20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death . 21 But the governor said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said , "Barabbas ." 22 Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ ?" They all said , "Crucify Him!" 23 And he said , "Why , what evil has He done ?" But they kept shouting all the more , saying , "Crucify Him!" 24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing , but rather that a riot was starting , he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd , saying , "I am innocent of this Man's blood ; see to that yourselves ." 25 And all the people said , " His blood shall be on us and on our children !"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 27:20-25
Commentary on Matthew 27:11-25
(Read Matthew 27:11-25)
Having no malice against Jesus, Pilate urged him to clear himself, and laboured to get him discharged. The message from his wife was a warning. God has many ways of giving checks to sinners, in their sinful pursuits, and it is a great mercy to have such checks from Providence, from faithful friends, and from our own consciences. O do not this abominable thing which the Lord hates! is what we may hear said to us, when we are entering into temptation, if we will but regard it. Being overruled by the priests, the people made choice of Barabbas. Multitudes who choose the world, rather than God, for their ruler and portion, thus choose their own delusions. The Jews were so bent upon the death of Christ, that Pilate thought it would be dangerous to refuse. And this struggle shows the power of conscience even on the worst men. Yet all was so ordered to make it evident that Christ suffered for no fault of his own, but for the sins of his people. How vain for Pilate to expect to free himself from the guilt of the innocent blood of a righteous person, whom he was by his office bound to protect! The Jews' curse upon themselves has been awfully answered in the sufferings of their nation. None could bear the sin of others, except Him that had no sin of his own to answer for. And are we not all concerned? Is not Barabbas preferred to Jesus, when sinners reject salvation that they may retain their darling sins, which rob God of his glory, and murder their souls? The blood of Christ is now upon us for good, through mercy, by the Jews' rejection of it. O let us flee to it for refuge!