Matthew 26:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It is clear that the writer is referring to that specific evening, as the observance of Passover commenced at nightfall. Hence, each Gospel writer includes the statement concerning the lamb's sacrifice. When the disciples approached Jesus, they inquired, "Where do you want to eat the Passover?" This question reveals that Jesus lacked a permanent home. It seems likely that the disciples also did not possess one; if they did, they would have invited Jesus to that place. Instead, they, having given up all, similarly found themselves without a residence.

John also corroborates this, noting, “But before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come” (John 13:1). The day that Matthew and Mark refer to as the first day of unleavened bread is identified by John as the day prior to the Passover feast. Regarding this day, Mark states, “And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb” (Mark 14:12), and Luke adds, “Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed” (Luke 22:7). The phrases concerning the eating of the Passover should not be interpreted as relating to the day before Unleavened Bread, but rather to the day of Unleavened Bread itself. According to the law, the lamb was slain not on the thirteenth day, but rather on the fourteenth day of the month: “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, is the Lord’s Passover” (Leviticus 23:5).

Although the Passover began in the evening, it is referred to as the Passover and the Days of the Lord because the Jewish tradition connects the evening with the preceding day; hence they see the evening of the Passover day as part of the feast itself. Luke’s mention of the thirteenth day of the month is in regard to its imminent arrival: the word ηλθε (it has come) suggests that the feast is approaching. It is relevant to note that while the Jews commenced eating unleavened bread on the fourteenth, the feast itself was celebrated on the fifteenth, as dictated by the law: “And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord” (Leviticus 23:6). This day marks the beginning of a seven-day observance in which no leaven is consumed, as stated, “Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread” (Leviticus 23:6).

However, it should be clarified that the Evangelists did not discuss the Feast of Unleavened Bread or the first day of unleavened bread as celebrated on the fifteenth; rather, they wrote concerning the thirteenth. When they asked, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” the disciples implied that Jesus did not possess a residence. It seems probable that the disciples, having relinquished their possessions, also had no place to offer Him, otherwise they would have extended an invitation. The reference to the Passover indicates that Jesus observed the law until His crucifixion. Luke mentions that initially Jesus instructed His disciples, saying, “Prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat” (Luke 22:8), and then the disciples queried Him, “Where do you want us to prepare?”

The first aspect highlighted in the Gospel account for Great Thursday is the disciples’ preparations for the Passover. On the first day of unleavened bread, the disciples approached Jesus, asking, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover for you?” The first day of unleavened bread marked the commencement of the Passover feast. St. Mark notes this as the time when the Passover was consumed (Mark 14:12), while St. Luke emphasizes that it was the appropriate day to partake in the Passover (Luke 22:17).

Per the Mosaic Law, the calculation of days began in the evening, thereby starting the Passover on the evening of the 14th of Nisan. However, according to later Jewish customs, the day of preparation was included in the festival, resulting in the counting of eight days of unleavened bread instead of seven. This adjustment was largely due to necessity; as throngs of people traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover, many, especially the impoverished, lacked accommodations and essentials to observe the feast at the designated time. Thus, many citizens, particularly the less fortunate, would prepare and partake of the Passover lamb the night before the actual festival, on the 13th of Nisan, which aligns with mid-March to early April.

Those who practiced this custom found justification by calculating the beginning of Nisan from the lunar conjunction, in contrast to scholars who began from the first quarter of the moon, thus counting a day later. Consequently, as described by the Evangelist John, the Jewish leaders, after the Savior had celebrated the Passover the previous evening, avoided entering the Praetorium on the morning after to remain undefiled (John 18:28).

These leaders, being affluent, had the means to observe the Passover Supper at the legally prescribed time on the 14th of Nisan, as they sought to uphold an appearance of legal righteousness. Meanwhile, the morning of that day found the Savior already condemned while the Sanhedrin was in preparation for their own Passover observance (John 19:14).

The poor, due to their circumstances, tended to prioritize the spirit over the letter of the law. By the eve of the Passover on the 13th of Nisan, the disciples of Jesus initiated their preparations in alignment with the Torah's directives concerning the Passover lamb. They inquired of the Lord, “Where, in which house, would You have us prepare the Passover?” During His earthly ministry, Jesus indicated that He had no place to rest His head (Matt. 8:20); He owned no home or possessions in Jerusalem, where the Passover was mandated to be celebrated (Deuteronomy 16:5, 6). Therefore, it was necessary to find lodging with any local Jerusalemite who, out of their piety, would offer hospitality for those without accommodations for the Passover celebration.

The sacrifice of this lamb foreshadowed His impending crucifixion, and in commemorating this feast, He repeatedly signified His future death. As the time approached for His blood to replace that of the Paschal lamb, the upcoming Passover feast resonated deeply within Jesus Christ. Despite the opposition from His adversaries, He endeavored to celebrate it in a particular manner, ensuring that the final Passover Supper would mark both the conclusive end of the Old Covenant and the initiation and full revelation of the New, as noted by Innocent, Archbishop of Kherson.

