Luke 22:7

Then came the day of vnleauened bread, when the Passeouer must be killed. Luke 22:7 (KJV)

The verse is set in the context of the final days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, specifically during the week leading up to His crucifixion. The day mentioned refers to the preparation for the Passover meal, which the Jewish people observed to commemorate their deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

Passover was a significant Jewish festival remembered for God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. The Passover lamb was sacrificed and its blood was applied to the doorposts of the Israelites’ homes, signaling the Lord to pass over their households and spare their firstborn sons from death (Exodus 12:1‑13).

In this verse Jesus and His disciples were preparing to observe the Passover meal, known as the Last Supper, which holds deep symbolic meaning. The Passover lamb that was traditionally killed during the festival foreshadowed Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. Just as the blood of the lamb spared the Israelites from death, Jesus’ shed blood on the cross brings salvation and deliverance from sin and eternal death to all who believe in Him.

Jesus’ death on the cross fulfilled various Old Testament prophecies related to the Passover lamb. In 1 Corinthians 5:7 the apostle Paul refers to Jesus as “Christ our Passover,” highlighting the connection between the Passover lamb and Jesus’ sacrificial death.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread required the removal of all leaven, a symbol of sin, from the Israelites’ homes. This serves as a reminder of the need for purity and holiness in the lives of God’s people. Likewise, followers of Jesus are called to live lives free from the leaven of sin, pursuing righteousness and holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit.

This verse reminds believers of the significance of Jesus’ sacrifice and the importance of commemorating it. As Christians we can remember and celebrate the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion as a way of participating in the symbolism of the Passover meal and remembering the new covenant established through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

In conclusion, Luke 22:7 captures the scene where Jesus and His disciples prepared to observe the Passover meal, symbolizing the impending sacrifice of Jesus as the true Passover Lamb. It highlights the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and underscores the call to live a life free from sin, while inviting believers to reflect on the profound significance of Christ’s redemptive work through the Lord’s Supper.