Matthew 27:17
"Therefore when they were gathered
together, Pilate said unto them, 'Whom will ye that I release unto you?
Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ'"?
Although Pilate knew that Jesus was
innocent, he looked for some diplomatic way to release Jesus that would
not cause him to lose popularity with the Jewish leaders.
Many leaders seek the favor of others rather than the truth!
This is why he sent Jesus to Herod. He hoped that Herod would pass judgment on Jesus and save him the trouble.
When that scheme failed, Pilate drew on an old custom of releasing a prisoner to the people at the feast. He gave them a choice between Jesus, who he knew was innocent, and Barabbas, who was a murderer. Pilate thought that the crowd would certainly choose Jesus. However, through the insistence of the chief priests and scribes, the people chose Barabbas to be released.
Pilate was now out of ideas as to how to let Jesus go, and still save face with the Jews, so he condemned Jesus to death. Pilate violated what he knew to be true in his heart because of a fear of men as shown in this proverb.
(Prov. 29:)
Without the chief priests' cooperation, he ran the risk of unrest among the Jews, and possible punishment by Caesar for failing to govern well.
As it turned out, Pilate was deposed anyway, just a few years later by Tiberius Caesar, and died in exile in Gaul in A.D. 41.
At the most, Pilate gained a five-year extension of his troubled rule, and damned his soul in the process. What a person compromises to keep, he'll lose. We take nothing earthly with us when we leave this earth!
Sin is never worth the price.
Many leaders seek the favor of others rather than the truth!
This is why he sent Jesus to Herod. He hoped that Herod would pass judgment on Jesus and save him the trouble.
When that scheme failed, Pilate drew on an old custom of releasing a prisoner to the people at the feast. He gave them a choice between Jesus, who he knew was innocent, and Barabbas, who was a murderer. Pilate thought that the crowd would certainly choose Jesus. However, through the insistence of the chief priests and scribes, the people chose Barabbas to be released.
Pilate was now out of ideas as to how to let Jesus go, and still save face with the Jews, so he condemned Jesus to death. Pilate violated what he knew to be true in his heart because of a fear of men as shown in this proverb.
(Prov. 29:)
1
The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2
When a country is rebellious, it
has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains
order.
3
A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
4
Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.
5
Evildoers do not understand what
is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6
Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.
7
A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8
Whoever increases wealth by
taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will
be kind to the poor.
9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
10
Whoever leads the upright along
an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will
receive a good inheritance.
11
The rich are wise in their own
eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12
When the righteous triumph,
there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go
into hiding.
13
Whoever conceals their sins does
not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14
Blessed is the one who always
trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16
A tyrannical ruler practices
extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17
Anyone tormented by the guilt of
murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.
18
The one whose walk is blameless
is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the
pit.
19
Those who work their land will
have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill
of poverty.
20
A faithful person will be richly
blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21
To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22
The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.
23
Whoever rebukes a person will in
the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.
24
Whoever robs their father or
mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.
25
The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper.
26
Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
27
Those who give to the poor will
lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many
curses.
28
When the wicked rise to power,
people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
So for
what he thought they might do to him.Without the chief priests' cooperation, he ran the risk of unrest among the Jews, and possible punishment by Caesar for failing to govern well.
As it turned out, Pilate was deposed anyway, just a few years later by Tiberius Caesar, and died in exile in Gaul in A.D. 41.
At the most, Pilate gained a five-year extension of his troubled rule, and damned his soul in the process. What a person compromises to keep, he'll lose. We take nothing earthly with us when we leave this earth!
Sin is never worth the price.
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