Art Toombs Ministries 

Online Bible Commentary

Matthew 27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”

20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. 21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

“Barabbas,” they answered.

22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. (NIV)

Pilate, ignoring the counsel of his wife, handed Jesus over to be crucified. God uses both the good and the bad to accomplish His will. It was God’s plan that His Son be crucified to pay the penalty for the sin of the world so that every person who accepts that gift may have eternal life.

Pilate, and the people who urged him, were the instruments God used. However, Pilate was the one who suffered the consequences. What would have happened if Pilate refused to crucify Jesus? What if he defied the public outcry and agreed with his wife that Jesus was innocent?

He chose to be persuaded by the crowd instead of leading and making his own decision. Pilate, who crucified Jesus on April 7, 30 AD, committed suicide six years later.

Herod the Great who ordered the massacre of babies in 4 BC when looking for the baby Jesus died of a terrible disease that same year. His son Herod Antipas and his wife Herodias ordered the beheading of John the Baptist in 29 AD. Ten years later they both were exiled, where they died.

Judas, who turned in Jesus, committed suicide immediately after his act.

In recent history, Richard Nixon who was pro choice and nominated three of the seven Supreme Court Judges that were the deciding votes on Roe v. Wade was forced to resign his office 19 months later.

Some of these examples may just be coincidences. What we do know is that there are consequences for our actions.

As Christians we should always be in the word and in prayer, seeking God’s will for every important decision in life. He will give us wisdom to make the right decisions.