Matthew 27:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"Thou sayest." He acknowledged His kingship, declaring Himself a king of heaven; this was further clarified elsewhere when He told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). This statement served to ensure that neither the Jews nor Pilate, who had accused Him of claiming kingship, could claim justification. He provided an undeniable rationale, stating, "If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would labour for Me, that I should not be betrayed." To deflect any suspicions about His intentions, He paid taxes Himself and instructed others to do the same, withdrawing when they desired to make Him king. You might ask, then, why He did not refute the allegations of power-seeking. The reason is that they were blinded by their envy and hostility, despite His many demonstrations of power, gentleness, and humility, and resorted to unjust actions. Thus, He offered no response and remained silent, so as not to be accused of arrogance; his replies were brief, similar to how He responded when questioned by the authorities. He remained silent in the face of slander because He had no intention of convincing them. The prophet foretold this, saying, “In His humility His judgement will be taken up” (Isaiah 53:8). The governor was astonished at this, witnessing such humility and silence from one who had the capacity to say so much. Their accusations were not based on any genuine wrong in Him, but stemmed from envy and malice. Indeed, when the false witnesses could not provide any testimony, why persist with their claims? And why, upon witnessing Judas’s demise and Pilate’s washing of his hands, were they not moved to repentance? He had performed so much to guide them toward change, yet they remained unyielded.

In a court of law, the most compelling cases are those that receive acquittal without the need for defense. Pilate declared the defendant not guilty; he did so through his own judgment yet condemned Him for the fulfillment of the divine will. The former reflected the judgment of man, while the latter demonstrated the determination of Christ. Thus, He illustrated to the unjust judges that He was capable of self-defense but chose not to exercise that right. The reason for His silence was explained by the Lord: If I tell you, you will not believe; but if I ask you, you will not respond. More importantly, He chose to reveal rather than proclaim Himself as King, and His judges could not formulate a valid charge against Him; with each attack, they became increasingly aware of His righteousness.

Furthermore, we recognize that the world, shrouded in darkness, shuns truth and righteousness. Christ the Lord, the eternal Truth, acted with only truthfulness, striving for humanity’s upliftment while teaching solely the truth. As a consequence, He was reviled and denigrated by a world ensnared in delusion. Just as the blind reject light, so too does falsehood despise truth.

Thus, it follows that ministers of Truth and preachers of the heavenly message often face scorn and slander from wicked individuals. Their nefarious deeds are exposed by the illuminating nature of divine doctrine, which serves as a rebuke to their darkness. For the wicked, such correction feels akin to torture (Proverbs 9:7); reproof strikes like a sharp tool. The experiences of prophets, apostles, and all faithful saints from bygone eras, who endured persecution and disgrace for the sake of God’s Word and truth, affirm this reality. What can we expect today in light of this as proclaimers of truth? If one is a devout Christian, I encourage him to dismiss the slanders directed against teachers and leaders and more importantly, to silence those who bring forth such blasphemies. Herein lies the cunning of the adversary; he instructs his followers to circulate slanders against the proclaimers of truth, aiming to undermine their credibility, thereby leading the people astray. This is the intent of the evil spirit, manifesting his malice through blasphemies and accusations against God’s shepherds. Be wary of this, Christian! If you hear someone deriding or maligning a shepherd, understand that it is the evil spirit unleashing its foulness through a chosen instrument.

All true believers are subject to similar derision and hatred. Historical accounts reveal that pagans devised horrific and varied accusations against Christians, labeling them with vile terms. Clearly, this was the work of the devil, designed to drive Christians away from the faith and instill fear in idolaters. Yet through the wisdom and might of God, the malicious plans of the evil spirit were scattered. The more slanders and persecutions were levied against Christians, the more they thrived. Today, various accusations and insults arise not only from idolaters but also from false brethren and those enamored with worldly pleasures and pride. Such false associates heap upon Christians an array of slanders and insults, dressed in various forms of derision. When they perceive a Christian separating from their indulgences and sinful practices, they label him a ‘schismatic.’ Someone who lives humbly and shuns extravagance is called a ‘prude.’ If one seeks solitude for repentance and to avoid sin—with solitude proving more conducive to repentance than public acknowledgement—they are branded a ‘saint.’ Those who mourn and express sorrow over their transgressions are labeled ‘melancholic.’ Givers of charity face charges of being ‘vain’ or ‘hypocritical.’ Should they discover that a Christian frequently prays, they label him a ‘mantis.’ If, in adherence to the Gospel, a believer refrains from seeking vengeance, they mock him as a ‘fool’ for his inability to defend himself. Conversely, if he surrenders his possessions to aid the poor, they deride him for squandering the wealth amassed by ancestors, claiming he is mad. These and similar blasphemies flow from the mouths of the wicked, targeting the souls of the righteous. To comfort us, Christ the Lord stated: “If the master of the house is called Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household?” (Matthew 10:25). If they revile Christ, the master, they will scorn Christians, His followers. In casting out Christ, they will likewise ostracize His servants. Indeed, a servant is not greater than his master (John 15:20). Thus, this reflects the plight of Christians in the present era! As Christ affirmed, they are not of this world: “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14). Consequently, the world rejects and insults them, perceiving them as outsiders. This too serves as a tactic of the devil, designed to divert sincere souls from the righteous path. This embodies the malevolent cunning of the evil one.

