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.” Matthew 27:11–14 (ESV)
“And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.” (Mark 15:1–5 (ESV)
“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.” (Luke 23:1–5 (ESV)
28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor’s headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 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.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die.” (John 18:28–32 (ESV)
In studying the Passion Week of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is wise to examine all four Gospel accounts. Each evangelist, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, contribute to our comprehensive understanding of our Lord’s arrest, trials, crucifixion, death and resurrection. Condemned to death by the Jewish religious authorities, Jesus subsequently faced three trials before the ruling secular authorities.
Beginning today, we examine the Son of God’s first trial before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.
Following the three religious trials, the chief priests, elders and scribes along with theentire Sanhedrin council took Jesus in the early morning to the governor’s headquarters in Jerusalem. While condemning Jesus, they did not have the authority to execute Him. Only the Roman governor had that power. However, it was a delegated power from God Himself (Daniel 2:20-23; 4:34-35; Romans 13:1). Therefore, Pontius Pilate faced the One, True, all powerful God who providentially placed the Roman in his positon of power (Acts 2:22-24). What irony!
“Matthew’s gospel has highlighted the opposition of Israel’s leaders to Jesus (Matt. 2:16–18; 12:22–32; 16:1–4; 22:15–46). This hatred is seen most clearly in Christ’s trial and execution. Having had Jesus betrayed into their hands, the high priest Caiaphas and the other religious authorities have falsely convicted our Lord of blasphemy, a capital crime according to the Mosaic code (Matt. 26:47–68; 27:1; see Lev. 24:16). Since Rome does not allow the Jewish leaders to enforce the death penalty, Jesus is taken before Pontius Pilate (Matt. 27:2),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
Another irony was the Jewish religious leaders refusing to enter the governor’s headquarters. This was so they would defile themselves by entering a Gentile building, thus preventing them from observing the Passover meal.
“That observant Jews (including the priestly aristocracy) would not enter this palace, lest they be defiled and thus unable to eat the Passover, fits Jewish practice. But a possible conflict with the other Gospels at this point has led to considerable debate as to when the Passover described in the Gospel passion narratives occurred. According to Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus had already eaten the Passover with his disciples this night; whereas according to John, the priests plan to eat it the following night,” explains commentator Craig Keener.
“Of the many explanations for the apparent discrepancy, the two most prominent are probably these: (1) Several Jewish groups had different calendars and did not celebrate Passover on the same day. A dispute about when the month had begun (based on the appearance of the new moon) would also affect when the feast would be eaten. Some scholars have suggested that Jesus’ disciples celebrated it a day early, thus without a lamb slaughtered in the temple.”
“(2) Either John or the other Gospels—probably John—is making a symbolic point (John stresses that Jesus is the Passover lamb; cf. 19:14, 36). Later Jewish tradition also reports that Jesus was crucified on Passover, but this report could be based on the approximate time in earlier tradition. Another proposal is that John here uses “Passover” loosely for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which immediately followed; but although this usage was common, “eat the Passover” is a very odd way to speak of eating the bread during the rest of the feast,” states Keener.
Due to this cultural issue, Pilate went outside to address the Jewish leaders, hear the charges, and interrogate Jesus. It would become an infamous trial.
Soli deo Gloria!
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