Matthew 26 17

Matthew 26:17 kjv

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 26:17 nkjv

Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying to Him, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?"

Matthew 26:17 niv

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

Matthew 26:17 esv

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?"

Matthew 26:17 nlt

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?"

Matthew 26 verses

Matthew 26 17 Meaning

Matthew 26:17 describes the moment when Jesus' disciples inquire about preparing the Passover meal. This question sets the stage for the Last Supper, marking the divine timing for the culmination of the Old Covenant Passover and the institution of the New Covenant meal, the Lord's Supper, by Jesus. It highlights the disciples' readiness to follow their Master's instruction for this central Jewish feast, which Jesus would then redefine and fulfill through His impending sacrifice.

Matthew 26 17 Context

Matthew 26:17 immediately follows Judas' agreement to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. The chapter builds anticipation for Jesus' Passion, with key events unfolding: the anointing at Bethany (Mt 26:6-13), Judas's betrayal plot (Mt 26:14-16), leading directly to this moment of preparing for the Passover. This verse serves as the bridge between the prelude of betrayal and the profound events of the Last Supper, establishing its setting and confirming the approaching divine timetable. Historically and culturally, Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were interconnected Jewish celebrations (Ex 12-13, Lev 23:5-8). Passover (Pesach) commemorated God's liberation of Israel from Egyptian bondage, signified by the sacrificial lamb and blood on the doorposts (Ex 12). The Feast of Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzot), beginning immediately after Passover, lasted seven days, during which leaven was removed from all homes, symbolizing a cleansing from sin and the haste of the departure from Egypt (Ex 12:34). In the Gospels, "the first day of Unleavened Bread" often refers to the day the Passover lamb was sacrificed, signaling the start of the week-long feast. This setting highlights Jesus fulfilling Jewish ritual law while simultaneously redefining it.

Matthew 26 17 Word Analysis

• Now on the first day: The Greek prōtē (πρώτῃ) indicates a precise and significant moment in the sequence of events, setting the exact time. This phrase effectively combines the evening of the 14th of Nisan (Passover sacrifice) with the 15th (start of the Unleavened Bread festival), reflecting common Jewish usage where the terms were often used interchangeably for the period beginning with the Passover evening. It points to a divinely orchestrated timing, not a casual occurrence.

• of the Feast of Unleavened Bread: Greek: tōn Azýmōn (τῶν ἀζύμων), meaning "unleavened things" or "unleavened bread." This annual pilgrimage festival (Ex 23:15; 34:18) commenced immediately after the Passover meal. Its main characteristic was the prohibition of leaven (hametz) for seven days, symbolizing removal of sin (1 Cor 5:7-8). The close association and temporal overlap led to the entire eight-day period being often referred to as "Passover" or "the Feast of Unleavened Bread."

• the disciples: These are the close followers of Jesus, those chosen and taught by Him (Mt 10:2-4, Mk 3:13-19, Lk 6:12-16). Their question indicates their observance of Jewish law and their reliance on Jesus' instruction for this sacred feast. It emphasizes their initiative to ensure proper adherence to the tradition.

• came to Jesus: This implies a deliberate approach, a seeking of guidance and direction. They are not waiting for Jesus to initiate; rather, they proactively inquire, demonstrating their understanding of the approaching religious duty and their respect for Jesus' authority.

• saying: Direct speech is common in Gospel narratives, highlighting the importance of the dialogue that ensues. It draws attention to the disciples' specific question.

• Where will you have us prepare: The question pou thelēsōmen hetoimasōmen soi phagein to Pascha (ποῦ θέλεις ἑτοιμάσωμέν σοι φαγεῖν τὸ πάσχα;), literally "where do you wish us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?" combines inquiry with an expression of readiness to serve.

