Mark 14:2 Meaning: Why They Said 'Not During the Feast'
For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot among the people.”
But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.
for they said, Not during the feast, lest haply there shall be a tumult of the people.
and they said, `Not in the feast, lest there shall be a tumult of the people.'
For they said, Not in the feast, lest perhaps there be a tumult of the people.
Meaning in one sentence
Why the religious leaders planned to wait until after Passover to arrest Jesus, and how God's timing overruled their caution.
Context
Mark 14 opens with the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread just two days away. The chief priests and the scribes were actively plotting to arrest Jesus by stealth and put him to death. But they faced a practical problem: Jerusalem was packed with pilgrims, many of whom admired Jesus. If they seized him publicly during the festival, the crowd might riot. So they agreed to wait until after the feast, when the city would be quieter. This verse records their cautious plan. Right after this, the scene shifts to Bethany, where a woman anoints Jesus with costly perfume, and Judas Iscariot begins negotiating to betray him. The careful plan of the leaders is about to be upended.
Key Words
Two Greek words carry the tension here. The noun thorubos means an uproar, a commotion from a crowd, not just noise, but a dangerous public disturbance. The leaders were not worried about a polite disagreement; they feared a mob. And the phrase heortē (feast) points to Passover, when Jerusalem’s population swelled to over a million. The religious leaders understood the mood of the people, who had welcomed Jesus as a prophet. So they planned to move quietly, avoiding the crowds.
But the verb behind “they said” is in the imperfect tense (elegon), suggesting they kept saying this to one another. It was their settled plan, their repeated caution. Yet within the same chapter, Judas’s offer changes everything, and Jesus is arrested during the feast after all. Human caution, however persistent, cannot hold back what God has set in motion.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian interpreters across the centuries have noted the irony here. The leaders feared a riot, so they planned to delay. Yet as Jamieson-Fausset-Brown observe, citing Bengel, “the divine counsel took effect”, Judas’s offer arrived just in time for the arrest to happen at the feast after all. Matthew Henry emphasizes the leaders’ cowardice and hypocrisy: they cared more about public opinion than about justice. Other traditions highlight God’s sovereignty: even the cautious calculations of enemies serve to fulfill what was written. All agree that this verse sets the stage for the unexpected way God’s redemptive plan moves forward.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume the religious leaders stuck to their plan and waited until after Passover to arrest Jesus. In fact, Judas’s offer of betrayal changed everything. They arrested Jesus during the feast itself, exactly the timing they had tried to avoid. Their caution could not stop God’s appointed hour.
Living This Out
You have probably made careful plans before, timing a difficult conversation, postponing a decision until “the right moment.” The religious leaders’ caution was reasonable, even strategic. But underneath it was a fear of what people would do. This week, look at one area where you are waiting for the “perfect time.” Is there a step of obedience you are delaying because you worry about how others will react? The leaders learned that human timing cannot hold back God’s purposes. Ask him to give you courage to move when he says move, even if the crowd is watching.
Main takeaway: Human plans, however carefully made, cannot derail God’s purposes, He works even through fear and caution to accomplish His will.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus, but they were afraid of the crowd. So they decided to wait until after the feast. But God had a different plan, and Jesus died on the cross exactly when God wanted.
For ages 9, 12
The religious leaders made a very careful plan. They didn’t want to start a riot during Passover, so they decided to arrest Jesus secretly after the festival was over. But God’s plan was different. Because of Judas, Jesus was arrested during the feast itself. This shows that God is in charge, even when people make smart plans. You can trust that God’s timing is always right, even when things don’t go the way you expected.
Questions People Ask
Why did the religious leaders decide not to arrest Jesus during the feast?
They were afraid of the people. Jerusalem was crowded with pilgrims during Passover, and many of them admired Jesus. If the leaders arrested him publicly, they feared a riot would break out. So they planned to wait until after the feast, when the city was quieter, and seize him by stealth.
Did the religious leaders succeed in waiting until after the feast?
No. Later in Mark 14, Judas Iscariot offered to betray Jesus. The leaders were glad and gave him money. Because of Judas, Jesus was arrested during the feast itself, the very time the leaders had tried to avoid. God’s timing overruled their caution.
What does the word 'riot' (thorubos) mean in this verse?
The Greek word thorubos means a commotion or uproar, especially from a crowd that has become dangerous. It is not just noise but a public disturbance that could lead to violence. The leaders were afraid that arresting Jesus during the feast would spark a mob reaction.
Does this verse show that the religious leaders respected the Passover?
Not at all. Their concern was not reverence for the holy day but fear of the crowd. They were still plotting to kill Jesus; they just wanted to do it quietly. Their plan shows political calculation, not religious devotion.
What does this verse teach about God’s control over human plans?
It shows that even the most careful human schemes cannot stop God’s purposes. The leaders tried to delay, but God had appointed the time for Jesus to be arrested, and it happened exactly on schedule. Proverbs 19:21 says, “There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.”
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study