They conspired to eliminate Jesus yet also feared the people’s reaction.
As Mark begins this passage, he tells us that Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth and kill Him (v. 1). The setting is Jerusalem in approximately AD 30, a time of bustling crowds who had arrived to observe one of the most sacred annual events in the Jewish calendar. Passover commemorated God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 12Exodus 12 commentary), and the Feast of Unleavened Bread followed directly afterward, encouraging the people to remember their journey in haste. Jesus is at the center of mounting opposition. The chief priests—religious leaders tied to the Temple—and the scribes—experts in interpreting Mosaic law—plotted against Him with increasing urgency, but they felt the need to avoid stirring up the masses.
Mark continues, saying for they were saying, Not during the festival, otherwise there might be a riot of the people (v. 2). These words show the religious leaders’ political and social concerns as they tried to maintain authority and prevent violent unrest. They recognized how popular Jesus was with many in the crowd, and they worried that an open arrest would generate fierce resistance and chaos. Historically, the Temple authorities, which included chief priests who held office under Roman oversight, navigated an uneasy balance of power between the Roman government and the Jewish population. To forestall any confrontation with Rome or the local populace, they sought the path of secrecy and cunning.
This tone of escalating tension sets the stage for the events that will soon unfold, highlighting how carefully the religious leadership tried to manage timing and setting. Their plan to deal with Jesus subtly is a reflection of their growing desperation, contrasting sharply with His open and steady teaching about God’s kingdom (Luke 19:47Luke 19:47 commentary).
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Mark 14:1-2 meaning
As Mark begins this passage, he tells us that Now the Passover and Unleavened Bread were two days away; and the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to seize Him by stealth and kill Him (v. 1). The setting is Jerusalem in approximately AD 30, a time of bustling crowds who had arrived to observe one of the most sacred annual events in the Jewish calendar. Passover commemorated God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 12Exodus 12 commentary), and the Feast of Unleavened Bread followed directly afterward, encouraging the people to remember their journey in haste. Jesus is at the center of mounting opposition. The chief priests—religious leaders tied to the Temple—and the scribes—experts in interpreting Mosaic law—plotted against Him with increasing urgency, but they felt the need to avoid stirring up the masses.
Mark continues, saying for they were saying, Not during the festival, otherwise there might be a riot of the people (v. 2). These words show the religious leaders’ political and social concerns as they tried to maintain authority and prevent violent unrest. They recognized how popular Jesus was with many in the crowd, and they worried that an open arrest would generate fierce resistance and chaos. Historically, the Temple authorities, which included chief priests who held office under Roman oversight, navigated an uneasy balance of power between the Roman government and the Jewish population. To forestall any confrontation with Rome or the local populace, they sought the path of secrecy and cunning.
This tone of escalating tension sets the stage for the events that will soon unfold, highlighting how carefully the religious leadership tried to manage timing and setting. Their plan to deal with Jesus subtly is a reflection of their growing desperation, contrasting sharply with His open and steady teaching about God’s kingdom (Luke 19:47Luke 19:47 commentary).