Luke 22:2

And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

22:1-6 Christ knew all men, and had wise and holy ends in taking Judas to be a disciple. How he who knew Christ so well, came to betray him, we are here told; Satan entered into Judas. It is hard to say whether more mischief is done to Christ's kingdom, by the power of its open enemies, or by the treachery of its pretended friends; but without the latter, its enemies could not do so much evil as they do.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 26:1-2.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 22

Lu 22:1-6. Conspiracy of the Jewish Authorities to Put Jesus to Death—Compact with Judas.

1, 2. (See on [1716]Mt 26:1-5.)

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 22:2"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire 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 Matthew 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 John 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.

Geneva Study Bible

And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 22:2. τὸ πῶς, the how, that was the puzzle; that Jesus should be put out of the way by death (ἀνέλωσιν α.); some how was a settled matter. Cf. Luke 19:48 (τὸ τί, etc.).—ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ τ. λ.: their fear of the people explains why the how was so perplexing a matter. The popularity of Jesus was very embarrassing.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

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 Matthew 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 (Psalm 2:2) for more than eight days—and it was unusual to put to death during the Passover, Acts 12:4—He, seated on the slopes of Olivet, was telling His disciples that before the Passover He should be slain, Matthew 26:1-5.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 22:2. [Καὶ ἐζήτουν, and the chief priests sought) Judas ‘sought’ the same thing, Luke 22:6. A most wicked pursuit.—V. g.]—γὰρ, for) This assigns the cause why they had to ‘seek’ suitable means and a favourable opportunity (πῶς ἀνέλωσιν αὐτὸν, how they might kill Him). [Most wretched (pitiful) fear, succeeded by atrocious joy, Luke 22:5.—V. g.]

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. The determination, long maturing, had, during the last few days of public teaching, been come to on the part of the Sanhedrin. They had determined to put the dangerous public Teacher to death. The bitter hatred on the part of the Jewish rulers had been gradually growing in intensity during the two years and a half of the public ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. The raising of Lazarus seems to have finally decided the governing body with as little delay as possible to compass the Reformer's death. The temporary withdrawal of the Lord after the great miracle deferred their purpose for a season; after, however, a retirement for a few weeks, Jesus appeared again, shortly before the Passover, and taught publicly in the temple, at a season when Jerusalem was crowded with pilgrims arriving for the great feast. Never had his teaching excited such interest, never had it stirred up such burning opposition as at this juncture. This decided the Jewish rulers to carry out their design on the life of the Galilaean Teacher with as little delay as possible. The only thing that perplexed them was how this could safely be accomplished, owing to the favor in which he was held by the people, especially by the crowds of pilgrims from the provinces then in Jerusalem. Luke 22:2

Vincent's Word Studies

Sought

Imperfect, were seeking, contemporaneously with the approach of the feast.

Kill (ἀνέλωσιν)

Lit., to take up and carry off, and so to make way with.