“His blood be on us and on our
children!” The crowd
responding to Pilate in Matthew 27:25
To chronologically harmonize the gospel accounts is not illogical
or contradictory. It can, however, be difficult. There is another time break in Matthew 27;
this time between verses 23 and 24. John
19:1-15 fills in the details while Matthew focuses more on the crowd choosing
Barabbas over Jesus.
“He comes to make His blessings flow; far as the curse is found, far as the curse is found, far as, far as, the curse is found.” (Joy to the World by Isaac Watts, 1719)
“…yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” (The high priest to the apostles in Acts 5:28)
In his attempt to convince the crowd to not choose Barabbas over Jesus, Pilate saw that he
was gaining nothing (v. 24). Rather Pilate noticed that a riot was beginning
(v. 24). Pilate did not want another
riot. Since Pilate was appointed
governor, he had failed to keep the peace with the Jews (see Luke 13:1). This had earned him a skeptical and watchful
eye from the emperor. Additionally the
chief priests, manipulating Pilate’s fear of the emperor, once again rejected
their God by proclaiming, “We have no king but Caesar!” (John 19:15).
With no result in his efforts to free Jesus, Pilate was
forced into a decision he didn’t want. He took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am
innocent of this man’s blood,” (v. 24). Pilate borrowed one of the Jewish customs
from Deuteronomy 21:6-7, where one washes his hands to proclaim his innocence
of a slain man’s blood. Pilate also may have
been acting on his wife’s advice from verse 19.
Pilate concludes with, “See to it yourselves,” (v. 24); words which are eerily
similar to the words of the chief priests to Judas in 27:4.
Next comes one of the most tragic boasts in all of
Scripture: And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and our
children!” (v. 25). Matthew
has been wrongly accused of anti-Semitism for including these words which
appear only in his gospel; Christians (and others), blind to their own
complicity, have sadly used this as an excuse to persecute Jews.
Several weeks later Peter stood before a crowd in Jerusalem comprised
of “men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem,” (Acts 2:14). It was the day of Pentecost, the day the
Lord poured out His Holy Spirit on all
who believe. Peter, like the crowd
before him, had also cursed and denied the Lord (see 26:74). Yet he preached here with anointed
power. Peter’s choice of words was not
coincidental: “For the promise [of
forgiveness] is for you and for your
children,” (Acts 2:39, emphasis added).
Peter continued, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation,” (Acts
2:40).
My friend Avi Snyder, who works for Jews for Jesus, calls this “The Great Reversal.” God in His incredible mercy reversed the very
curse that the Jews called upon themselves.
The Father wanted to be sure that the very first ones to hear (and receive)
the gospel were the ones who demanded Jesus’ crucifixion! And in another incredible reversal, the
blood of Jesus did fall upon the Jews,
resulting not in their condemnation but rather in their salvation.
I am guilty of speaking
impulsively. Especially when I become passionate about something. I
sometimes say things I regret; I will even curse myself (or others) unknowingly. And to think, I serve a God who will take my
curses and turn them into blessings. Not just earthly blessings but blessings
of salvation. I weep. I am
humbled. I am forever grateful.
The self-appointed curse on
the Jerusalem people became a blessing for
the Jerusalem people; and it will spread to “Judea, Samaria and to the end of
the earth,” (Acts 1:8). Bring Him the ugliness
in your heart and the inadvertent ways you have cursed yourself and others. Be “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37) and cry out
to the Lord. He will forgive you and
restore you. He “will give you a new
heart and a new spirit” (Ezekiel 36:26).
Oh, what an awesome God we serve!
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