Context No. 2728 of 4322 · Matthew

Matthew 27:19-23: in context

19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.” 20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” 22Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!” 23But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”

Jesus stands before Pilate, and the truth of his innocence keeps pressing in from every side. Pilate's own wife sends an urgent message from the judgment seat: have nothing to do with that righteous man, I have suffered much in a dream because of him. But the chief priests work the crowd, and when Pilate offers to release a prisoner, the roar comes back: Barabbas. What then shall I do with Jesus? Let him be crucified.

Nearly everyone in the scene knows, at some level, that Jesus has done nothing wrong. Pilate says it aloud, why, what evil has he done? His wife dreams it. And still the crowd's shout carries the verdict. The pressure that undoes Pilate is not a convincing lie but the sheer noise of the crowd, which he fears more than he loves a clear conscience. He asks the honest question and then does the opposite of the answer.

When the crowd is loud and I already know what is right, do I ask Pilate's honest question and then follow the noise anyway?

Sources

Matthew 27:24: "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it."
Luke 23:4: "Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, I find no basis for a charge against this man."
Proverbs 29:25: "The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the LORD is kept safe."