Pilate Questions Jesus - Matthew 27:13

Matthew the apostle wrote, “Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Are you the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, You said it. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse thirteen of his book, Matthew shared how Pilate asked Jesus, “do you not hear how many things they witness against you?” where we read:

Then said Pilate unto him, Do you not hear how many things they witness against you?

The verse reads, “Then said Pilate unto him, ...” Matthew began words, “Then said” which means “at that time and moment uttered, declared and proclaimed” “Pilate” whose name means “armed with a spear” and was “the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified” “unto him” which means “to Jesus”. Matthew shared how “the governor” named “Pilate” began to question Jesus.

The verse continues, “... Do you not hear how many things they witness against you?” Matthew added the words, “do you not hear” or “are you, Jesus, not endowed with hearing, perceiving, understanding or comprehending” “how many things” which means “the great number of accusations” “they witness” or “the religious leaders give testimony” “against you” which means “in opposition to Jesus”. Matthew shared how Pilate asked Jesus whether he “heard” the great number of “testimonies” the religious leaders presented in opposition to Jesus.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Pilate responded to Jesus' silence. Most people who are arrested will give a defense when accusations are brought against them, but Jesus did not say a word. Pilate wondered if Jesus “heard” what the “religious leaders” were saying about Him, and he had no idea that Jesus was fulfilling scripture again which declared, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.” (See Isaiah 53:7). Jesus followed every aspect concerning Him being the Christ, the Messiah, and because He obeyed, every person has an opportunity to know Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Let all who consider these things yield their lives to Jesus who alone fulfilled these prophesies even when it meant being silent.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus, “answered him to never a word”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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