But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.
But they were like, 'We can't do this during the festival, the people will absolutely lose it and cause a huge scene.'
Even Jesus's enemies knew he was so loved by the people that arresting him publicly would start a riot.
📚 Historical Context
In the Gospel of Matthew, this verse is part of the narrative where the chief priests and elders are plotting to arrest and kill Jesus during the time leading up to Passover. They were concerned about maintaining order and their own authority, so they avoided acting during the feast to prevent a potential riot from the crowds who supported Jesus. This reflects the tense political and religious atmosphere in Jerusalem under Roman rule, where Jewish leaders balanced their traditions with the risk of public unrest.
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