Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #4 Matthew 27:15-23 – Barabbas or Jesus?

Matthew 27:15-23 – Barabbas or Jesus?

|| Mark 15:6-14; Luke 23:13-23; John 18:38b-40

MT27:15 Now according to the custom[1] during the [Jewish] festivals the governor would release a prisoner by the choice of the crowd. MT27:16 At that time there was a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.[2] MT27:17 Leading [Barabbas and Jesus] together [before the crowd] Pilate asked them: “Who do you want me to release? Barabbas or the one called ‘Messiah’ – Jesus?” MT27:18 For Pilate realized it was because of jealousy[3] [the religious hierarchy] had turned Jesus over to him. MT27:19 Now while sitting on his judgment-seat Pilate’s woman approached him and warned, “A dream about him has tormented me[4] today! Have nothing to do with[5] that righteous man!” MT27:20 But the religious hierarchy and the Jewish elders persuaded the crowd so that they asked for the release of Barabbas, while they should destroy Jesus. MT27:21 Governor Pilate responded and asked the crowd: “Which of the two do you want me to release?” The crowd said, “Barabbas!” MT27:22 Pilate asked, “So what shall I do with Jesus, the one said to be ‘Messiah’?” The mob screamed, “Execute him!”[6] MT27:23 Pilate asked: “For what crime?” But the mob cried even louder,[7] “Execute him!”

*

[1] Custom: Possibly a Jewish custom for John 18:39 adds, “You have a custom that I should release a man to you at the Passover.”

[2] Barabbas: John 18:40 adds, “… a robber.” Mark 15:7 adds, “… in bonds with the seditionists, who in their sedition had committed murder.” His name is mentioned 11 times in the Gospels. His name possibly means, “Son of the teacher.” (A rabbi’s son?)

[3] Because of jealousy: Or, PME: through sheer malice.

[4] A dream about him has tormented me: Or, KNX: I dreamed I suffered much on his account; NEB: I was much troubled; GDSP: for I have just had a painful experience in a dream about him; PME: I went through agonies dreaming about him last night.

[5] Have nothing to do with: Or, KNX: do not meddle with this innocent man; BECK: let that righteous man alone.

[6] Execute him: The Greek is STAUROTHETO which literally means to impale on a stake or tree. Traditionally this is “crucify him.” Some think the root word STAUROS means a simple upright pole without a cross-beam. Others believe the word to include a stake with a cross-beam. Research the word cross or STAUROS. Because of the two views – each with their logical reasons – we choose a neutral phrase execute or instrument of execution. When the Greek XYLON is used we will prefer “tree.” Those who wish may read “crucify him!”

[7] The mob cried even louder: KJV: a tumult was made; RSV: a riot was beginning; KNX: the uproar only became worse; LAM: confusion was increasing.

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Preceding

Matthew 10:32-39 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: I Came to Cause Division

Matthew 16:24-28 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: A Disciple Must Disown Self

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #1 Matthew 26:1-2 – Two Days Before Execution

Matthew 27 – The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – Bible Students Intro

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #1 Matthew 27:1-2 – Priests Hand Jesus Over to Pilate

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #2 Matthew 27:3-10 – Judas Hangs Himself

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #3 Matthew 27:11-14 – “Are You King of the Jews?”

Next

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #5 Matthew 27:24-26 – “His Blood Come Upon Us!”

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #6 Matthew 27:27-31 – Jesus Afflicted by Troops

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #7 Matthew 27:32-37 – Executed at Golgotha

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Additional reading

1. Forbidden Fruit in the Midst of the Garden 4
2. Swedish theologian finds historical proof Jesus did not die on a cross
3. A Book to trust #11 Archaeology confirming or denying claims of the Bible #2 New Testament

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Related articles

1. Matthew 27: The Death of Jesus. The Triptych Enigma.
2. Behold Your King!
3. Governor Of The Jews
4. Jesus Christ or Barabbas
5. The Last Time Whites Listened to Jews, Deicide Happened
6. The (in)justice of the mob in Luke 23

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #3 Matthew 27:11-14 – “Are You King of the Jews?”

Matthew 27:11-14 – “Are You King of the Jews?”

|| Mark 15:2-5; Luke 23:2-5; John 18:28-38a

MT27:11 When Jesus stood in front of the governor, Pilate inquired of him, asking, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered: “You said it.”[1] MT27:12 In the process of being accused by the religious hierarchy and [Jewish] elders, Jesus would not answer MT27:13 Then Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you not listening to how much they are testifying[2] against you?” MT27:14 Still Jesus did not answer Pilate with a single word. Pilate began to marvel very much[3] about Jesus.

*

[1] You said it: See notes at Matthew 26:25.

