Matthew 26:5

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

But {G1161} they said {G3004}, Not {G3361} on {G1722} the feast {G1859} day, lest {G3363} there be {G1096} an uproar {G2351} among {G1722} the people {G2992}.

but they said, "Not during the festival, or the people will riot."

“But not during the feast,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

But they said, Not during the feast, lest a tumult arise among the people.

Matthew 26:5 records the decision-making process of the Jewish religious leaders concerning the arrest of Jesus Christ. Following their conspiracy to seize and kill Jesus, this verse reveals their primary logistical concern: timing.

Context

This verse immediately follows the council of the chief priests, scribes, and elders of the people, who had gathered in the palace of Caiaphas the high priest (Matthew 26:3) to conspire against Jesus. Their objective was clear: to take Jesus by subtlety and put Him to death (Matthew 26:4). However, they faced a dilemma regarding the timing of this arrest. The "feast [day]" refers to the imminent Passover festival, a pivotal annual pilgrimage when Jerusalem was overflowing with Jewish pilgrims from all over the world. Jesus had significant popular support, especially among the common people who regarded Him as a prophet (Matthew 21:46). The leaders feared that arresting Him during such a crowded and religiously charged time could spark widespread unrest and a public "uproar," potentially leading to Roman intervention or a loss of their own control.

Key Themes

  • Fear of Man vs. Divine Will: The leaders' decision was driven by their fear of the people's reaction rather than by justice or divine guidance. Ironically, despite their efforts to avoid a public disturbance during the feast, God’s sovereign plan ensured that Jesus was indeed crucified during the Passover, fulfilling its prophetic significance as the true Passover Lamb.
  • Political Expediency: Their primary concern was maintaining social order and their own authority, demonstrating a pragmatic and self-serving approach to religious leadership. They prioritized political stability over truth and righteousness.
  • Human Plans vs. God's Purpose: This verse highlights the tension between human plotting and God's ultimate sovereignty. Though they planned to wait, events would unfold according to God's precise timing, showing that no human machination can thwart the divine will (Acts 2:23).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "uproar" translates the Greek word thorubos (θόρυβος), which signifies a tumultuous noise, a clamor, or a public disturbance. It conveys the idea of a riotous assembly or a violent commotion, precisely what the chief priests and elders wished to avoid. This word choice emphasizes the potential for widespread civil disorder that concerned them.

Practical Application

Matthew 26:5 offers several timeless lessons:

  • Beware of Fear-Driven Decisions: This passage serves as a cautionary tale against making decisions based on fear of public opinion or personal convenience rather than on truth, righteousness, and God's will. Leaders, in particular, are called to serve with integrity, not to be swayed by popular sentiment when it contradicts divine principles.
  • God's Sovereignty Prevails: Despite human attempts to control or manipulate events, God's ultimate plan will always unfold. This provides comfort and assurance that God is in control, even when circumstances seem chaotic or human opposition is strong.
  • The Cost of Compromise: The leaders' desire to avoid an "uproar" led them further down a path of injustice, ultimately resulting in the condemnation of an innocent man. This illustrates the dangerous slippery slope of compromising truth for perceived expediency.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
  • Matthew 27:24

    When 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].
  • Matthew 14:5

    And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
  • Matthew 21:26

    But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
  • Proverbs 19:21

    ¶ [There are] many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
  • Proverbs 21:30

    ¶ [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
  • Mark 14:27

    And 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.
  • Mark 14:2

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

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