Luke 23:3,4, 13-16; John 19:4-15; Matthew 17:24
Pilate asked [Jesus], saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.
The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him.
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
J. C. RYLE (1816-1900): The pitiable and miserable character of Pilate, the Roman Governor, begins to come into clear light from this point. We see him as a man utterly destitute of moral courage—knowing what was right and just in the case before him, yet afraid to act on his knowledge—knowing that our Lord was innocent, yet not daring to displease the Jews by acquitting Him—knowing that he was doing wrong, and yet afraid to do right. “The fear of man bringeth a snare,” Proverbs 29:25
C. H. SPURGEON (1834-1892): He seems to have gone backward and forward many times, desiring to save the life of Christ, but not having the moral courage to do it. Yet, to be just, we must admit that Pilate did more than wish. He spoke for Christ. But having spoken in His favour he did not proceed to action, as he was bound to have done. It is possible for a man to say with his tongue, “I find no fault in Him,” and then by his actions to condemn Jesus by giving Him up to die.
A. W. PINK (1886-1952): Talk is cheap, but actions speak louder than words.
ALEXANDER MacLAREN (1826-1910): Like all weak men, he was not easy in his conscience, and made a futile attempt to do the right thing, and yet not to suffer for doing it.
C. H. SPURGEON: Pilate spoke boldly enough and then retreated before the clamors of the crowd—and yet sometimes Pilate could be firm. When Jesus was nailed to the Cross, the priests begged Pilate to change the accusation which was written over His head, but he would not, but replied, “What I have written, I have written,” John 19:22. Why could he not have shown a little backbone when Jesus yet lived? He was not altogether such a weak, effeminate being as to be incapable of putting his foot down firmly. If he did so once, he might have done it before and so have saved himself from this great transgression.
JOHN TRAPP (1601-1699): Politicians consider not often what is just, but what is of use for the present purpose, be it right or wrong.
MARTYN LLOYD-JONES (1899-1981): They are very little interested about principles, any of them. Now that doesn’t say that we shouldn’t have politics, you’ve got to govern your country. But oh, that we had politics which was concerned about truth, and about principles, about morality and living, and not merely pandering to the lusts and desires of men and women.
J. C. RYLE: Wretched and contemptible are those rulers and statesmen whose first principle is to please the people, even at the expense of their own consciences, and who are ready to do what they know to be wrong rather than offend the mob! Wretched are those nations which for their sins are given over to be governed by such statesmen! True godly rulers should lead the people, and not be led by them, should do what is right and leave consequences to God. A base determination to keep in with the world at any price, and a slavish fear of man’s opinion, were leading principles in Pilate’s character. There are many like him. Nothing is more common than to see statesmen evading the plain line of duty, and trying to shuffle responsibility on others, rather than give offence to the mob. This is precisely what Pilate did here. The spirit of his reply to the Jews is, “I had rather not be troubled with the case: cannot you settle it yourselves, without asking me to interfere?”
C. H. SPURGEON: There seems to be connected with politics in every country something that besmears the mind, and defiles the hand that touches it…You are told to regard the difference between right and wrong everywhere, except when you get into politics; then stick to your party through thick and thin. Right and wrong vanish at once. Loyalty to your leader—that is the point. Never mind where he leads you, follow him blindly. You are even told that you may do wrong because it is politically right. I hate such an argument!
ROBERT E. LEE (1807-1870): Politicians are more or less so warped by party feeling, by selfishness, or prejudices, that their minds are not altogether balanced.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES (1785-1869): Not a few are lacking in moral courage. They know what they ought to be, and to do. But they have friends whose frown they dread, or companions from whose laugh they shrink. This is very common. And thus multitudes flee from the frown of man—to take shelter under the frown of God…Take heed against that flexibility of principle, purpose, and character, in reference to what is right—and obstinate perseverance in what is wrong. Be master of yourself. Have a will of your own—but be governed by your own convictions. Knowing what is right, do it, though you stand alone, and though the world laughs in chorus at you.
MATTHEW HENRY (1662-1714): Pilate asked him, Art thou the king of the Jews? To which Jesus answered, Thou sayest it; that is, “It is as thou sayest, that I am entitled to the government of the Jewish nation…”—Or, “Thou sayest it; but canst thou prove it? What evidence hast thou for it?”
C. H. SPURGEON: If a man believes in anything it is always proper to put this question to him, “Why do you believe? What evidence have you that what you believe is certainly correct?”
JOHN ANGELL JAMES: There are two things equally distant from sound reason—to decide without evidence—and to remain undecided amid abundant evidence.
C. H. MACKINTOSH (1820-1896): Thus the entire subject of evidence claims the attention of the reader, let his position be what it may. We are all prone to rush to hasty conclusions—to give place to baseless surmisings, and allow our minds to be warped and carried away by prejudice. All these have to be most carefully guarded against. We need more calmness, seriousness and cool deliberation in forming and expressing our judgement about men and things—Whenever any one brings a charge…we should insist upon his proving it or withdrawing his statement. Were this plan adopted, we should be delivered from a vast amount of evil speaking which is not only most unprofitable, but positively wicked, and not to be tolerated.
MARTYN LLOYD-JONES: The main trouble is that there are far too few Christian people, and that those of us who are Christian are not sufficiently salt. By that I do not mean aggressive; I mean Christian in the true sense.
D. L. MOODY (1837-1899): We want today men who will make up their minds to do what is right and stand by it if the heavens tumble on their heads…What we want, is men and women who have moral courage.
C. H. SPURGEON: Are there any Pilates here—persons who would long ago have been Christians if they had possessed enough moral courage?
