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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 27:24 - 27:26
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_27:24-26
24When 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." 25And all the people said, "His blood shall be on us and on our children!" 26Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Mat_27:24 "a riot was starting" This was always a possibility during feasts with Jerusalem being so crowded with exuberant pilgrims. Rome always stationed extra troops from Caesarea in the Fortress Antonio during feast days.
▣ "washed his hands in front of the crowd" This was a Jewish custom, not a Roman practice (cf. Deu_21:6-7; Psa_26:6; Psa_73:13).
Mat_27:25 "His blood shall be on us and on our children" This was a grave oath, especially in light of the OT view of corporate guilt (cf. Exo_20:5-6; 2Sa_3:29). This was a self-curse! It was fulfilled in a.d. 70.
Mat_27:26 "scourged" This was a severe punishment! It is often fatal. It always preceded crucifixion, but it seems initially from Joh_19:1; Joh_19:12 that this possibly was another attempt by Pilate to gain sympathy for Jesus.
The Gospels use different words to describe this brutal beating.
1. phragelloô in Mat_27:26; Mar_15:15, translated by NASB as " scourged"
2. derô in Luk_22:63, translated by NASB as "beating"
3. mastigoô in Joh_19:1, translated by NASB as "scourged" (cf. Mat_20:19; Mar_10:34; Luk_18:33)
This terrible beating always preceded crucifixion. It was so severe that many died from it. A person was unclothed and their hands tied to a stake in the ground. Then a whip of leather thongs with pieces of rock, metal, or bone braided into the end of the nine thongs was lashed across the exposed back. It is recorded that these thongs
1. blinded the victim
2. opened the ribs to the bone
3. knocked out teeth
There was no limit to the number of lashes given by the two soldiers, one on each side.