Matthew the apostle wrote how, “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. 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”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse seventeen of his book, Matthew wrote how Pilate asked, “whom will you that I release unto you? Barabbas or Jesus?” where we read:
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?
The verse reads, “Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, ...” Matthew began word, “therefore” which means “then, wherefore and on account that” “when” which means “at the time and moment” “they were gathered together” or “the religious leaders, the elders and people in Jerusalem were assembled and joined together”, “Pilate” whose name means “armed with a spear” and was “the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified” “said unto them” or “uttered, declared, proclaimed and questioned the religious leaders and elders”. Matthew shared how the “high priests, elders and the people in Jerusalem” were assembled before Pilate, and he asked them the following question.
The verse continues, “... Whom will you that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? Matthew continued with Pilate's words, “whom will you” or “what person do the religious leaders and elders desire” “that I release” which means “that Pilate set free, dismiss and liberate” “unto you” or “to the religious leaders, the elders and the people in Jerusalem”? “Barabbas” whose name means “son of a father or master” and was “the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ”, “or Jesus” which means “or Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate” “which is called” or “who is affirmed, pointed out as, mentioned, declared and spoken of as” “the Christ” which means “the anointed One who is the Messiah and Son of God”. Matthew shared how Pilate gave the religious leaders and the crowd a choice to release “Barabbas” who was a known thief or “Jesus” who was spoken of as “the Messiah”.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Pilate followed the custom for releasing a prisoner to the people during the “Passover festival”. He narrowed his choices to two candidates: The first was “Barabbas” and was known to be a robber among the people, and the second was “Jesus” who was called by many “the Christ” or “the Messiah”. Can we imagine how it was for Jesus to stand before His created beings including Pilate, the religious leaders, the elders and the multitude, to have them make a decision as to who would be freed and who would not? Jesus demonstrated great restraint with these people because He knew mankind could not be saved from their sins in any other way. God loves people, and He “gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (See John 3:16). Those who are wise will consider carefully all Jesus did, even while Pilate was giving the people a choice, and yield their lives to the “Christ” who endured all these things with their salvation in mind.
Next time Matthew shares how Pilate, “knew that for envy they had delivered him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
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