Culver Community Church
Pastor Chris Sweeney
Sermon Notes
May 19, 2019
Matthew 27:11-26 Innocence Condemned
{vs. 11} We have to understand Matthew condenses the full account, telling us mostly of the second appearance of Jesus before Pilate – the final phase of His trials. In total, there were three stages to the Gentile trials, just as there were three Jewish trials. A lot has happened before we get to Pilate’s question “Are you the King of the Jews?”. The first appearance before Pilate is described in Luke 23:1-6 and John 18:28-38. John’s account tells us that they bring Him, Early in the morning (at dawn) and that Pilate has the gall to ask “What charges are you bringing against this man?” (This would not go as easily as they might have hoped!) A totally valid first question for any court of law! The religious leaders however seem taken back and unprepared to prove Jesus’ guilt –
"If He were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed Him over to you." Pilate said, "Take Him yourselves and judge Him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," they objected. - John 18:30-31 NIV
What arrogance! They actually question Pilate for having asked what are the charges! What they are saying is a combination of “How dare you question us?” and “Just trust us – He needs to die!” We know that Pilate has already been made aware that they were moving against Jesus, he knew they arrested Him in the dark of night (they took Roman soldiers with them to the garden!) - - - nothing happened during the turbulent holiday season without the Romans knowing it! Maybe he woke up on the wrong side of the bed, maybe he feared the people would blame him for killing a popular figure who healed and gave free lunches or maybe, Pilate’s own distaste for the leaders colored his actions but it seems that he wants to make them work for it! A strange contrast to his normal brutally efficient way of dealing with problems – Luke 13:1 tells us that Pilate had even killed some Galileans while they were offering sacrifices at the temple (an outrage to the Jews!) We will see that Pilate wants nothing to do with Jesus, the first proof of this is that he tries to send Him back to the Sanhedrin “Take Him yourselves and judge Him by your own law.” (John 18:31) It is here that the leaders expose their plans – “But we have no right to execute anyone” (I hear them say this with a whine) they want Him dead and want Pilate to do it for them!
These judges (supreme court judges) also didn’t want anything more to do with Jesus. The did not want another trial – just a rubber stamp of approval and the order for Him to die. Forced to come up with charges, charges that Pilate and Rome would care about, they offer three to Pilate:
Ø Perverting the nation – they make Jesus out to be some insurrectionist, a threat to Roman security and the next leader of a revolution. Looking at the bruised, bloodied and spit upon Jesus who humbly stands before him - - - Pilate had seen the defiance of these stiff-necked Jews and there was none of that in Jesus demeanor! He knows that Jesus is in no position to revolt against Rome. So he largely ignores this charge. (Strike one, next!)
Ø Forbidding the payment of taxes to Rome – Only days earlier Jesus had shut down the fault-finding opposition by declaring that the people should pay what is due to both God and Rome – “… render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s …” (Matthew 22:21) and no doubt Pilate heard all about it and I would bet he laughed at their defeat! (Strike two, next!)
Ø Claiming to be Christ, a King – Now this could be an issue with Caesar, whom Pilate represented, and it was Caesar who held Pilate’s fate, his very life in his hands. Still this humble, broken man claimed to be a king? Jesus didn’t look especially regal or majestic as He stood before Pilate, so the governor was probably sarcastic or ironic when he asked, “Are You the King of the Jews?” (‘You’ is in the emphatic position in the Greek)
{vs. 12-14} Pilate calls Jesus inside to be questioned (not concerned with His being entering a Roman home) while the accusers wait outside. Jesus gives no defense, no counter accusations, no miracle to prove He is who He says He is and save His life. Instead, Jesus gave Pilate the same simple reply He gave to the high priest “You have said so” (Matthew 26:64) or you said it. This amazed Pilate; he couldn’t believe that such a strong, dignified man – as beaten and bloody as He was – would stand silent at these many accusations. It’s as if He wanted to be condemned! The governor marveled greatly and coming out to them announces that “I find no basis for a charge against [no fault in] this man.” (Luke 23:4).
That however, would not satisfy the Jewish leaders, they wanted Jesus dead and gone!
