SCRIPTURES ABOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT PASSOVER

By Mario Seiglie, March 27, 2010

 

The Passover is the most solemn evening of the year. In the New Testament, the Greek term pascha means Passover, but this can have several meanings, such as the entire eight day period, or the meal, or the sacrificial lamb. Notice all the evidence for it from the New Testament scriptures and how it shows when Christ kept it with His disciples—“on the same night in which He was betrayed took  bread…He also took the cup after supper” (1 Cor. 11:23-25), giving us an example to follow (John 13:15).

 

Definition of the Passover

New Bible Dictionary – “Passover (Heb. pesah) comes from a verb meaning ‘to pass over,’ in the sense of ‘to spare’ (Ex. 12:13, 27, etc.). This affords excellent sense, there is no need to jettison the time-honored view that God literally passed over the blood-sprinkled Israelite houses, whilst smiting the Egyptian ones. The term is used both for the ordinance and for the sacrificial victim” (1982, p. 881).

 

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia – Passover (Hebrew pesah; Greek pascha). A major festival held in the spring to commemorate Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The term is often used of the entire festival celebration. It may also designate the Passover sacrifice to be eaten (Ex. 12:11; 2 Ch. 30:18) and the animal victim, i.e., the ‘Passover lamb’ (Ex. 12:21; 2 Ch. 30:15).

 

Let’s read the 29 times the term “Passover” (Gk. pascha) is used in the New Testament. The verses are listed in chronological order, those that are parallel are placed in columns.

 

1. Luke 2:41, “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover (Gk. pascha).”

 

2. John 2:13, “Now the Passover (Gk. pascha) of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.”

 

3. John 2:23, “Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover (Gk. pascha), during the feast...”

 

4. John 6:4, “Now the Passover (Gk. pascha), a feast of the Jews, was near.”

 

5 & 6. John 11:55, “And the Passover (Gk. pascha)of the Jews was near; and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover(Gk. pascha), to purify themselves.”

 

7. John 12:1, “Then, six days before the Passover (Gk. pascha), Jesus came to Bethany…”

 

8. John 13:1, “Now before the Feast of the Passover (Gk. pascha), when Jesus knew that His hour….”

 

9. Mt. 26:2, “You know that after two days is the Passover (Gk. pascha), and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.”

10. Mark 14:1, “After two days it was the Passover (Gk. pascha) and the Feast of Unleavened bread.”

11. Luke 22:1, “Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover (Gk. pascha).”

 

Now, notice how many times Jesus Christ or His disciples talk about “keeping,” “preparing,” “killing” or “eating” this last Passover which He took—the sacred ceremony established by God. No other term in the New Testament is used except the Greek pascha – Passover. Yet some people still believe Christ and His disciples did not keep this Passover. Remember also, the Passover or the Feast of Unleavened Bread at that time could be used to refer to the entire eight day period.

 

12. Mt. 26:17, “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 (Gk. pascha)?”

13 & 14. Mark 14:12, “Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover (Gk. pascha) lamb, His disciples said to Him, ‘Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover (Gk. pascha)?”

15.  Lk. 22:7, “Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover (Gk. pascha) must be killed.”

 

 

16. Mt. 26:18, “And He said, ‘Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, ‘My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover (Gk. pascha) at your house with My disciples.”

17. Mark 14:14, “Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house. ‘The Teacher says, ‘Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover (Gk. pascha) with My disciples.”

18. Lk. 22:8, “And He sent Peter and John, saying, ‘Go and prepare the Passover (Gk. pascha) for us, that we may eat.”

 

19. Mt. 26:19, “So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover (Gk. pascha).”

20. Mark 14:16, “So his disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover (Gk. pascha).”

21 & 22. Lk. 22:11, 13, “Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, ‘Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover (Gk. pascha) with My disciples. So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover (Gk. pascha) .”

 

23. Luke 22:15, “Then He said to them, ‘With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover (Gk. pascha) with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

 

24. John 18:28, “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover (Gk. pascha).”

 

25. John 18:39, “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover (Gk. pascha). Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

 

26. John 19:14, “Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover (Gk. pascha), and about the sixth hour.”

 

27. Acts 12:4, “So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover (Gk. pascha).”

 

28. 1 Cor. 5:7, “For indeed, Christ, our Passover (Gk. pascha), was sacrificed for us.”

 

29. Heb. 11:28, “By faith he kept the Passover (Gk. pascha) and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.”