Which One to Release - Matthew 27:21

Matthew the apostle 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. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse twenty-one of his book, Matthew wrote how Pilate asked, “whether of the twain will you that I release unto you?” where we read:

The governor answered and said unto them,

Whether of the twain will you that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

The verse reads, “The governor answered and said unto them, ...” Matthew began words, “the governor” which means “the leader, guide, ruler, prefect, president, chief, general, commander and sovereign ” “answered” or “responded and began to answer” “and said” which means “and uttered, declared, proclaimed and questioned” “unto them” which means “to the religious leaders and elders”. Matthew shared how “the governor”, “Pilate” asked the “religious leaders and elders” the following question.

The verse continues, “... Whether of the twain will you that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.” Matthew continued with the word, “whether” or “which one” “of the twain” which means “of the two men” “will you” or “do the religious leaders and elders desire” “that I release” which means “that Pilate should set free, dismiss and let go” “unto you” or “to the religious leaders and the people”? Matthew shared how Pilate wanted to know which of the two men, Barabbas or Jesus, they wanted him to set free.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Pilate wanted the “religious leaders, elders and the multitude” to make a decision for him. Because they had a choice for this custom of releasing one prisoner during the “feast time”, Pilate deferred his judgment to them. All these things were done so Jesus could fulfill every scripture concerning Him being the Messiah, and because He was and is “the Savior of the World”, every facet had to be followed. God wants a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they submit their lives to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they shall have aligned with Jesus' reason to allow people to choose Him or “Barabbas”.

Next time Matthew shares how Pilate asked, “what shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ?”, 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.