Yet we find solace in the truth: “The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil; he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore” (Psalm 120:3-8).

It is inappropriate for Christians to lash out at those who insult them or retaliate against reproach, for such behavior contradicts the essence of their faith. Therefore, they should look to the example of their humble Lord, Jesus, who, when reviled, did not return revilement (1 Pet. 2:23) and, like a lamb before the shearers, remained silent (Isaiah 53:7). Evil can never be vanquished with evil, nor blasphemy with blasphemy; such approaches only serve to kindle further anger and strife. True Christian victory lies not in revenge, but in humility and endurance. Thus, Christians, as the sheep of Christ, are called to triumph over their detractors through gentleness and patience, resisting the urge to repay evil for evil or grievance for grievance. Rather than harbor anger towards their opponents, they should extend compassion, recognizing that the devil has ensnared those who blaspheme and insult, and they ought to pray for their liberation from his grasp.

Amidst their tribulations, Christians are encouraged to cling to the comforting message of Christ: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said unto you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:18-20). Be steadfast, beloved! Let the world's adversaries do as they will; find contentment in belonging to Christ. Let them scorn you, for you are among His flock. The honor and glory of being in Christ’s family is immense, though this treasure may be hidden from the world. Let the world despise you—God loves you. Let it curse you—God blesses you. They denounce, but you should respond with blessings (Psalm 108:28). Take solace in this truth. While the wicked may conspire against you, God will ensure that their plans yield good for you. Just as Pharaoh the oppressor hardened his heart against Israel, yet Israel left Egypt laden with silver, gold, and treasures, endure whatever the world casts your way. You will depart this world and stand before your Father in heaven, adorned with spiritual riches, treasures not of this realm.

The mockers and blasphemers will ultimately receive their due. They may raise a clamor like waters in spring but will dissipate just as swiftly; they may ascend like smoke but will be extinguished like vapor. This defines their fate. The righteous God hears their blasphemies and afflictions aimed at the souls of the faithful. He takes note of their words, recording them in His book, which He will present as evidence against them, revealing the one they scorned and ridiculed—not as they derided him but in the glory of His chosen ones among the children of God: “Behold your schismatic, your prude, your melancholic, your knave!” They will look and realize the one they laughed at, cursed, and blasphemed. What overwhelming shame and terror will engulf the mockers! Their faces will be covered in disgrace! The righteous will stand boldly before those who reviled them, and upon seeing them, the blasphemers will be filled with confusion and dread, struck by the unexpectedness of their salvation. They will reflect in regret and lament: “This is the one we once mocked and scorned. We deemed his life as folly and his death as disgraceful! How is he now numbered among the sons of God, with a place among the saints?” (Prem. 5:1-5). Oh, poor soul! God desires that you live humbly and in repentance, so that you may be redeemed, and refrain from cursing the humble and godly. Repent, and you will avert the wrath of God.

To further discredit this Galilean, they highlighted the immense support He had among the people, noting the throngs of followers who awaited just the right moment to rise up and act decisively; they even attempted to mischaracterize the Lord’s actions, such as the cleansing of the temple from merchants, as disruptions of public order, concealing the true nature of His miracles. Among their various accusations, some scribes asserted (Luke 23:5) that Jesus had violated the law not only in Judea but had previously gained a significant following in Galilee where He began His ministry. Such claims served to paint Jesus as a formidable instigator, with ambitions extending beyond Judea into neighboring regions.

Jesus' silence was fitting; the allegations brought forth by the Jews lacked substance and deserved no response, especially in light of what Pilate and the accusers already knew about Him (John 18:20). Pilate recognized the depth of Jesus' silence and was astonished by His tranquility and clarity, even amid the tumult of outrage.

Consequently, Pilate felt increasingly inclined to exonerate Jesus, as the notion of sentencing an innocent deity to death was troubling, even for a Gentile. However, the chief priests intensified their accusations, directly attributing the unrest to Jesus. They alleged that He was misleading the people and advising them not to pay taxes to Caesar, thereby building upon their initial charge (Luke 23:2). They insisted that such teachings originated from Jesus's time in Galilee.

His silence likely pleased them, as they may have feared that He, with His extraordinary eloquence, could easily dismantle their deceitful schemes aimed at ensnaring the Roman governor. This would have required them to exert new efforts and potentially delay the examination of the case indefinitely, especially until the feast concluded—a situation they were eager to avoid, wanting to mask the baselessness of their charges with a swift verdict. Pontius Pilate perceived the Lord's innocence; he understood that envy was the true motive behind the accusations (Matthew 27:18), and that the accused had much to articulate in His defense. In his bewilderment, Pilate questioned Him, saying, ‘Do you answer nothing? - Hear not how many testify against Thee? - See how many testify against Thee!’ Yet the Lord replied not a single word, leaving the governor astonished at the striking silence of the Defendant and His seeming disregard for His defense.