Matthew 27:26

"All the people answered, “May his blood be on us and on our children!”"

Key Reflection

In the first-century Roman province of Judea, when Pilate washed his hands before the crowd, it symbolically absolved him of responsibility for Jesus' death. The people's response—“May his blood be on us and on our children!”—was a chilling admission that they were taking full culpability for the execution. This dramatic moment underscores the gravity of their decision and its long-term consequences, as they are implicitly declaring that any future misfortunes are their own fault, not Pilate's.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 26. And when he had scourged Jesus. See Barnes "Mt 10:17". Among the Romans, it was customary to scourge, or whip, a slave before he was crucified. This was done to inflict a greater suffering than crucifixion would be alone; and to add to the horrors of the punishment. Our Lord, being about to be put to death, after the manner of a slave, was also treated as a slave; as one of the lowest and most despised of mankind, He delivered him, etc. Not merely he gave him up to them to crucify him, as if they only were answerable, but he gave him up as a judge when he ought to have saved his life, and might have done it.

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