During the lifetime of Jesus Christ, two competing ways to observe the Passover existed among the Jews. One was kept by the people in their homes in the evening as Abib 14 began, while the other was led by the priests at the Temple in the late afternoon of Abib 14. In the Gospels, Jesus and His disciples are depicted observing the Passover in a private home at the beginning of Abib 14. As Abib 14 drew near, the disciples noticed people on the outskirts of Jerusalem engaging in preparations for sacrificing the Passover lamb, prompting them to ask Jesus where He wanted them to prepare for the Passover. This inquiry likely occurred late on Abib 13 or just after sunset on Abib 14, aligning with the time the Passover lamb was to be killed between sunset and dark as the 14th began.

Originally, God's instructions directed the Israelites to keep the Passover in individual homes, catching the blood of the lamb in a basin and smearing it on the doorposts and lintel of the house. Over time, despite these clear directives, variations emerged in observance. At the time of Jesus Christ, two distinct Passover observances existed: one led by the priests at the Temple late in the afternoon of Abib 14, and another observed by the people in their homes at the beginning of Abib 14. Jesus and His disciples ate the Passover in a home rather than at the Temple, keeping it as Abib 14 began, in alignment with the earlier tradition of home observance. Historical records indicate that, due to the limited space and time constraints at the Temple, a far greater number of lambs were slain by individuals at their homes compared to those sacrificed by the priests.

Passover, as a distinct festival, was to be observed in one's home, setting it apart from other festivals that required attendance at the place where the LORD chose to put His name. According to the instructions given, the Passover sacrifice was to be made at home, with the lamb killed at twilight on the fourteenth day of the month, and the blood applied to the doorposts of the houses where it was eaten. The Israelites were specifically commanded to remain in their houses until morning after the Passover observance, highlighting its domestic nature. This clear directive establishes that Passover was not to be sacrificed within any gates or at a central location designated by the LORD, but rather in the individual homes of the people.

During the time of Christ, many Jews understood God's original command and intent for Passover to be a domestic observance, celebrated at home. Historical records from Josephus and Philo indicate that a larger group of people sacrificed the Passover lamb at their homes, while a smaller group, primarily the religious leaders who controlled the Temple, followed a pattern of sacrificing at the Temple. This resulted in two distinct ways of observing Passover. Our responsibility is to follow God's command as originally given, without change, observing Passover at home as exemplified by Jesus Christ at the beginning of the 14th day, using the new symbols He instituted, rather than adhering to later traditions established under kings like Hezekiah and Josiah.