Mark 14 1

Mark 14:1 kjv

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 14:1 nkjv

After two days it was the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take Him by trickery and put Him to death.

Mark 14:1 niv

Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.

Mark 14:1 esv

It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him,

Mark 14:1 nlt

It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him.

Mark 14 verses

Mark 14 1 Meaning

Mark 14:1 opens the passion narrative, immediately following Jesus' prophetic discourse. It precisely dates the imminent Jewish festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread, highlighting its close proximity, and starkly contrasts the sacred timing with the sinister intentions of the chief priests and scribes. These religious leaders were actively seeking a deceptive way to apprehend Jesus, intending to kill Him, avoiding open confrontation due to fear of the people. This verse sets the stage for the fulfillment of divine prophecy through human conspiracy.

Mark 14 1 Context

Mark 14:1 follows immediately after Jesus' significant Olivet Discourse in Mark 13, where He prophesied the destruction of the Temple, the persecution of believers, and His own glorious second coming. This abrupt transition from eschatological discourse to the mundane reality of human conspiracy against the Son of God highlights the profound contrast between divine revelation and human depravity. Historically, Passover was the most important Jewish festival, commemorating Israel's liberation from slavery in Egypt, marked by the sacrifice of a lamb and the eating of unleavened bread. Jerusalem would be thronged with pilgrims, making open arrest risky. The chief priests, mainly Sadducees, and the scribes, largely Pharisees, represented the highest religious and judicial authorities (the Sanhedrin). They feared Jesus' growing influence, particularly after the cleansing of the Temple (Mark 11), believing He threatened their authority and potentially Roman stability, which could lead to them losing their power or even the nation's privileges. Their goal was to eliminate Him without provoking a public uprising.

Mark 14 1 Word analysis

• Now after two days: (Greek: meta dyo hēmeras). This phrase serves as a precise temporal marker, signifying the rapid approach of the Passover festival and establishing the immediacy of the events that will unfold in the passion narrative. It underscores the urgency and set timing of Jesus' final week.
• was the feast (ἑορτή, heortē) of the Passover (Πάσχα, Pascha):
  • Heortē: A general term for a religious festival or holiday. It emphasizes the public and sacred nature of the upcoming event.
  • Pascha: The Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Pesah (פֶּסַח), meaning "passing over." This festival commemorated the tenth plague in Egypt and the liberation of Israel from bondage, marking the beginning of the Jewish calendar year. It inherently involves a sacrifice, foreshadowing Jesus' role as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb.
• and of unleavened bread (τῶν ἀζύμων, tōn azymōn):
  • Azymōn: Refers specifically to "unleavened things" or "bread without yeast." This seven-day feast immediately followed the Passover day but was often inextricably linked with it, so much so that the terms became somewhat interchangeable for the entire eight-day period (Passover plus the seven days of Unleavened Bread). Leaven in Jewish thought could symbolize corruption or sin, so its removal during this feast signifies purification and separation, pointing to the purity required for true liberation.
• and the chief priests (ἀρχιερεῖς, archiereis): The highest-ranking priests, primarily from the aristocratic and politically influential Sadducean party. They controlled the Temple and its revenue, and their authority was greatly tied to the current status quo with Rome. They saw Jesus as a direct threat to their power and influence.
• and the scribes (γραμματεῖς, grammateis): Legal scholars, experts in Mosaic Law, who could be from any tribe and often aligned with the Pharisees. They were teachers of the Law and wielded significant religious and social influence over the common people. They opposed Jesus due to His reinterpretations of the Law and His challenges to their traditional authority.
• sought (ἐζήτουν, ezētoun): An imperfect verb, indicating a continuous or ongoing process. It signifies that the plotting was not a one-time decision but an active, persistent effort, showing their determination and the depth of their animosity.
• how they might take (πῶς αὐτὸν πιάσωσιν, pōs auton piasōsin):
  • Piasōsin (piazō): Means to seize, apprehend, or catch, often implying force or entrapment, like catching an animal. This choice of word highlights their view of Jesus as a target to be neutralized, rather than an individual to be confronted justly.
• him by craft (δόλῳ, dolō):
  • Dolō (dolos): Signifies deceit, treachery, guile, or cunning. This explicitly reveals the wicked and underhanded nature of their intentions and methods. They were not seeking a fair trial or open confrontation but a secret and manipulative scheme to seize Him, indicating their fear of public opinion and Jesus' popular support.
• and put him to death (ἀποκτείνωσιν, apokteinōsin):
  • Apokteinōsin (apokteinō): To kill, slay. This is their ultimate, cold-blooded objective. It directly expresses the murderous intent of these religious leaders, revealing their moral corruption despite their sacred offices.

• Feast of the Passover, and of unleavened bread: This combined phrase highlights the most significant and spiritually symbolic time for Jesus' crucifixion. The Lamb of God would be slain precisely during the festival when the Paschal lamb was sacrificed, connecting the ultimate sacrifice of Christ to the historical redemption of Israel from bondage.
• Chief priests and the scribes sought: This pairing represents the unified religious and legal establishment of Judea. Their joint action against Jesus signifies a broad and powerful institutional opposition, emphasizing the profound resistance from the spiritual elite against the true Messiah.
• Take him by craft, and put him to death: This phrase lays bare the malevolent intent and methodology of Jesus' opponents. It contrasts starkly with the open and public teaching ministry of Jesus. Their decision to act "by craft" rather than by public accusation reveals their awareness of His popular support and their fear of the crowds. It underlines the treacherous path leading to the crucifixion.

Mark 14 1 Bonus section

• The tension described in Mark 14:1 is further elaborated in Mark 14:2, which states their fear: "For they said, 'Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar of the people.'" This reveals the strategic thinking behind their "craft"—they desired His death but aimed to prevent any civil disturbance, demonstrating their ultimate concern for self-preservation and the maintenance of their own political stability.
• This verse underscores the idea that Jesus' death was not an accident but a direct result of malicious human plotting, yet fully within God's sovereign plan. The plotting highlights the depth of human sin and opposition to God's will, while the precise timing emphasizes God's redemptive purpose through it.
• The "Passover" lamb, selected on the 10th of Nisan and sacrificed on the 14th, becomes a profound typology for Jesus, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29), chosen for sacrifice during this very season. The unleavened bread then points to Christ as our unleavened purity (1 Cor 5:7-8).
• The presence of large crowds during the festival provided cover for Jesus' movement and made a public arrest difficult for the authorities, hence their need for stealth and deceit.

Mark 14 1 Commentary

Mark 14:1 serves as a stark curtain-raiser for the dramatic events of the Passion Week. The precise timing of the Passover and Unleavened Bread feast is profoundly significant, aligning Jesus' sacrifice as the true Lamb of God with the central redemptive act of Israel's history. This synchronicity is no mere coincidence but a divine orchestration. Simultaneously, the verse unmasks the dark intentions of the chief priests and scribes, painting them as relentless conspirators driven by a deep-seated desire to eliminate Jesus. Their choice to act "by craft" speaks volumes of their fear of the multitudes, illustrating their prioritisation of maintaining control and reputation over justice or truth. It shows their corrupt motives and willingness to resort to deceit and murder, highlighting the tragic irony that those tasked with upholding God's law were actively plotting against His Son. This verse succinctly encapsulates the collision of divine purpose with human malice, setting the stage for the predetermined crucifixion while exposing the morally bankrupt leadership.