Pilate
said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
Matthew 27:22
Matthew 27 [19.] While 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.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They said, “Barabbas!”
Matthew 27 [22.] Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?”
They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
Matthew 27 [23.] But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?”
But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
Matthew 27 [24.] So 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.”
Matthew 27 [25.] All the people answered, “May his blood be on us, and on our children!”
Matthew 27 [26.] Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified. Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.
Meaning:
This verse is part of the climactic moment in the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Pilate, uncertain of what to do with Jesus, asks the gathered crowd for guidance. The response of the crowd is swift and chilling: "Let him be crucified!" This marks a turning point in the narrative, as Jesus, though innocent, is sentenced to death by crucifixion.
- The Trial of Jesus
Matthew 27 describes the final hours of Jesus' life, from his trial before Pilate to his crucifixion. Before this moment, Jesus had been betrayed by Judas, arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, and brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin, who accused him of blasphemy. However, the Jewish leaders lacked the authority to execute Jesus, so they brought him to Pilate, the Roman governor, seeking a death sentence under Roman law.
Pilate found himself in a difficult position. He could not find any valid reason to condemn Jesus to death. Even after questioning Jesus, Pilate seemed hesitant to follow through with the demands of the religious leaders. He recognized that the charges brought against Jesus were out of envy and that Jesus was innocent of any crime deserving death (Matthew 27:18-19). Pilate's wife even sent him a message, warning him to have nothing to do with the execution of Jesus because of a troubling dream she had about Him (Matthew 27:19).
Despite these warnings and Pilate’s own misgivings, the pressure from the crowd and the Jewish leaders mounted. The custom of releasing a prisoner during the Passover festival seemed like an opportunity for Pilate to release Jesus without provoking further unrest. He offered the crowd a choice: release Jesus, or release Barabbas, a notorious criminal. Shockingly, the crowd chose Barabbas (Matthew 27:20-21). And when Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus, they demanded his crucifixion.
- The Significance of the Crowd's Response
The crowd’s insistence on crucifixion is significant for several reasons:
Rejection of the Messiah: The crowd's cry to "crucify" Jesus reflects the tragic rejection of the very Messiah they had long awaited. Just days earlier, many in this same crowd had likely hailed Jesus as the King when He entered Jerusalem, shouting "Hosanna!" (Matthew 21:9). Yet now, influenced by the chief priests and religious leaders, they call for His death. This stark shift represents the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by the Jewish people, fulfilling the prophecy from Isaiah 53:3: "He was despised and rejected by men."
Innocence Condemned: Jesus’ innocence is emphasized throughout this passage. Pilate’s reluctance to sentence Him and his repeated declaration that he found no fault in Jesus (Luke 23:14) highlights the injustice of the situation. The crowd’s cry for crucifixion in the face of Jesus’ innocence reflects the depths of human sin and the blindness of their hearts. Despite His perfect life and ministry, Jesus is condemned like a common criminal.
Symbol of Christ’s Sacrifice: The demand for crucifixion, although horrifying, is also central to the Christian understanding of salvation. Jesus’ death on the cross was part of God’s divine plan to bring about the salvation of humanity. What the crowd meant for evil, God used for good. The crucifixion would become the means by which Jesus bore the sins of the world and provided a way for us to be reconciled with God (1 Peter 2:24).
- Pilate's Dilemma
Pilate’s question, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” reveals the governor’s internal struggle. He was caught between his own conscience, which told him that Jesus was innocent, and the political pressure from the Jewish leaders and the crowd. Pilate knew that condemning an innocent man was wrong, but he was also afraid of a potential uprising or backlash from the people. This inner conflict is evident in how he repeatedly tried to avoid making a decision, ultimately leaving the choice to the crowd.
Pilate’s question is, in many ways, the most important question any of us could ever answer: What will we do with Jesus? Pilate represents those who are faced with the truth of who Jesus is but are unwilling to make a firm stand. His decision to allow Jesus to be crucified shows the danger of seeking to please people rather than doing what is right in God’s eyes.
- The Role of the Crowd
The crowd plays a pivotal role in this moment. Throughout the Gospels, we see that the crowd was often fickle and easily swayed. In this case, they had been influenced by the chief priests and elders to turn against Jesus. Their rejection of Jesus and demand for His crucifixion demonstrate how easily people can be led astray when they follow the opinions of others rather than seeking truth for themselves.
In this instance, the crowd acts as a collective force that participates in the miscarriage of justice. Their voices, though manipulated by the religious leaders, represent the broader rejection of Jesus as the Messiah by many in Israel at that time.
Application for Us
The Question of Jesus: Just as Pilate asked what he should do with Jesus, we too are confronted with that same question. Jesus’ life, teachings, and sacrifice demand a response. Will we acknowledge Him as the Christ, the Savior of the world, and surrender our lives to Him? Or will we, like Pilate, choose to avoid the responsibility of that decision?
The Danger of People-Pleasing: Pilate’s downfall was his desire to please the crowd rather than standing up for what was right. His fear of man led him to make a tragic decision. We are often faced with similar pressures in our own lives. Will we choose to do what is right, even if it means standing alone, or will we compromise to gain the approval of others? Galatians 1:10 reminds us, “For am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ.”
Recognizing Our Role: The crowd in this passage serves as a reminder of the human tendency to reject God’s truth when it challenges our comfort or traditions. Their cries for crucifixion, though extreme, reflect the same rebellion that resides in every human heart. We may not cry out for Jesus’ death, but when we reject His lordship over our lives, we are, in essence, turning away from Him. We must be aware of how our own hearts, like the crowd’s, can be swayed by false influences and selfish desires.
Conclusion: Matthew 27:22 captures a pivotal moment in the Passion narrative, where Pilate’s question to the crowd reveals both the innocence of Jesus and the depth of humanity’s rejection of Him. Despite Jesus’ blamelessness, the crowd demands His crucifixion, choosing violence and death over the One who came to offer them life.
This verse challenges us to consider our own response to Jesus. Pilate’s question, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” is one we must answer for ourselves. Will we choose to follow Him, or will we, like the crowd, reject Him? The decision we make about Jesus is the most important one in our lives, determining not only our present path but our eternal destiny.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible