Context No. 2363 of 4322 · Matthew

Matthew 27:24-31: in context

24So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.” 25All the people answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!” 26Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified. 27Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they kneeled down before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

Matthew brings us to Pilate's judgment seat. Seeing that he is getting nowhere and a riot is starting, Pilate takes water, washes his hands before the crowd, and declares himself innocent of this righteous man's blood. Then he releases Barabbas, has Jesus flogged, and hands him over. The soldiers dress Jesus in a scarlet robe, press a crown of thorns on his head, kneel in mockery, and strike him.

The hand-washing is what indicts Pilate. He had the authority to stop this and used it instead to condemn, then performed a ritual to keep his conscience clean. Water on the hands changes nothing about the verdict he signed. He wanted the outcome without the responsibility for it. Meanwhile the one truly innocent says nothing and absorbs the mockery meant for a king. The contrast is plain: the judge protests his innocence while the innocent stands condemned.

Where am I washing my hands of something I actually have the power to stop?

Sources

Matthew 27:24: He took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it.
Matthew 27:26: he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.
Matthew 27:29: They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they mocked him.