Verse 28 Defiled; ceremonially; this judgment-hall being the seat of a Roman, and of course Gentile tribunal. Their unwillingness to enter affords a strange illustration of the compatibility of excessive punctiliousness in the outward forms of religion, with the most complete moral corruption. These whited sepulchres, with hearts full of envy, hatred, and murder, could not go into a Roman building, lest they should be defiled!--The passover; that is, probably the remaining sacrifices and feasts of the paschal week; for, according to Luke 22:7,13,14,15, the evening on which the paschal lamb was to be eaten, was the evening preceding.