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Matthew 27-28


I don’t know about you, but I’ve noticed details while reading chapter by chapter through Matthew that I’d previously overlooked. We’re in the last two chapters today and I find myself thinking it’s hard to imagine that a mere six chapters ago Jesus entered Jerusalem and was treated as royalty by the crowd. 
I found it shocking to read in Matthew 27:1 that the chief priests and elders of the people made plans how to have Jesus executed. Think about that, they were the leaders of the people; leaders the people looked up to and trusted to do what was right. They didn’t have the authority to execute Jesus themselves, so they hatched a plan to get the Romans to do their dirty work for them.  
We see that Jesus offered no defense in verse 12 when he was accused in front of Pilate. Pilate wasn’t fooled by the religious leaders’ motives and their accusations. His realization that Jesus was being railroaded was reinforced when in verse 19 even Pilate’s wife warned him of Jesus’ innocence. 

 Perhaps Pilate was showing compassion for this innocent man or, more likely, he had concerns about a possible uprising among the people, but he chose not to be the one who condemned Jesus to death.

Pilate may have expected the crowd of people would choose Jesus to be released rather than a known criminal. He didn’t anticipate the influence the chief priests and elders had over the people. The very same people who had welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem as royalty now were in an uproar demanding that he be crucified. 
In verse 24 we read that Pilate washed his hands as he told the crowd, “I am innocent of this man’s blood, it is your responsibility.” Matthew recorded that all the people agreed that Jesus’ blood would be on them and their children. They didn’t know that the decision they made condemned their long-awaited Messiah to death…but it was not a surprise to Jesus.
What do we do when we find ourselves needing to make important decisions? While it’s a good idea to seek help from someone who has experience and/or expertise in an area that we know little about, we need to be sure that person doesn’t have a motive to talk us into something unwise. How often we forget that the holy one who created us and loves us is the one we should ultimately listen to as we make decisions!
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~Elsie Shepherd

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