[2] How much they are testifying: Or, RIEU: do you not hear what a case they are building up; WEY: mass of evidence. Mark 15:3 adds, “… the chief priests proceeded to accuse him of many things.”

[3] To marvel very much: RIEU: leaving him completely at a loss; NEB: great astonishment. John 18:34-38 adds, Jesus answered: “Is it of your own originality that you say this, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate answered: “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you up to me. What did you do?” Jesus answered: “My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.” Therefore Pilate said to him: “Well, then, are you a king?” Jesus answered: “You yourself are saying that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is on the side of the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate said to him: “What is truth?” (NWT)

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Preceding

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #13 Matthew 26:59-68 – False Witnesses and the Charge of Blasphemy

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #14 Matthew 26:69-75 – Peter’s Denial

Matthew 27 – The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – Bible Students Intro

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #1 Matthew 27:1-2 – Priests Hand Jesus Over to Pilate

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #2 Matthew 27:3-10 – Judas Hangs Himself

Next

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #4 Matthew 27:15-23 – Barabbas or Jesus?

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #5 Matthew 27:24-26 – “His Blood Come Upon Us!”

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #6 Matthew 27:27-31 – Jesus Afflicted by Troops

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #7 Matthew 27:32-37 – Executed at Golgotha

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Additional reading

1. What is the truth asked also Pontius Pilate

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Related articles

1. Broken Beyond Repair
2. Matthew 27
3. Preview: Jesus’ Trial Before Pilate
4. Matthew 27: The Death of Jesus. The Triptych Enigma.
5. Pilate Questions Jesus (Matthew 27:11 – 14; Mark 15:1 – 5; Luke 23:1 – 4; John 18:28 – 38)
6. Pontius Pilate Who Was He?
7. Pontius Pilate
8. Pontius Pilate’s Politics
9. Another Son of God? Pilate’s Tiberieum at Caesarea Maritima
10. Defense
11. The King of the Jews
12. Mark 15:12
13. Behold the King
14. King Of The Jews
15. Behold Your King!
16. Matthew 2 – More Oddities. Already Fulfilled Prophecies?
17. K is for King of the Jews
18. Luke 23: 1 – 12 “Are you the king of the Jews?”

Matthew 27 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – #1 Matthew 27:1-2 – Priests Hand Jesus Over to Pilate

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN:
“THE FINAL HOURS: TRIAL, EXECUTION AND BURIAL”

[“Execute him!”]

Matthew 27:1-2 – Priests Hand Jesus Over to Pilate

|| Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66; 23:1

MT27:1 Now at daybreak the religious hierarchy[1] and elders of the [Jewish] people counseled together[2] against Jesus so he might be put to death. MT27:2 Having bound Jesus they led him off and turned him over to the governor Pilate.[3]

*

[1] Religious hierarchy: Or, “chief priests.” See notes on ARCHIEREIS elsewhere.

[2] Counseled together: Or, RIEU: in full council to decide; NEB: met in conference. Another star-chamber court. The only charge has been blasphemy.

[3] Pilate: Pilate is named 55 times in the Christian Bible. He was governor of Judea by Caesar’s appointment (Luke 3:1). Though Josephus mentions him, Pilate was unknown historically until a find in 1961 which confirmed the Gospel accounts [Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 55-59 (iii, 1); XVIII, 60-62 (iii, 2); The Jewish War, II, 175-177 (ix, 4)]. The first century Jewish philosopher Philo mentions him (The Embassy to Gaius, XXXVIII, 299-305).

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Preceding

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #13 Matthew 26:59-68 – False Witnesses and the Charge of Blasphemy

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #14 Matthew 26:69-75 – Peter’s Denial

Matthew 27 – The Final Hours: Trial, Execution and Burial – Bible Students Intro

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #13 Matthew 26:59-68 – False Witnesses and the Charge of Blasphemy

Matthew 26:59-68 – False Witnesses and the Charge of Blasphemy

|| Mark 14:55-65; Luke 22:63-71

MT26:59 But the religious hierarchy[1] and the entire Sanhedrin Court[2] were seeking false testimony against Jesus[3] so that they might execute him. MT26:60 They discovered none who would come forward as pseudo evidentiary.[4] But at last two ‘witnesses’ came forward. MT26:61 One person claimed, “[Jesus] said, ‘I can tear down this Sanctuary[5] of The God and within three days reconstruct[6] it.’” MT26:62 Now the chief priest Caiaphas rose and said to Jesus, “Have you no answer? What about these testimonies against you?” MT26:63 However, Jesus remained silent.[7] Then the chief priest Caiaphas told Jesus, “I put you under oath down here before the Living God[8] so that you should tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of The God.”[9] MT26:64 Jesus said to the priest, “You said it.[10] Yet I tell all of you: In the future[11] all of you will see the Son of Humankind sitting on the right-hand[12] of the Power and returning[13] upon the clouds of the sky.” [Daniel 7:13; Psalm 110:1] MT26:65 At that the chief priest Caiaphas ripped his outer garments, screaming, “He blasphemed![14] Why do we need witnesses? See, you just heard the blasphemy! MT26:66 How does it seem to you?” But, these answered, ‘He is liable to death!’ MT26:67 Then they all spit into his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped Jesus, MT26:68 asking, “Prophesy[15] to us, ‘Messiah’! Who just slapped you?”