  • Where: (Pou) A crucial question concerning the physical location, given the importance of the meal. This specific question opens the way for Jesus to reveal His divine foreknowledge of the specific arrangements (Mk 14:13-16, Lk 22:10-12).
  • will you have us: (thelēsōmen) expresses the disciples' willingness and eagerness to fulfill Jesus' desires regarding this pivotal event. It underscores Jesus' leadership and authority in every detail.
  • prepare: (hetoimasōmen) signifies the practical tasks involved: securing a lamb, baking unleavened bread, preparing bitter herbs, wine, and finding a suitable upper room (Mk 14:15, Lk 22:12). This was a communal and family-oriented ritual requiring meticulous detail.

• for you to eat the Passover?: (soi phagein to Pascha).

  • for you to eat: (soi phagein) Implies that the preparation is specifically for Jesus, signifying His role as the head of their Passover gathering. He is both participant and orchestrator.
  • the Passover: (to Pascha) The foundational Jewish feast. Its profound meaning—redemption from slavery, divine protection through the blood of the lamb—forms the backdrop against which Jesus will offer Himself as the ultimate Lamb of God (1 Cor 5:7) and inaugurate the New Covenant. This question, concerning an ancient ritual, is immediately transformed by Jesus into a foreshadowing of His self-sacrifice.

Word Group Analysis:

• "Now on the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread": This phrase marks the critical timing, indicating the evening when the Passover lamb would traditionally be eaten, and the seven-day Feast of Unleavened Bread officially commenced. It sets the scene for a transition from the old covenant celebration to its new covenant fulfillment.
• "Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?": This complete question captures the essence of the disciples' inquiry: their practical concern for location, their submission to Jesus' will, their readiness for diligent work, and their focus on Jesus partaking in the ancient, sacred feast. This direct question provides Jesus the opportunity to set the stage for His ultimate self-revelation as the true Passover Lamb.

Matthew 26 17 Bonus Section

The immediate agreement between Judas and the chief priests in the preceding verses makes the Passover preparations profoundly poignant. As the disciples dutifully ask about celebrating a feast of liberation, a betrayer within their midst is already plotting enslavement and death for their Lord. This contrast between devoted preparation and dark conspiracy amplifies the tension of the narrative. Furthermore, the act of "preparing the Passover" involves several traditional elements: identifying an unblemished lamb (Jn 1:29; 1 Pet 1:19), taking it into the home (Ex 12:3), sacrificing it at the temple, collecting its blood, roasting it whole, and eating it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Each element pointed prophetically to Christ's sacrifice, particularly the blood applied to the doorposts saving from death (Ex 12:7) foreshadowing Christ's atoning blood. Thus, the disciples' mundane question unknowingly initiated the symbolic rituals that Jesus was about to fully embody and fulfill.

Matthew 26 17 Commentary

Matthew 26:17 marks a pivotal moment, transitioning from the conspiracy against Jesus to the sacred observance of Passover which He would fundamentally transform. The disciples' question, born out of tradition and practical necessity, highlights the human element of preparation meeting the divine timing. They naturally expect to observe the Passover as it has been celebrated for centuries. However, unknown to them, this Passover would be uniquely fulfilled and redefined by their Master.

This verse subtly underscores Jesus' sovereignty. While the disciples ask "Where will you have us prepare?", it confirms that the Passover will be eaten on His terms and according to His will. The inquiry for a "where" signals a mundane logistical need, yet Jesus' subsequent specific directions (Mark 14:13-15; Luke 22:10-12) reveal His omnipotence and control over all circumstances, even a seemingly coincidental meeting with a man carrying a water jar.

The timing, "the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread," signifies purity and separation, echoing the theme of removing leaven (sin). Jesus, our true Passover Lamb (1 Cor 5:7), prepares to offer Himself to cleanse His people from sin. This setup for the Last Supper is not merely a meal, but the deliberate establishment of the New Covenant (Lk 22:20), where Christ Himself becomes the sacrifice and the remembrance. The Passover, which pointed to Israel's redemption from Egypt, is now about humanity's redemption from sin through Christ. This seemingly simple question is the gateway to the most profound act of redemptive love.