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Matthew 27:11-31 (Pilate)

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Lead Me to the Cross and together we are following Jesus’ final steps on his way to the cross and learning how these events relate to us and our lives as followers of Jesus. A few weeks ago we looked at Jesus’ first trial before Caiaphas the high priest. Today we come to Jesus’ second trial before Pilate. (Read Matthew 27:11-14 and pray.)

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And so today we come to Jesus on trial – part two. We saw that the first trial was marked by illegal proceedings, false witnesses and distorted testimony. Sadly, the second trial doesn’t fare much better. There was actually a third trial before Herod as well that we read about in the gospel of Luke (Luke 23:6-12), but Matthew doesn’t even bother recording that one. The focus here is on Jesus before Pilate.

And if you were hoping that Jesus would receive justice at this second trial, you will be sorely disappointed. The whole purpose of a trial is to clear the innocent and condemn the guilty. But in this particular trial, the innocent party is condemned while the guilty person is set free.

We saw at the beginning of this chapter how the Jewish leaders bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. Although they proclaimed Jesus worthy of death at his first trial, they have no authority under Roman law to put him to death, so they bring him to Pilate. Remember, the first trial had a predetermined outcome because they were the ones in charge. But now Pilate’s in charge, so this trial will require a little more finesse.

I. Jesus stands before Pilate (11-14)

And so, Jesus stands before Pilate for questioning.

   A. Jesus affirms that he is the king of the Jews (11)

And the trial begins with Jesus affirming that he is the king of the Jews. Look at verse 11:

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. (Matthew 27:11)

The “you” in Pilate’s question is emphatic, perhaps even a little derisive. Pilate looks at this beat-up, bound prisoner before him and asks him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” It’s an interesting question that seems to come out of nowhere for us. But obviously it was proceeded by the Jewish leaders bringing their accusations against Jesus. You couldn’t bring someone to trial without an accusation.

The gospel of Luke tells us they brought three charges against Jesus. They accused him of subverting the nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar and claiming to be Christ, a king (Luke 23:2). Notice these are all new charges! At his first trial they accused him of blasphemy, but they know that Pilate won’t be interested in religious charges, so they bring these more politically oriented charges against him instead. Pilate focuses on the third charge, and so he asks Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Jesus answers, “Yes, it is as you say.” This is the third time Jesus has answered this way in the space of a few hours. He said the same thing to Judas at the Last Supper when Judas asked him, “Am I the betrayer?” (26:25). He said the same thing to Caiaphas at the first trial when Caipahas asked him: “Are you the Christ?” (26:64). And now he says the same thing to Pilate when Pilate asks him: “Are the king of the Jews?” (27:11).

Pilate is trying to give Jesus an out here. For a number of reasons Pilate becomes convinced of Jesus’ innocence early on in this trial, and he tries repeatedly to set Jesus free. And so, he gives Jesus the chance to escape first by asking him if he really is the king of the Jews. Just say no, the trial is over, and you can go free. But Jesus answers in the affirmative, and so the trial goes on.

   B. Jesus makes no reply to his accusers (12-14)

Similar to the first trial, Jesus makes no reply to his accusers. Look at verses 12-14:

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge – to the great amazement of the governor. (Matthew 27:12-14)

Pilate is stunned by Jesus’ silence. Pilate has presided over many trials. Most prisoners loudly protest their innocence, but Jesus doesn’t say a word. Charles Spurgeon comments: “He might have cleared himself of every accusation that was brought against him, but that would have left the load of guilt upon those whose place he came to take; so he answered never a word. Such silence was sublime.” (Charles Spurgeon; The Gospel of the Kingdom: An Exposition of the Gospel of Matthew)

Jesus stood silent before his accusers at his first trial, and now he does so again. He was innocent of all charges, yet he refused to defend himself. Jesus was willing to stand condemned so that you and I could be set free.

