The Man Who Sentenced Jesus To Death

This headstrong, authoritarian leader inserted himself into history and the New Testament for only one reason. He sentenced Jesus to death.

Pilate was an ambitious, self-seeking politician with one prime focus: himself – and how to obtain power. His family was probably from the warlike Samnite clan originating in the mountainous area of Southern Italy. He rose to power as Judea’s prefect (governor) through the influence of Sejanus, a favorite of the Roman emperor Tiberius.

It appears that he hated Jews throughout Roman-occupied Palestine. He insulted the Jews by hanging worship images of the emperor all over Jerusalem and minted coins bearing Roman religious symbols. He attacked Samaritans on Mount Gerizim. Later, he returned to Rome to stand trial for cruelty and oppression in executing men without a legitimate trial.

Pilate was not the type of man you would want to trust.

He is remembered mainly for the New Testament account of the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. He demonstrated much vacillation as he navigated the path of political expediency. How could he come through this without further damaging his already evil reputation?

Pilate attempted to side with Jesus in the trial brought by the chief priests and Pharisees. Notice his progression of yielding to the most influential people in Jerusalem.

1. When first approached by the chief priests and Pharisees, he told them to judge him according to their law. (John 18:31)
2. After accepting Jesus’ case, Pilate concluded six times that Jesus was not guilty of any crime. (John 18:38; Luke 23:14-15; Matthew 27:22-23; Luke 23:2; John 19:4,6)
3. Because the Passover custom was for him to release a prisoner to them, he offered Jesus or Barrabas, an insurrectionist. (Mark 15:6-10). He knew that the priests and Pharisees were envious of Jesus, so he provided a choice of Jesus or a murderer. He knew they didn’t want Jesus released, but would they want this rebel against Rome instead? Choosing Barabbas could put them in “hot water” with the Romans. Still, they chose Barabbas.
4. Pilate had an uneasy, conflicted mind about Jesus because his wife had warned him (Matthew 27:19); the Jews said Jesus claimed to be God (John 19:7-8), and Jesus said Pilate would have no power unless God gave it to him. (John 19:12)
5. Pilate was plagued with a feeling of guilt. He washed his hands before the multitude and said, “I am innocent of the blood of this just man. (Matthew 27:24).
6. Pilate’s decision was a political career decision: the Jews told him, “If you let him go, you are no friend of Caesar. (John 19:12-13) Then, he delivered Jesus over to the Jews to be crucified.
7. Pilate tried to mock and get even with the hated Jews for putting him in this awkward position. He publicly made a mockery of them. “Behold your king.” And “Shall I crucify your king?” (John 19:14, The title he wrote for the cross said, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the  Jews,” written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. (John 19:19-20). When the chief priests objected, Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.” (John 19:22).
8. Peter said Pilate was determined to release Jesus, but the Jewish leaders chose a murderer over Jesus. (Acts 3:13-15)

The scales of justice were weighted against Jesus.

Pilate knew this was a trial without reason and evidence. The chief priests and Pharisees’ envy and jealousy were easy to see. Jesus had performed miracles and taught huge crowds. He taught with authority. The chief priests and Pharisees had none of those abilities or qualities. They certainly couldn’t attract the crowds that He did. They expressed the fear that Jesus would set up a kingdom and attract the enmity of the Romans. Then, the Romans would take their place and nation away. (John 11:47-48)

But the worst fear of the Jewish leaders was that Jesus was taking away and diminishing their power, authority, and respect. He had publicly exposed their hypocrisy on several occasions.

Now Pilate fell victim to their hypocrisy and evil conniving. Pilate knew that if the Jews rebelled against him and rioted in the streets, his position as governor would soon be taken away. So, he chose the path of political expediency and surrendered the perfect, faultless Jesus to their murderous plot.

The question that Pilate asked is still relevant today.

“What shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22)

Whether Pilate wanted to or not, he had to decide that question himself. And so do you.

Pilate could say, “I find no fault in him.”. But that acknowledgment was insufficient for him or you. Jesus is more than a good man and a good teacher. He is God’s perfect, sinless Son, the God-Man, God in human flesh.

A substitute for Jesus, such as Barabbas, will not work. There are many religions and substitutes for Jesus today, but Jesus said, “I am THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE.  No man cometh to the Father but by me.” (John 14:6).

Pilate, or you, cannot ignore the warnings of others or excuse yourself as not being accountable.

Political or peer pressure did not excuse Pilate, nor will it excuse you. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12).

Pilate and all of us must face up to the fact that “God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Pilate let his soldiers mock and scourge Jesus, and he ridiculed the Jews. Today, mockery of the gospel message or the messenger will not negate our accountability.

Peter says Pilate wanted to release Jesus (Acts 3:13-15) but didn’t. Pilate was still accountable. It didn’t matter that Pilate may have had good intentions. Good intentions without personally trusting Jesus are meaningless.

Peter also said the Jewish leaders put Jesus to death through ignorance. But now they knew the truth. They must “Repent —, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, (Acts 3:19).

The question remains. “What shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22)

The plan of salvation is simple.

1. Admit that you are a sinner. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23).
2. There is a penalty for sin. “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23
3. Jesus, in his love, paid the penalty for us. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
4. Trust Jesus as your own Savior. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made  unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:9, 10, 13)

After you have made this decision, read the Word of God daily, pray, and let Jesus change your life. “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) Follow Jesus in baptism and join a good, Bible-believing, Bible-preaching church.