Passover lambs were being slaughtered, secured spiritual deliverance for all humanity. He became our [Passover lamb, sacrificed for us](/1_corinthians/5-7 "1 Corinthians 5:7 - Christ Our Passover"), inaugurating the [new covenant in His blood](/luke/22-20 "Luke 22:20 - The New Covenant"). Through His death, the shadows of the Old Covenant give way to the reality of His atoning work, providing ultimate and eternal redemption, making Him the fulfillment of all that the Passover foreshadowed ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - The Blood of Christ")).

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

Exodus 12:18

In the first [month], on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.

Mark 14:12

¶ And 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 14:16

And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

Matthew 26:17

¶ Now the first [day] of the [feast of] unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

Matthew 26:19

And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

Exodus 12:6

And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.

Luke 22:1

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