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Question: Explain John 18:28: "But they themselves did not go into
the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might
eat the Passover." If Passover had already been observed, how could
this passage speak of the leaders' precautions that were made that
they might eat the Passover?


John 18:28 Very concerned about ceremonial defilement (Lk. 11:39).
that they might eat... 
From Hend: a. John, in complete harmony with the Synoptics, teaches
that on Thursday-evening Jesus partook of the Passover-supper with
his disciples. b. The Fourth Gospel, in complete harmony with the
Synoptics, teaches that Jesus was crucified on the next day, that
is, on Friday. c. Jesus was crucified on the 15th day of Nissan. 

Two solutions:
a) Passover is used here to refer to the entire feast, which
included the week of unleavened bread (cf. Ex. 12:18-19; 2 Chron.
30:22) Hend: The term Passover elsewhere in John refers to the
entire seven-day feast; if elsewhere, why not here? (See also Lk.
22:1) (p.402)..
b) The Sanhedrists had dropped everything, being so preoccupied
with the arrest and trial of Jesus that they had not time for their
Passover-meal. Does not say "everybody." Specifies that the members
of the Sanhedrin and their temple-police did not enter the
governor's palace.
     The Sanhedrin had been awaiting Judas (Mt. 26:14-16). They did
not know just when he would come (Lk. 22:6). The chief priest had
to be ready. They also wanted to take part in the arrest, even
though it be merely as spectators (Lk. 22:53). Then there was the
night-trial. All this took time, much time. Hence, they were
convinced that in the interest of the one really important
assignment, namely, to get rid of Jesus (see 11:48-50),--all else,
even the Passover Supper, could afford to wait. Hence, when very
early in the morning they brought Jesus before Pilate, that had not
yet partaken of the Passover-meal. They must not defile themselves
by entering the house of a heathen (see Acts 10:28; 11:3). Hence,
these hypocrites who regard ceremonial defilement to be so much
worse than moral defilement (Lk. 11:39) cannot enter the
Praetorium. Once Jesus is actually hanging on the cross, they can
go home and eat the lamb! (Hend.403).
     



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