The Preparation of the Passover (Matthew 26:17–19)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 81 (on Matthew 26:17–19) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110.iii.LXXVII.html

On why the Lord kept the Passover at all:

But wherefore did He keep the passover? To indicate by all things unto the last day, that He is not opposed to the law.

On "My time is at hand":

For He did not only say, "I will keep the passover," but He adds another thing also, "My time is at hand." And this He did, at once continually reminding His disciples of the passion, so that exercised by the frequency of the prediction, they should be prepared for what was to take place

On why He sent the disciples to a man unknown to them:

And for what possible reason doth He send them to an unknown person? To show by this also that He might have avoided suffering. For He who prevailed over this man's mind, so that he received them, and that by words; what would He not have done with them that crucified Him, if it had been His will not to suffer?

On the sign of the man bearing a pitcher:

After this, because they knew him not, He gave them a sign, like as the prophet touching Saul, saying, "Thou shalt find one going up and carrying a bottle;" and here, "carrying a pitcher."

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Theophylact of Ohrid (c. 1055–1107)

Explanation of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 22:7–13) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On Peter and John sent to prepare, and the Lord who kept no house of His own:

Now on the same fifth day He sends two of His disciples to prepare the Passover, namely, Peter and John, the one in truth as loving, the other as loved. In all things shewing, that even to the end of His life He opposed not the law. And He sends them to a strange house; for He and His disciples had no house, else would He have kept the Passover in one of them.

On why He sent them to an unknown man:

He sends them for this reason to an unknown man: to shew them that He voluntarily underwent His Passion, since He who so swayed the mind of one unknown to Him, that he should receive them, was able to deal with the Jews just as He wished.

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Titus of Bostra (d. c. 378)

Commentary on Luke (on Luke 22:7–13) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the typical Passover giving place to the true:

Our Lord, in order to leave us a heavenly Passover, ate a typical one, removing the figure, that the truth might take its place.

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St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 26:17–19) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.xxvi.html

On which day is called the first day of unleavened bread:

The first day of unleavened bread is the fourteenth day of the first month, when the lamb is killed, the moon is at full, and leaven is put away.

On the unnamed man, after the manner of the Old Scripture:

In this also the New Scripture observes the practice of the Old, in which we frequently read, "He said unto him," and "In this or that place," without any name of person or place.

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St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339–397)

Exposition of the Gospel of Luke (on Luke 22:7–13) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the foreknowledge and the condescension shown in the choice of host:

First observe the greatness of His divine power. He is talking with His disciples, yet knows what will happen in another place. Next behold His condescension, in that He chooses not the person of the rich or powerful, but seeks after the poor, and prefers a mean inn to the spacious palaces of nobles.

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St. Bede the Venerable (c. 673–735)

Commentary on Luke (on Luke 22:7–13) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Luke. Public domain. Full text: https://isidore.co/aquinas/english/CALuke.htm

On the night in which He consecrated the beginning of His Passion:

And thus although on the next day, that is, the fifteenth, He was crucified, yet, on this night on which the lamb was slain by the Jews, being seized and bound, He consecrated the beginning of His sacrifice, that is, of His Passion.