The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 27 Part 2 Pontius Pilate Declared Jesus Was Innocent Three Times

Matthew 27:11-14  And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. 12  And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. 13  Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? 14  And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. 

We now look at Jesus' more formal trial in front of the Roman governor named Pontius Pilate.

Pilate asked Jesus if He was the king of the Jews and Jesus simply said "That is what you say."

Chief priests and elders launched baseless accusations against Jesus but our Lord did not respond to them.

Isaiah 53:7  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 openeth not his mouth.

Jesus did not respond to those who interrogated Him because He was literally fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy given about 800 years before Christ was born.

Jesus was introduced as the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world (See John 1:29-36).

Isaiah 53 gives us graphic details of Christ's sufferings for us as the Lamb of God, and for the redemption that He brings through His death and resurrection.

Just as sheep are usually quiet and still when their wool is sheared, so Christ was silent and still before His unjust accusers.

John 18:28-32  Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. 29  Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man? 30  They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee. 31  Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 32  That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spake, signifying what death he should die. 

John's gospel tells us that after they brought Jesus to the hall of judgment, Pilate came out and asked them why they brought Jesus to that place.

The chief priest's answer was haughty and arrogant, especially considering that a Roman governor could make their lives miserable.

Pilate then said Jesus should be judged according to their law, but they did not have the authority to administer capital punishment. 

Luke 23:1-5  And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. 2  And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. 3  And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. 4  Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man. 5  And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. 

Luke was a physician with a keen eye for details and he captured the intense hatred against Jesus by the chief priests.

They lied to Pilate by claiming Jesus said Jews did not have to pay taxes to Rome, when in fact, Jesus said the exact opposite.

Christ specifically instructed scribes and Pharisees to "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's" (See Matthew 22:15-22).

Luke tells us that Pilate then learned that Jesus was from Galilee which was under the jurisdiction of King Herod.

Luke 23:6-12  When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. 7  And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. 8  And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. 9  Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. 10  And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. 11  And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. 12  And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. 

Pilate was probably looking for an easy way out of a difficult situation dumped on him by the Jews.

Hearing that Jesus was originally from Galilee gave him an opportunity to send Jesus to King Herod.

It just happened that Herod was in Jerusalem at the same time Pilate was, and that he had wanted to meet Jesus for a long time.

Herod heard many accounts of the teachings and mighty miracles that Christ did, and he was intrigued and curious.

Herod, like Pilate, was an expert interrogator and he asked many questions of Jesus, but He did not answer the king.

Scribes and chief priests were also present and spewed out hateful and defamatory accusations against Jesus.

Herod had his soldiers put a royal robe on Jesus as the crowd in attendance mocked and ridiculed our Lord.

Jesus was taken back to Pilate at this point in time.

Matthew 27:15-18  Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. 16  And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17  Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18  For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 

Roman governors established a tradition where they would release one prisoner to the Jews according to their request.

In this case, a vile criminal named Barabbas was imprisoned at the same time that Jesus was being interrogated. 

Luke's gospel tells us that Barabbas was a leader in a fierce riot and a murderer (See Luke 23:19).

Pilate asked the religious leaders and other Jews present, if they wanted him to release Barabbas or Jesus.

Pilate understood that the chief priests and scribes were insanely jealous and full of hate toward Jesus, and this is why they were trying to eliminate Him.

Matthew 27:19  When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 

Matthew includes an insightful note about the wife of Pontius Pilate.

When Pilate was sitting in the judgment seat, ready to give his verdict, she sent him a note saying not to sentence Jesus to death if at all possible.

Pilate's wife had some knowledge of the teachings and miracles of Jesus, and she had a disturbing dream that caused her to implore her husband not to condemn Christ to death.

Matthew 27:20  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 

The chief priests and elders of the people persuaded most of the mob gathered to ask for the release of Barabbas.

They preferred to set a murderer free to walk among them rather than to free the Son of God who ministered to all, and did all things well (See Mark 7:37).

We see a venomous hatred against Jesus Christ inspired by the working of Satan in the minds of these men.

Matthew 27:21-23  The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22  Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23  And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 

When Pilate asked whether Jesus or Barabbas should be released, they Jews unanimously cried out "Let Him be crucified."

Pilate was taken aback by their demands because he knew that Jesus was not guilty of any crime.

He asked the Jews to name any evil deed that Jesus did, but of course, they could not, because Christ is the sinless Son of God who always does that which is good and right.

Instead, the crowd became more demonstrative in demanding the crucifixion of Jesus.

Luke 23:14  Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: 15  No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. 

Matthew tells us that Pilate said Jesus committed no evil deeds.

Luke says that both Pilate and Herod examined, or interrogated Jesus and neither ruler found not fault with Christ concerning the false accusations lodged by the Jews.

Three times in John's gospel we find Pilate saying "I find no fault in Him."

John 18:37  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38  Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. 

John 19:4  Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. 

John 19:6  When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. 

Take note of these truths.

We have a King named Herod who examined Jesus and found Christ innocent.

We have a Roman governor who also questioned Jesus and found Him to be innocent.

Matthew 27:24-26  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26  Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. 

Therefore, the record is crystal clear. 

Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and upon examination by government officials who were trained to investigate, interrogate, He was found innocent.

Even so, giving public declaration of Christ's innocence did not clear Pilate from all guilt in this matter. 

He should have acted as an upright judge, and not have yielded to the unrighteous requests of the people.

He certainly should not to have scourged an innocent man, or have condemned Jesus to be crucified. 

But he did clearly bear a testimony to the innocence of Christ.

He called Jesus a "just person" which means someone who is  righteous, and observing divine law.

A just person is one who is upright, righteous, virtuous, and a keeper the commands of God.

Thus, this word describes someone who is innocent of any crime, without guilt before God and without any character flaws.

Jesus Christ was publicly declared to be righteous, faultless and a just person, which is the highest commendation of pure moral character and perfection that anyone could receive.

This is in accord with the plan of God who sent His perfectly righteous and just and blameless Son to suffer and die for our sins.

As Peter put it "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust."

Christ is without sin but He died to atone for our sins. 

Christ is innocent under civil law and God's law, but He suffered and died bearing our sins and transgressions.

The only truly "just person" ever to walk the face of this earth died for all mankind, we who are born sinners and are truly unjust.

Why? Because God so loved the world that He gave us His only Son, that whosoever believes with repentant faith, will not die and go to Hell, but shall receive eternal life and a home in heaven.

Bob