But they insisted [kept insisting], "He stirs up the people all over Judea by His teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here." On hearing this, Pilate asked if the Man was a Galilean. - Luke 23:5-6 NIV
In examining Jesus Pilate hears that He is from Galilee and hoping once again to avoid the whole situation, he pawns Jesus off onto Herod (Antipas), the sub-ruler of Galilee (Luke 23:6-12) who is also in Jerusalem for the Passover. Herod was eager to see Jesus because although most of His ministry was in Galilee (Herod’s territory) Jesus had avoided Herod who was responsible for John the Baptist’s execution. Remember, Herod was fascinated with John the Baptist – repeatedly going to see him, flirting with God’s message as it were but ultimately was forced to do what he did not want by his illegitimate wife and step-daughter (who he was lusting after). Jesus refused to say anything to Herod, so he sent Jesus back to Pilate, but only after he and his men gave Him an elegant robe (fit for royalty) and mocked Him sufficiently. Notice, Pilate put Jesus’ fate in Herod’s hands – giving the second trial to him and by returning Jesus (without condemning Him) - - - Herod is also saying ‘I find Him innocent!’
This has been an enormous waste of time; the only thing sending Jesus and the accusers to Herod accomplished is a better relationship between Pilate and Herod! The religious leaders are no doubt upset to have to schlep back and forth on the High Holy Day - - - they have places to be and things to do! However, they must see this through to the end! Jesus must die, they believe this to be their plan - - - but in reality, it is the plan of God the Father, and Jesus Himself agreed upon before the foundations of the world!
That is two trials down and once again, Jesus’ fate is in Pilate’s hands. So Pilate comes up with another idea of how to be rid of Jesus. For some reason, this normally brutal man does not want to execute Jesus – maybe it’s a long lost sense of justice or that He has discovered Him to be unlike any other man he has ever examined or judged before. Can you imagine what it must have been like to stand in His presence (even bloodied and beaten), to look into His eyes - - - it must have been amazing to give Pilate such pause about condemning Him!
{vs. 15-18} Pilate has another idea! Maybe one of the leaders complained about doing all this on the day of Passover and it jogged his mind. I release a prisoner every year at the Festival as a token of good will! I can work this so the people will ask for Jesus and I’ll be free! To that end, Pilate set up a simple choice – Jesus, the Messiah, Healer and Miracle-worker versus the worst scum he had in the prison – a man called Jesus Barabbas (an ironic name meaning Jesus, son of the father). This will work out perfectly - the people won’t choice that thief, murderer and insurrectionist - - - the people like Jesus, it’s the leaders that have a problem with Him! Luke’s gospel tells us that Pilate calls together the leaders and the people – they are his target audience to ask this question. However, in a divinely appointed bit of timing – Pilate is distracted before he can seal the deal.
{vs. 19-20} While Pilate turns aside to deal with his wife’s note, contemplating what this fearful omen could mean the religious leaders begin to work the crowd. They used their powers of persuasion, guilt, logic and who knows what else to convince them to ask for Barabbas and send Jesus to the cross. Remember, these rulers held great sway over the people; to be excommunicated was to be like a leaper – out of community, work, family – isolated and no longer a Jew! More than that, most of the people liked Jesus but were not truly committed (like say a devoted Peter who was willing to die for Jesus).
{vs. 21-23} When Pilate steps back, he repeats the exact same question and is shocked by the people’s answer! Pilate is now afraid, no longer acting as a judge, he appeals to the crowd on Jesus’ behalf! He has declared Jesus’ innocence repeatedly; He even offers to punish Jesus, an innocent Man and then release Him – but to no avail! Mob mentality took over and now they want their way, egged on by the leaders and a fascination with the morbid (like being unable to turn away from a wreck – gruesome but fascinating). This is the exact thing that Pilate could not afford – a revolt! This would be terminal for his career and possibly be the end of his life. No matter how many extra soldiers were in Jerusalem – a full-scale rebellion could not be squelched (they were so outnumbered and would be overwhelmed!); he knows he must pacify the crowd!
{vs. 24-26} If he cannot be free of Jesus, then Pilate would try to shift the blame but no amount of water or soap could remove the stains of sin or quilt! That is why Jesus came, to procure the one and only detergent effective against sin – the blood of the spotless Lamb of God shed for you and me! Ironically, the people shouting for Jesus’ blood call down the blood (responsibility) upon themselves and their descendants – but sadly, not in that way which will wash away sin.
Jesus’ trials end with a blood-thirsty mob. The injustice is continued as the only innocent man to walk the Earth is condemned to be flogged and crucified. This was God’s plan; it did not happen because of the religious leaders rejections, not because of Judas’ betrayal, Pilate’s cowardice, nor Rome’s corruption - - - Jesus died for my sin and yours! Have you washed away your sins in the cleansing blood of the Lamb?