*

[1] Religious hierarchy: The Greek is HARCHIEREIS from which “hierarchy” comes.

[2] Sanhedrin Court: Or, BECK: the whole Jewish court. Research Sanhedrin for notes elsewhere.

[3] Seeking false testimony against Jesus: Or, RIEU: were casting about for evidence against Jesus; NEB: some allegation against Jesus on which a death-sentence could be based.

[4] Pseudo evidentiary: The Greek is PSEUDO-MARTYRON. Or, KJV: false witnesses. Mark 14:59 adds, “But neither on these grounds was their testimony in agreement.”

[5] Sanctuary: The Greek is NAON a Divine Habitat and refers to the inner shrine of the Temple. Research temple or NAOS. Or, KJV: temple; RHM: shrine; GDSP: sanctuary.

[6] Reconstruct: Or, RIEU: build it. This charge is taken from John 2:19.

[7] Jesus remained silent: In fulfillment of Isaiah 53:7.

[8] I put you under oath down here before the Living God: This is the adjuration formula inferred in Leviticus 5:1. Or, KJV: I adjure you; RHM: I put thee on oath; NEB: I charge you.

[9] The Messiah, the Son of The God: The high priest has in mind Psalm 2:1, 7 and whether Jesus claims to be the Anointed One of that Psalm. Peter quotes this Psalm at Acts 4:24-26 and Paul refers to it in a Jewish synagogue (Acts 13:33-35).

[10] You said it: A Hebraism meaning “Yes.” In English it remains a positive statement to this day. Or, KNX: your own lips have said it; MON: I am he; GDSP: it is true. And, thus the response from the priest.

[11] In the future: Or, RIEU: the time has come; NEB: from now one, you will see; BER: shortly you shall see; MOF: in the future you will all see. It is possibly a Hebraism which means, “You will live to see…” or, “you will still be alive when such and such is fulfilled.”

[12] The Son of Humankind sitting on the right-hand: This is a conflate or compound paraphrase of Daniel 7:13 and Psalm 110:1 – a combination which appears several times. Note Daniel 7:13 refers to the ascension to heaven of “a son of man” and is seen from Daniel’s heavenly perspective (Daniel 7:15).

[13] Returning: The Greek word in both Daniel 7:13 (LXX) and here is a form of ERCHOMENON which may meaning coming, leaving, returning. It is virtually a synonym for PAROUSIA judging from the uses in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. It seems to some that it is possible Jesus is referring to his foretold ascension to heaven as Daniel 7:13 predicts. On these details see commentaries in Nazarene Apocalypse© under Daniel 7:13 or ERCHOMENON (Parousia). Compare the parallel readings at Mark 14:62 and Luke 22:69. See how this was fulfilled in Acts 7:54-57 and note who was present then (John 6:62; Acts 1:9-11).

[14] He blasphemed: The priest realizes the answer of Jesus is, “Yes.”

[15] Prophesy: Note that the word PROPHETEUSON may be used in a broader since of speaking rather than just predicting something. Mark 14:65 adds, “… to spit on him and to cover his whole face and hit him with their fists.” Luke 22:65 adds, “And they went on saying many other things in blasphemy against him.”

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Preceding

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #1 Matthew 26:1-2 – Two Days Before Execution

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #2 Matthew 26:3-5 – Plotting to Seize Jesus

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #3 Matthew 26:6-13 – A Woman to Be Remembered

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #4 Matthew 26:14-16 – The Price of Betrayal

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #5 Matthew 26:17-19 – Passover Preparations

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #6 Matthew 26:20-25 – The Last Passover

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #7 Matthew 26:26-30 – Keep Doing This in My Memory

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #8 Matthew 26:31-35 – How All Will Be Stumbled This Night

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #9 Matthew 26:36-39 – Garden Prayer

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #10 Matthew 26:40-47 – Two More Prayers for the Cup to Pass

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #11 Matthew 26:48-56 – Betrayal by Judas and Arrest of Jesus

Matthew 26 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: The Last days of Jesus Christ #12 Matthew 26:57-58 – To Caiaphas