New Testament: Matt 27.24

To read the Bible in a year, read Matthew 27.1–31 on February 13, In the year of our Lord Christ 2022

By Don Ruhl 

As the Roman governor in the district around Jerusalem, Pilate had a huge responsibility of keeping the peace. Therefore, when the leaders of the Jews brought Jesus to him and Pilate kept insisting that Jesus was innocent, while the Jews kept insisting that Jesus needed to be crucified, Pilate could see what was happening. 

A riot was in its beginning stages, and he knew that he had to do whatever it took to keep the peace: 

When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”

– Matthew 27.24 

So he gave in to them and he put to death, what was to Pilate, an innocent man. Why did Pilate not surround Jesus with Roman soldiers and have him escorted out of the area, even to another country? 

This is the way that it had to happen that Jesus might die by crucifixion for our sins. 

Questions: 

• What would you have done if you were Pilate? 
• Did Pilate’s hand washing truly cleanse him of the blood of Jesus? 

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