Sermon: A Very Unexpected Way to Save People From Their Sin Matthew 27:11-26
Truth Taught- Against all probability, Jesus will go to the cross to save His people from their sin.
Introduction
As we enter into the Christmas Season, we will no doubt, read many verses telling us about the great blessing that God would send His Son to be our Savior. As we think about Christmas and the birth of Jesus we think about shepherds, angels, hymns, dinners, blessings, and great joy. The reality of Christmas is that in order to give us peace and blessings, and great joy, God had to do a great number of things that were not peaceful and joyous. What Jesus endured to be the Savior of the world is beyond human understanding. We know some of it but we do not know all.
Matthew 1:18–25 (ESV)
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
What had to happen to fulfill that prophecy we will look to this Christmas season. Simply being born will not make Jesus our Savior. It took being born and much more to have the angel’s promise realized in time. It took realities like the one we are going to look at today. In order for Jesus to be our Savior the text today had to take place. Along with the great joy will also be mingled sorrow, pain and suffering.
Today, we will see the bravery of our Savior and the cowardice of Pilate.
Matthew 27:1–2 (ESV)
27 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.
Matthew 27:11–26 (ESV)
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again 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, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
1. Jesus Stands Before Pilate
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Jesus is brought before Pilate, the Roman Governor over Jerusalem. Pilate asks Jesus, are You the King of the Jews? Jesus responds, what you say is correct.
John’s Gospel gives us a little more detail…
John 18:33–38 (ESV)
33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.
Pilate declares Jesus not guilty of any charges that would require the death sentence. Pilate saw in Jesus perfect innocence. So, the Jews need to act and they need to act quickly…
Then, we read after Jesus spoke briefly with Pilate, that the Bible tells us when Jesus was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no response.
Now the Jewish leadership steps in to help Pilate change his mind. Luke reports some of the accusations they used to condemn Jesus. The Jewish leadership knew that the charge of blasphemy was of no interest to Pilate. They needed to produce evidence against Jesus that Pilate would be forced to deal with. These evil liars were very smart in their tactics. What could they tell Pilate?
They seek to show Pilate that Jesus is guilty of sedition…stirring up the people against the Roman Government. This would force Pilate to act.
Luke 23:1–5 (ESV)
23 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”
If you remember, the Jewish leadership had nothing they could accuse Jesus of. They marched in one false witness after another and they came up with nothing they could accuse Jesus for. Also, remember they arrested Jesus first and then tried to find something in which He was guilty. This was an illegal trial from the beginning.
Then Jesus spoke about His glory and they accused Him of blasphemy and they pronounce Him guilty and deserving of death. Pilate could care less about blasphemy so these wicked Jews change the charges to better fit what the Roman Government would care about. So now the charges are not blasphemy but sedition. The trial went from no charges to blasphemy which was not true to sedition which was also not true. Jesus never said don’t pay taxes to Caesar.
Luke 20:25–26 (ESV)
25 He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 26 And they were not able in the presence of the people to catch him in what he said, but marveling at his answer they became silent.
Luke 23:4–5 (ESV)
4 Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” 5 But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.”
John 18:29–30 (ESV)
29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”
John 19:7 (ESV)
7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.”
When Jesus was being accused by the Jewish leadership, the Bible tells us He was silent. He could have refuted their lies but He knew that this was His time. He had prayed to the Father for strength in accomplishing all God wanted. This was an example of the bravery of Jesus. He gave no reply; no defense but was entrusting Himself to His Father.
2. Pilate Releases a Notorious Criminal and Sends a Righteous Man to Be Crucified
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again 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, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
Rather than Pilate sticking to his convictions, he makes a major mistake. He compromises the truth that Jesus is innocent and gives in to the Jews and treats Jesus as if He was a common criminal. He thinks he can get out of the situation by compromise and his lack of conviction seals Jesus’ fate.
Pilate thought he could get out of this situation by treating Jesus as a criminal but then offering to release one of the prisoners. Surly the people would want him to release Jesus, an innocent Man.
Three crosses had been prepared for Barabbas and the other two who had been arrested with him. They were all guilty and Barabbas was guilty of murder and they were scheduled for execution. Barabbas was well-known or as Matthew tells us, a notorious prisoner. Barabbas would have been like a famous murderer today whose trial would have been heavily reported on the news and in the papers.
