Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 22:2
And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
2. the chief priests and scribes ] Their humiliation and defeat before the people the immense and divine superiority of the wisdom of Jesus so publicly displayed had at last aroused them into irreconcilable hostility. It is very noticeable that the Pharisees, as a distinct party, now vanish entirely into the background. They are scarcely mentioned again except in Mat 27:62.
sought ] Rather, were seeking. The word involves a continuous effort, and probably includes the memorable meeting in the Palace of Caiaphas, which is traditionally placed on the ‘Hill of Evil Counsel,’ but was probably close to the Temple precincts. They seem to have come on that occasion, in consequence of the advice of Caiaphas, to three conclusions. (1) To put Jesus to death; (2) to do it as secretly as possible; and (3) not to do it during the Feast, so as to avoid the chance of tumults on the part of the Galilaean pilgrims. If this meeting was on Tuesday evening, at the very time that they were deciding not to kill Jesus (Psa 2:2) for more than eight days and it was unusual to put to death during the Passover, Act 12:4 He, seated on the slopes of Olivet, was telling His disciples that before the Passover He should be slain, Mat 26:1-5.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 2. They feared the people.] The great mass of the people seem to have been convinced that Christ was at least a prophet sent from God; and it is likely they kept steady in their attachment to him. The multitude, who are represented as clamouring for his blood at the crucifixion, appear to have been a mere mob, formed out of the creatures of the chief priests and Pharisees.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And the chief priests and Scribes,…. Matthew adds, “and the elders of the people”; which made up the great sanhedrim and council of the nation; these met together, not in their usual place the temple, but at the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest; see Mt 24:3.
And sought how they might kill him; that is, “Jesus”, as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read; they had determined before, upon the advice of Caiaphas, to put him to death, and very likely had fixed what kind of death he should die; see Joh 11:49 and now they consult together, of the manner of bringing it about, and at what time; and the majority were not for doing it on a feast day, when there was a great concourse of people, but with more privacy:
for they feared the people: which were now in great multitudes with him, who came along with him, from Galilee, and other parts; and had hosanna’d him into the city, and still abode with him, and their numbers were increasing; and the sanhedrim were aware, that at the passover there would be still a greater company of people from all parts of the land; and they might conclude, that he would have a large number of his friends come out of Galilee, where he had been for the most part teaching, and working miracles; and they were afraid, should they lay hold on him publicly, the people would rise and stone them; at least would rescue him out of their hands, and disappoint them of their designs.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Sought (). Imperfect active of , were seeking, conative imperfect.
How they might put him to death ( ). Second aorist active deliberative subjunctive (retained in indirect question) of , to take up, to make away with, to slay. Common in Old Greek. Luke uses it so here and in 23:32 and eighteen times in the Acts, a favourite word with him. Note the accusative neuter singular article with the whole clause, “as to the how, etc.”
For they feared ( ). Imperfect middle describing the delay of the “how.” The triumphal entry and the temple speeches of Jesus had revealed his tremendous power with the people, especially the crowds from Galilee at the feast. They were afraid to go on with their plan to kill him at the feast.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Sought. Imperfect, were seeking, contemporaneously with the approach of the feast.
Kill [] . Lit., to take up and carry off, and so to make way with.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And the chief priests and scribes sought,” (kai ezetoun hoi archiereis kai hoi grammateis to) “And the scribes and the administrative priests sought a means or method,” Mat 26:3; Mar 14:1; Psa 2:2. The Pharisees, now drop into the background as the Sadducees, administrative priests, and scribes assault Jesus.
2) “How they might kill him;” (pos anelosin auton) “How they might destroy him,” rid themselves of His presence and influence, Mat 26:4; Joh 11:47-53; Act 4:27.
3) “For they feared the people.” (ephobounto gar ton laon) “For they feared the laity, or masses of people,” Mat 26:5; Mar 14:2; Luk 19:4; Luk 19:8; Luk 20:19. For the people rejoiced at His words and deeds, Luk 21:38. His popularity was an embarrassment to the Jewish leaders, an occasion for their hearts of hate against Him.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
Ver. 2. How they might kill him ] Not put him to death as judges, but kill him as cutthroats, . So Act 2:23 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Luk 22:2 . , the how, that was the puzzle; that Jesus should be put out of the way by death ( .); some how was a settled matter. Cf. Luk 19:48 ( , etc.). . .: their fear of the people explains why the how was so perplexing a matter. The popularity of Jesus was very embarrassing.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
sought = were seeking. Contemporaneously with the Feast.
kill Him = get rid of, or make away with Him. Greek. anaireo = take up and carry off.
for, &c. Therefore their aim was to take Him secretly, and evade a public trial.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 22:2. [ , and the chief priests sought) Judas sought the same thing, Luk 22:6. A most wicked pursuit.-V. g.]-, for) This assigns the cause why they had to seek suitable means and a favourable opportunity ( , how they might kill Him). [Most wretched (pitiful) fear, succeeded by atrocious joy, Luk 22:5.-V. g.]
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Luk 19:47, Luk 19:48, Luk 20:19, Psa 2:1-5, Mat 21:38, Mat 21:45, Mat 21:46, Mat 26:3-5, Joh 11:47-53, Joh 11:57, Act 4:27
Reciprocal: Psa 25:19 – Consider Dan 6:4 – sought Hos 5:2 – profound Hos 6:9 – so Mic 2:1 – to Mat 21:15 – when Mat 21:26 – we fear Mat 26:2 – know Mat 27:3 – Judas Mar 3:6 – Pharisees Mar 11:32 – they Mar 14:1 – two Luk 20:14 – let Joh 13:1 – the feast Act 4:21 – how Act 5:26 – they Eph 2:2 – the spirit
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
PLANNING THE BETRAYAL
The chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill Him Then entered Satan into Judas And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
Luk 22:2-5
No part of our Lords history is so fully given by all the Gospel writers as this: only two of them describe the circumstances of Christs birth, all four dwell minutely on Christs death; and of all the four no one supplies us with such full and interesting details as Luke.
I. The first step in putting Christ to death was taken by the religious teachers of the Jewish nation.High offices do not preserve the holders of them from great blindness and sin.
II. The second step towards our Lords crucifixion was the treachery of one of the twelve Apostles.Then entered Satan into Judas Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. These words are peculiarly awful. Judas Iscariot ought to be a standing beacon to the Church of Christ.
III. Observe also the enormous power of the love of money.It was the secret of this wretched mans fall. The love of money is one of the choicest weapons of Satan for corrupting and spoiling professors of religion. Gehazi, Ananias, and Sapphira are names which naturally occur to our minds. But of all proofs, there is none so melancholy as the one before us. For money a chosen Apostle sold the best and most loving of Masters! For money Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ!
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
2
Sought how means they wanted to plan the death of Jesus in some way that would avoid a riot among the people. (See Mat 26:4-5; Mar 14:1-2.)