"When the Sun of truth appeared," St. Chrysostom remarks, "the shadow vanished; thus, at this meal, both the old and the new Passover are observed: both the transformative and the genuine Passover." The Lord desired that only the Apostles share this meal with Him; it was His wish to convey His final affectionate farewell to them. Judas posed a significant barrier to this intimacy. However, "the Man-lover wished," Innocent records, "to remain for Judas until the very end who He had been for the other disciples—Friend, Teacher, Father. The Last Supper, filled with profound love and kindness, and marked by utmost humility, served as the last appeal for repentance to the doomed Apostle."

As the day of Unleavened Bread commenced, the disciples approached Jesus with the inquiry, "Where do You command us to prepare the Passover for You?" They pondered whether it should take place in Bethany, regarded as part of Jerusalem, or within Jerusalem itself. While Judas was betraying the Lord, the others were focused on preparing for the Passover; one was negotiating the price, while the others were set to serve. Both groups possessed the same gifts of miracles, shared rules, and held similar authority; what set them apart? It was their freedom. It stands as the root of all things, both good and evil. This underscores that Jesus lacked a permanent residence, and likely, neither did the disciples have one, for if they did, they would have invited Jesus there. They had renounced all and possessed no home. "Oh, you who construct splendid houses, expansive spaces, and grand courtyards, realize that Christ had no place to rest His head!"

From the accounts of the first three Gospel writers (Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7), we understand that Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples on the eve of His crucifixion, specifically on Thursday. The Gospel of John reveals that when the members of the Sanhedrin brought Jesus before Pilate on Friday morning, they refrained from entering His presence to avoid ritual defilement in order to partake in the Passover (John 18:28); hence, they and all the other Jews celebrated Passover that Friday evening after Jesus was laid to rest. It can be inferred that if Jesus deemed it necessary to observe the Old Testament Passover one final time, He must have done so on the specific evening it was to occur, that is, on the 14th of Nisan. It is vital to recognize that for the Jews, the day (the twenty-four-hour period) began at sunset; therefore, the 14th of Nisan did not commence for us on Friday, but rather started after sunset on Thursday. This Thursday evening, in Jewish perception, signified the onset of Friday. Consequently, the Last Supper should be understood as occurring at the very onset of Friday according to Jewish time, or at the conclusion of Thursday according to our reckoning. Jesus was crucified on Friday, the 14th of Nisan, at 9 AM by our clock or at 3 PM by the Jewish method of timekeeping. That year, all Jews partook of the Passover according to our reckoning on Friday evening after Jesus’ burial, which, according to Jewish tradition, marked the beginning of Saturday, the 15th of Nisan. It is thought that the public observance of Passover was postponed to the 15th of Nisan that year to ensure that the first day of Unleavened Bread did not coincide with the eve of the Sabbath. Regardless of the validity of this claim, it is sufficient to acknowledge that Jesus and His apostles celebrated Passover on the 14th of Nisan, while the rest of the Jewish community observed it on the 15th of Nisan.

Preparation for Passover included the apostles Peter and John asking Jesus, "Where do you wish us to prepare for you to eat the Passover? Tell us, and we will make the arrangements" (Mark 14:12).

The latter understanding appears to be more accurate, suggesting that the lamb was likely slain shortly after the evening offering at the ninth hour, allowing for the Passover meal to take place at the traditional supper time, still within the 14th of Nisan. This day was marked by great commotion and excitement in Jerusalem and its surroundings, as both locals and numerous pilgrims were preoccupied with acquiring and sacrificing the lamb, resulting in the slaughter of over two hundred thousand lambs on certain occasions. The disciples were also involved in this process, and on Thursday morning, the 13th of Nisan, they inquired of their Master where He wished to hold the Passover feast.

The day that Matthew and Mark referred to as the first day of Unleavened Bread, John termed "before the feast of the Passover." It is important to note that while the consumption of unleavened bread initiated on the 14th day of Nisan, the actual feast transpired on the 15th day (Leviticus 23:6). This day was identified as the first day of unleavened bread; however, the Evangelists did not discuss this specific feast or this first day of unleavened bread, as previously mentioned, since it took place on the 15th of the month while the Evangelists wrote concerning the 13th. Theophylact suggested: "It appears to me that the Evangelist designates the first day of Unleavened Bread as the day of divine foreordaining. The true observance of the Passover was set for Friday evening; hence, this day was referred to as the day of unleavened bread. Yet, the Lord directed His disciples on Thursday, which the Evangelist refers to as the first day of unleavened bread, since it precedes the Friday during which unleavened bread was customarily consumed. Alternatively, Christ and His disciples might have partaken in the Passover on Thursday evening. This particular evening, as the eve of Friday, was labeled by the law as the first day of unleavened bread because the festival typically commenced on the evening when unleavened bread was eaten. Thus, Christ sent the disciples on Thursday, which the Evangelist referred to as the first day of unleavened bread, an occasion that leads into the evening when unleavened bread was traditionally consumed." "Prepare the Passover": ensure that all necessary items according to law and tradition for the Passover meal are arranged. "To you": in conjunction with the disciples. The Lord is depicted as a father or head of the household among His followers.