Rather than doing what was right, Pilate lets the crowd pick which one he should release. Pilate was a coward. So, Pilate is in between a rock and a hard place. He has to keep the peace if he’s going to keep his job. Everything in Pilate tells him Jesus is innocent of all the charges. He knows that the Jews are just wanting him to carry out the death sentence for them. He knows Jesus is innocent. He knows this is all political and the Jews are just jealous because Jesus was doing things they could never do.
18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.
At the exact time he was sitting on the judgement seat, 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”
Everything was pointing to releasing Jesus but then the Jewish leadership stirred up the crowd…notice that they were doing the exact thing that they had falsely accused Jesus of. They, themselves were guilty of sedition…stirring up the crowd. They said He stirred up the crowd when it was actually them.
The crowd calls for the release of a murderer and the crucifixion of Jesus. Mob mentality now ruled and they did not care about justice but were led by the Jewish leaders. Then came the chant…crucify, crucify, crucify.
3. His Blood Be On Us and On Our Children
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
So, Pilate the great coward in weakness shows that he’s no leader. He knows the right thing to do but for fear of losing his title he refuses. Pilate’s god was his title and political fame. When he washes his hands before the people and claims to be innocent of Jesus’ blood, it was just a show. He was guilty of Jesus’ blood. So, Pilate condemns an innocent man that he knows is innocent yet it makes no difference. Politicians know how to get around the rules.
The chief priests are also political. They don’t love God. They also love their power. They prove to be too much for Pilate. They know that if Rome is notified Pilate’s position is threatened.
Then the Chief Priests play their trump card…
John 19:12 (ESV)
12 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”
John 19:14–16 (ESV)
14 Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
Have you noticed through the Gospel of Matthew that when someone meets Jesus, that person’s soul is laid bare? Jesus also exposes what their false god is. Jesus exposes who they really are.
The Jews and Pilate worship power. They are willing to do anything to keep it. They will forfeit their own souls to retain earthly power.
he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”
Once Pilate gave in to the Jews, the situation deteriorated very rapidly. He washed his hands of Jesus and his responsibility claiming to be innocent. But Pilate was responsible and not innocent. Making a claim of innocence is not being innocent.
Then there is one of the more ironic twists found in the Gospels and it shows such amazing grace. The people who are also being manipulated by the Jews cry out…
25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
They were taking the responsibility of Jesus’ death. The crowd shouts, let His blood be on us and on our children.
Conclusion
Now, we have seen many examples of God’s grace through the pages of Scripture. But if you turn with me to the Book of Acts and let’s reason together through this text, you will see just how true their statement is. They meant that they would take credit for Jesus’ death…His blood be on us and our children. They sent Jesus to the cross. God has a plan to exhibit His grace to a world of wicked sinners…
Acts 3:11–4:4 (ESV)
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
4 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
Some of the exact people who shouted crucify Him, release Barabbas, His blood be on us…discovered that day with Peter preaching to them that, in fact, Jesus’ blood was on them and through a mysterious and wonderful act of divine grace God saved their souls. The wicked crowd who clamored for Jesus’ death will now sing praises to their Savior, Jesus. They are singing God’s praises even now.
The priests demand Jesus’ blood, Pilate said he was innocent of Jesus’ blood, while the people cried out let His blood be on us and our children.
If God can save these people God can save anyone.
you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Jesus died on the cross sentenced to death by some the very people His death would end up saving. God’s grace is far beyond our understanding. Praise God that Jesus is our Savior.
A Very Unexpected Way to Save People From Their Sin
Resources Used:
Matthew by Daniel Dorinai
Matthew by R T France
Matthew by Leon Morris
LORD’S SUPPER MEDITATION
Like those there that day calling for Jesus’ crucifixion, we too are just as guilty. It was our sin that Jesus went to the cross to pay for. We too as God’s people have experienced as wonderous grace as they did.
25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
Father, grant us grace beyond all our imagination that Jesus would be our Savior and as You told Joseph to name the baby Jesus because He will save His people from their sins, that you also had us in mind.
May we say together…
25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
