Pilate Wants to Release a Prisoner - Matthew 27:15

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. Then said Pilate unto him, Do you not hear how many things they witness against you? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse fifteen of his book, Matthew wrote more of how Pilate, “was wont to release unto the people a prisoner” where we read:

Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

The verse reads, “Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, ...” Matthew began words, “now at that feast” which means “at that time and moment when the festival and holy day came” “the governor” which means “the leader, guide, ruler, prefect, president, chief, general, commander and sovereign” “was wont to release” or “was accustomed, used to and desired to free, dismiss, send away and liberate” “unto the people” which means “to the people who were in Jerusalem” “a prisoner” or “a person who was bound, captive and in bonds”. Matthew shared how “Pilate” desired to follow a custom during the “Passover feast time” which involved “freeing” a person who was arrested and kept as a “prisoner”.

The verse continues, “... whom they would.” Matthew added the word, “whom” or “whoever and whatever person” “they would” which means “the people desired him to release”. Matthew shared how Pilate desired to grant the desire of the people concerning a “prisoner” who would be set free.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we understand there was a custom for “releasing” one prisoner during “Passover feast” time. Though the people were used to this regular event, this time they had no idea they were going to be choosing against their Messiah. Sovereign God knew all these things would occur, and when we carefully think through each of these events, we too shall understand that Jesus is indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God. Let all who read these words know, understand and submit their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Matthew shares how, “they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas”, 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.