The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 621

Ill. 'l'HE GOVERNOR IN THE JUDGMJ!:NT-IIEAT. 1. He lMI coovinced of the inno~ of Jesus. (1) His good sense showed him that nothing was proved against him. The best men often have be,·n accused of the 'Worst crimes. He saw that " envy" h11,d inst.igated the rulers. This is worse than hatred; for it is hatred without a cause. Hatred prPrnmes the imputation of a fault, but envy auknowleages· an excellence, The eye of the ruler was evil because Jesus was good, (2) In this judgment he WIIS confirmed by his wife's dream. It was clearly a Divine testimony to the Innocence of Jesus. It was probably of such a nature as to fill her with npprehenllions of the consequences of her husband's consenting to the death of Jesus (cf. Gen. xx, 3). 'l'he "suffering" of Pilate's wife on this a.ccouut was creditable to her conscience, 'l'radition calls her Claudia Procula, and she is canonir;ed in the Grecian Church. Note: This reference to Pilate's wife marks the time of the event, and proves the veracity of the narrative, for we learn from Tacitus that i.n the reign of Tiberius the wives of ~:ivernors had permission to attend them in the provinces. (3) He therefore sought to release J csus. He declared that he "found no fault in him." In naming such a wretch as Ilarabbas as the alternative to Jesus, in the release at the feast, he hoped to secure that of Jesus. He pleaded with the multitude against their clamour for the blood of Jesus. 2. Yet he sacrificed justice to expedwncy, (1) He knew that Tiberius was jealous and sanguinary, and be feared the malignity of the Jews. Philo describes Pilatc as " naturally inflexible, rigid, and self-willed." But he had already had to contend with two insurrections of the Jews, viz. when he attempted to bring the Roman standard into Jerusalem, and when he applied the wealth of the sacred treasury to secular uses. (2) He ought never to have appealed to the people; but he loved power rather than justice. He was prepared to do unscrupulous things rather than risk his procuratorship, if not bis liberty or life. There are occasions in every life to test character. (3) He would fain relieve himself of his responsibility. He tried to devolve it upon Herod (see Luke xxili. 5, etc.). He then tried to devolve it upon the people (ver. 24). No ceremouy of washing the hands ce.n free them from the stains of blood-guiltiness. To protest innocence, while practising crime, is to sin against conscience. "Sin is a brat nobody is willing to own" (Henry). 'l'he priests threw it upon Judas; Pilate now throws it upon them. "See ye tg it." ( 4) Still God finds it at the sinner's door (see Acts iv. 27). Not long after this, Pilate was dqirived of his office through the accusations of that very people, and, being banished to Gaul, ended his life by suicide. • IV. THE SOLDIEBS IN THE PBA!:TOBIUll. 1. They were in the pay of Oresar. They were by their profession jealous of the honour .of their master. But there is a King of kings, to whom bubjects of earthly sovereigns owe the first allegiance. In mistaken zeal: 2. They mock the royalty of Juus. (1) They invest him with a scarlet robe, in derision, a.s though he wore the crimson or purple of kings (cf. Mark xv. 17; John xix. 2). They crown him with plaited thorns. The frail reed is made to serve a.s his sceptre (cf. eh. x:i. 7; Ps. xiv. 6). (2) In this character they pay him iusolent homage. They spat upon him, as he had been before abused in the high p1iest's hall (1100 eh. x:xvi. 27). They smote him with the reed, making his ensign of mock royalty an instrument of cruelty. (3) The soldiers seem to have taken their cue from Herod (see Luke xxiii. 11). It was ordained that the contempt of men shonld in all this signally confess the truth of God. (4) Tbe evangelists record no word of Chri,t's during these tortures. He sustained them with unresisting submis- sion (see Isa. !iii. 7). How completely is he left alone I The Jews persecute him, J uda.s betrays him, Peter denies him, the rest forsake him;_ and now the Roman is with Lis enemies. No plot could have been better contrived to show the moral grandeur of a hero, not braving but enduring the accumulated wrongs of an evil world with the dignity of meek.ness.-J. A. M. Vers. 32-44.-The reproach of the cross. Upon the release of the infamous Barabbas, the innocent and righteoue Jesus was delivered to be crucified; and now we see him sufi'ering the reproach of the cross. I. THE CB088 ITSELF Wil A BEPBOAOH, 1. It was a symbol of sha,me, (1) As e. tree was the means of introducing the curse into the world, so hath God ordained that a Hee should be the means of its removal. Hence from the earliest time, whoever wu clI.. xxvn. 1-66.] 'l'IIE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MAT'fHEW. 627