John 18:38 Pilate said to him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them… I. THE SECRET MOTIVE. A conviction of the innocence of Christ (ver. 28). A valuable testimony. 1. Directly to the blamelessness of Christ. Whatever violations of ecclesiastical law or social custom might be laid to Christ's charge, Pilate saw that He was no plotter of sedition. 2. Indirectly to the sinlessness of Christ. That the charge of treason was the strongest the Jews could prefer — the one they could most easily establish — may be assumed. If, therefore, this failed, it is more than likely that every other would have proved abortive. II. THE OSTENSIBLE PRETEXT — a desire to honour Jewish customs (ver. 39). 1. The custom was dubious. (1) On the one hand it might be eulogized as a fitting mark of a festive season, and a reminder of the Divine clemency, of which the feast was a memorial. (2) But on the other its observance involved a crime (Proverbs 17:15), and the liberation of Barabbas was no boon to the people. 2. The pretext was bad. Christ required not to be liberated ez gratia, but as innocent. III. THE FORMAL, PROPOSAL — to release Jesus (ver. 39). Pilate committed three mistakes. 1. In not immediately discharging Christ. Justice commanded, and conscience prompted to this. Had he done this he might have suffered, but he would have acted courageously and right. But he hesitated, and was lost. 2. In proposing to release Christ as a matter of grace instead of justice. There are times when compromises are permissible, but when one course alone is right and the other sinful, there is no room for compromise. 3. In putting Christ in competition with Barabbas. To do so was — (1) A moral wrong — knowing as he did the character of both. (2) A tactical mistake; for though intended in Christ's interest, believing that between the two the people would never hesitate, it had exactly the contrary result. IV. THE UTTER DEFEAT — by the preference of Barabbas (ver. 40). 1. With unexpected eagerness. It must have startled the governor to hear the people's response, to see his hopes so quickly blighted. But the hope of the wicked is usually shortlived (Job 8:13; Job 5:13). 2. With prompt decision. 3. With deafening clamour.Learn — 1. The danger of trifling with conscience. 2. The doubtfulness of compromise. 3. The madness of sin. (T. Whitelaw, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. |
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