II. The crowd chooses Barabbas over Jesus (15-26)

Jesus has suffered a second round of false charges and accusations from the Jewish leaders. But now we come to an even greater miscarriage of justice when the crowd chooses Barabbas over Jesus.

   A. Pilate tries to get the crowd to ask for Jesus’ release (15-18)

Pilate’s first attempt to set Jesus free failed. So, Pilate moves on to a different strategy. He tries to get the crowd to ask for Jesus’ release. Look at verses 15-18:

Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. (Matthew 27:15-18)

Barabbas is a notorious prisoner Pilate has in custody. Matthew doesn’t tell us what Barabbas’ crimes were, but the other gospels tell us that Barabbas was a robber or insurrectionist (John 18:40) and a murderer (Mark 15:7). Surely the people would choose Jesus rather than have a robber and a murderer released back into society.

So, Pilate offers the crowd a choice between this notorious criminal, Barabbas, or the innocent man, Jesus, who is called the Christ. Pilate knew it was out of envy that the leaders had handed Jesus over to him. Pilate may not have been a good judge at this second trial, but apparently he was a good judge of character. He knows Jesus is innocent, and so he tries to get the crowd to ask for Jesus’ release.

   B. Pilate’s wife warns him of Jesus’ innocence (19)

Meanwhile Pilate’s wife sends a message to him warning him of Jesus’ innocence. Look at verse 19:

While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” (Matthew 27:19)

Pilate’s wife sends him this message while he is sitting on the judge’s seat. She has had a dream about Jesus, more like a nightmare, that is causing her great distress. We are not told the content of her dream, but the dream in some way confirmed to her Jesus’ innocence. So, she sends Pilate a message telling him about the dream and warning him not to condemn this innocent man.

And so, now Pilate has yet another reason to declare Jesus innocent. He himself is convinced of Jesus’ innocence. He knows the Jewish leaders have handed Jesus over to him out of envy. And now his wife has this dream also confirming Jesus’ innocence.

   C. The leaders persuade the crowd to ask for Barabbas (20-23)
      – Acts 3:13-14

Pilate thinks he has a slam dunk with the Barabbas or Jesus offer. There is no way the people will want Barabbas released, and so they will have to ask for Jesus by default. But he didn’t count on the Jewish leaders’ influence with the crowd, and the leaders persuade the crowd to ask for Barabbas instead. Look at verses 20-23:

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. 21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered. 22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:20-23)

And so, Pilate’s whole strategy backfires on him. When Pilate asks the crowd for their choice, to his surprise and dismay they ask for Barabbas. Jesus went around doing good, healing and teaching the people, but they choose Barabbas, a robber and a murderer, over Jesus. William Barclay comments: “They preferred the man of violence to the man of love.” (William Barclay; The Gospel of Matthew)

Later Peter would remind the people: “You handed [Jesus] over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you” (Acts 3:13b–14).

It’s easy to condemn the crowd here, but before you come down too hard on them, examine yourself for a moment. Who or what have you chosen over Jesus at times in your life? How many times have you been given the choice, and you have chosen someone or something else over Jesus?

And so, the crowd cries out for Barabbas to be released. Dumbfounded Pilate asks them, “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” The crowd shouts back, “Crucify him!” Pilate tries to dissuade them, once again emphasizing Jesus’ innocence. “Why? What crime has he committed?” Notice the people don’t even answer. They just keep crying out, “Crucify him!” Isn’t that the way it always goes? When you don’t have a good argument, just shout louder! People do the same thing today.

Pilate asked the crowd, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate’s question raises a similar question for us today. What will you do with Jesus who is called Christ? Every one of us will one day be held accountable for what we have personally decided about Jesus. Once again, have you chosen Jesus in your life or something else?

   D. Pilate washes his hands and declares his own innocence (24-25)

The crowd cries out for Barabbas, and so Pilate washes his hands of the matter and declares his own innocence. Look at verses 24-25:

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 25 All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” (Matthew 27:24-25)

Pilate was getting nowhere. The crowd was close to rioting. So, what does he do? Instead of declaring Jesus innocent, he declares himself innocent! He washes his hands in front of the people saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.” If only it were that easy! If only we could make ourselves innocent simply by saying so. No amount of water can wash away your sins. Only the blood of Jesus covers your sin.

