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.

From the scriptural evidence provided, it is evident that Jesus Christ kept the Passover in accordance with the original instructions given by God in Exodus 12, Leviticus 23, and Numbers 9, which designate the 14th day for the Passover observance. Historical changes made by figures like Hezekiah, Josiah, and Ezra centralized the celebration, shifting control to the priesthood and the Temple, altering the practice from a home-sacrificed lamb to a Temple-based observance. However, these changes lacked the authority to override God's original command. Jesus, being taught directly by the Father and not by rabbinical schools, did not adhere to the altered traditions of men. His observance of Passover at the beginning of the 14th day, as seen in the accounts of His last Passover, aligns with the timing specified in the early Scriptures, where the lamb is to be slain between the two evenings immediately following the sunset of the 13th. This practice stands in contrast to the later Jewish tradition of a 15th day observance. Furthermore, the New Testament accounts, particularly in John 13:1, distinguish Jesus' Passover from that of the Jews, indicating that He kept it according to God's command rather than the modified customs. The preparation for Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, involving the removal of leaven from homes and borders as early as the 13th day, underscores the significance of adhering to the original timing and manner of observance as Jesus did.

In the context of observing God's ordinances, the practice of keeping Passover at home holds significant importance. The children of Israel were instructed to observe Passover in their houses located in Goshen, not assembled in Rameses or dwelling in tents. The lambs were to be killed at twilight, specifically at ben ha arbayim, marking the beginning of the fourteenth day of the first month. This timing is critical, as it establishes that the entirety of the Passover events occurred on the fourteenth, not extending into the fifteenth. The process of killing, roasting, and eating the lamb, along with burning the leftovers, took approximately 8 to 9 hours, from sunset around 6:00 p.m. until between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. on the fourteenth. The Israelites were commanded to remain in their houses throughout the night of the fourteenth, not leaving shortly after the Death Angel passed at midnight. They stayed in their homes in Goshen until morning, adhering strictly to the directive to not go out until boqer, the break of day. The scriptural record emphasizes the location of the observance, with the term "houses" used repeatedly to underscore that the Passover was a domestic event. The Israelites struck the lintel and doorposts of their houses with blood, and none were to go out of their doors until morning, ensuring protection as the Lord passed over their homes in Egypt. There is no indication of them assembling elsewhere or preparing to depart immediately after midnight; they remained in their houses as commanded, demonstrating obedience to God's instructions.

The Passover is named for God passing over the children of Israel while they remained in their homes, not in tents or gathered elsewhere, but specifically in their houses. This detail is crucial as it underscores the setting for the observance of this significant event. Even one year later, as confirmed in Numbers 9, the instructions for keeping the Passover remained unchanged, emphasizing that it must be observed according to all its rites and ceremonies, including not going out of the house. These practices carried the force of law, ensuring that every aspect, from striking the doorposts and lintel to staying indoors, was to be followed precisely as initially commanded. God reconfirmed that nothing was to be omitted, even when the Israelites were no longer in Egypt but in the wilderness, highlighting the importance of maintaining the original observance of Passover in their homes.