Matthew the apostle continued the story about the judgment of Jesus and wrote, “Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will you that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse twenty of his book, Matthew wrote, “but the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude” where we read:
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude
that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
The verse reads, “But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude ...” Matthew began word, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “the chief priests” or “the high priests” “and elders” which means “the advanced in age, seniors and members of the great council or Sanhedrin” “persuaded” or “induced by words to believe, strove to please and induced to obey and yield to” “the multitude” which means “the crowd of people who were in Jerusalem”. Matthew shared how the “religious leaders and elders” began to convince the crowd of people around them to do the following.
The verse goes on to say, “... that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.” Matthew continued with the words, “that they should ask” or “that the crowd of people should request, beg, require, desire and crave for” “Barabbas” or “the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ whose name means son of a father or master”, “and destroy Jesus” or “and to abolish, render useless, ruin and kill Jesus who is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation”. Matthew shared how the “religious leaders” convinced the “multitude” around them to choose “Barabbas” and demand that Jesus be “killed and destroyed”.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we can see how peer pressure, especially when it is from authorities, can convince a “crowd” of people to make the worst decision in their lives. Rather than choose Jesus who was their Christ and Messiah, they were to call for “Barabbas” to be released unto them. Can we imagine desiring that a known “thief” be set free? This was all part of God's plan for the “salvation” of mankind, and because Jesus yielded His will to God's, “not my will, but your will be done”, He submitted to everything Pilate, the religious leaders and the crowd desired for Him. God loves every person, and His desire is to have a relationship with them through His Son Jesus. When they submit to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they forsake all others to whom they have a choice and choose Jesus instead of the available “Barabbas'”.
Next time Matthew shares how, “whether of the twain will you that I release unto you?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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