Pilate tells the crowd, “It’s your responsibility!” That’s the same thing the Jewish leaders said to Judas when he returned the money to the temple: “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” (Matthew 27:4) it seems nobody wants to take responsibility for Jesus’ death. The Jewish leaders blame Judas and pass Jesus off to Pilate. Pilate blames the crowd and tries to pass the responsibility on to the people, which the people gladly receive.

The people respond, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” Now, this verse has wrongly been used by some to justify antisemitism in the past, blaming Jesus’ death on the Jewish people. But there is nothing antisemitic about this verse or anything in the Bible. Jesus died for sin, and we have all sinned, so we are all responsible for Jesus’ death. It was your sin and mine that put Jesus on the cross.

Pilate washes his hands and declares himself innocent, but there is only one innocent person here, and it’s not Pilate. Pilate tries to avoid responsibility, but he is just as responsible as everyone else. Yes, he tried hard to get Jesus released. First, he gave Jesus the chance. Then he gave the crowd the opportunity. But he was the one with the authority all along, and he chose not to release an innocent man. Pilate washes his hands in vain. “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

   E. Pilate releases Barabbas and hands Jesus over to be crucified (26)

And so, Pilate releases Barabbas and hands Jesus over to be crucified. We read in verse 26:

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26)

The guilty man goes free, and the innocent man is condemned to death. Once again, there is only one innocent person here. The Jewish leaders are guilty of false accusations and persuading the crowd against Jesus. Barabbas is guilty of multiple crimes. The crowd is guilty of choosing Barabbas over Jesus. Pilate is guilty of condemning an innocent man to death. Jesus is the only innocent one here, and Pilate hands him over to be crucified.

Pilate sentenced Jesus to death, but it is the sentence over Pilate’s head that endures throughout history. Pilate’s actions are recorded in the gospels and his name is memorialized in the Apostles’ Creed which has been read in churches all over the world for centuries on end: “Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate.”

III. The soldiers mock and abuse Jesus (27-31)

Jesus suffered injustice under Pontius Pilate, and now he also suffers emotional and physical abuse as the solders mock and abuse him. Look at verses 27-31 with me now:

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:27-31)

Jesus was abused after his first trial before Caiaphas the high priest, and now he is abused again after his second trial before Pontius Pilate. The temple guards mocked him as a prophet after the first trial. The Roman guards now mock him as a king.

First, they flog him, which was a brutal enough punishment by itself. Then they dress him up like a king with a scarlet robe on his shoulders, a crown of thorns pressed into his head and a staff in his right hand. They kneel before him, mocking him and spitting on him. They take the staff from his hand and strike him on the head with it again and again. When they are finished, they remove the robe. They put his own clothes on him, and they lead him away to Mount Calvary to crucify him. They lead him to the cross where he died for you and me.

CONCLUSION: What happened with Jesus and Barabbas is a picture of what Jesus has done for you and me. Jesus is the Son of God who lived a perfect life and never once sinned. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. The just punishment for sin is death, and so we are all condemned to death for our sins. When Jesus died on the cross, the innocent died for the guilty. I am Barabbas. You are Barabbas. We all are Barabbas. Jesus died so that we could live.

The bad news of Jesus’ trial before Pilate is that an innocent man was condemned to death and the guilty person was set free. The good news of the gospel of Christ is that an innocent man was condemned to death and the guilty are set free. Just as Jesus died in Barabbas’ place, Jesus also died in our place. We were guilty (guilty as sin), but Jesus’ death has removed our guilt and set us free. Praise God!

Three men died on Calvary that day. The middle cross was meant for Barabbas, but Jesus was crucified there instead. Jesus died in Barabbas’ place. Has Jesus died in your place?

© Ray Fowler

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