Please Reconcile Matthew and John's Date for Last Supper

Please Reconcile Matthew and John's Date for Last Supper

Dear Mr. Waddey:
Matthew 26:17 says that the "last supper" was "on the first day of the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. " John 13:1 says that it was "before the feast of the Passover."
-- James

Dear James:
The last supper was observed as the Lord and his disciples partook of the Passover meal (Matt. 26:16). The celebration of the Passover began on the evening of the 14th day of Abib. The Passover lamb was killed and eaten along with the other prescribed items of the meal (Ex. 12:8). That meal launched the Festival of Unleavened Bread which preceded for seven additional days (Ex. 12:18).

The term "Passover" had multiple meanings.

Historically it referred to the smiting of the firstborn of Egypt by God and the sparing of the Hebrews and their deliverance that followed.
It refers to the annual event with all of its temple ritual
It was used for the lamb that was the central part of the Passover meal. They ate the Passover.
It referred to the entire ceremonial meal. They kept the Passover.
It refers to Christ our Passover (I Cor. 5:7).
Matthew correct ly reports that on the first day of unleavened bread (i.e., the 14th of Abib) the disciples found the appointed place for their evening "Passover meal." John relates that before they actually began to eat the Passover meal, the Master washed the feet of his disciples to teach them humility and service. According to Matthew's account there had been striving between the disciples as to who would be greatest in the kingdom (Matt. 20:20-28) (Remember that the writers of the first three Gospels did not always write in strict chronological order). So by noting the way the term Passover is used the apparent discrepancy is resolved.

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