Read Introduction to Matthew

 

¹⁵ Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. ¹⁶ And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. ¹⁷ Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. ¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” ²⁰ But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹ The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” ²² Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” ²³ Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” ²⁴ When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” ²⁵ And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

 

Matthew skips the fifth trial and goes to the sixth trial of Jesus.

27:15

Now at the feast [Passover] the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.

It was customary for the Roman government to release a prisoner at the Passover.

27:16

And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.

Barabbas was a well-known criminal accused of insurrection.

27:17

Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

Since Pilate believed Jesus was innocent, he tried to establish a situation where he could be released.

27:18

For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.

Pilate clearly understood that the religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus because of religious jealousy. They were jealous of Jesus’ influence in the field of biblical authority and of the power Jesus had with the people.

27:19

While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”

Pilate’s wife made it abundantly clear that Jesus was an innocent man. She said this while Pilate was in the act of making judgment about Jesus.

27:20

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

The religious leaders put pressure on the public to release Barabbas. Demagogues always manipulate people. They had a “closed-shop” attitude towards religion. They were concerned about power or the loss of it.

27:21

The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”

Pilate asked the public for its decision about who should be released.

27:22

Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

There was no mistake about the attitude of the crowd towards Jesus as one of hostility.

27:23

Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”

The crowds did not justify their decision. They gave their answer with one Greek word—“crucify.” A mob is always fickle.

27:24

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”

A mob began to form, threatening Pilate’s relationship to Rome. The people were out of control, so he could not reason with them. He then washed his hands of any responsibility in the matter. This is the last resort of a weak leader.

27:25

And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

There is no rational thinking in a mob. In their unreasoned fervor, these people demanded Jesus’ death. The Jewish people accepted blame for putting Jesus to death. They took the responsibility to let Rome off the hook.

27:26

Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

Jesus was scourged with a whip, which was normal Roman procedure. This whip was made of leather straps on a wood handle. Each strap had a bone or piece of metal connected to the end. Strapped to a post, the victim was whipped so that the skin on the back would be opened. This whipping was in preparation for the process of crucifixion.

PRINCIPLE:

Weak leaders always placate the crowd.

APPLICATION:

There are leaders who operate on politics rather than principle. Pilate accommodated the crowd because he was not willing to take a stand in the face of difficulty. Many Christian leaders today placate the crowd. They accede to public pressure rather than uncompromisingly preaching the Word. They often do this by shifting blame onto someone else, just as Pilate did. Pilate’s weak attempt to save Jesus could not conquer his fear of people. Clearly convinced of Jesus’ innocence, he let outside influences control his thinking. Weak leaders do not stand up to prevailing opinion.