Matthew 27:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Once a justification was sought, specifically the feast’s law that mandated the release of a condemned prisoner, what actions did they take against it? They convinced the crowd, as it is reported, to “ask Barabbas.” Observe how deliberately He aimed to rescue them from sin, and with what diligence they worked to ensure they left themselves with no semblance of justification. Faced with the choice of releasing the offender or the uncertain one, if it was allowable to free one guilty of crimes, how much more should it have been to spare the one whose guilt was questionable. Clearly, Jesus did not seem to them as the most egregious of the so-called murderers.

The executioners chose a criminal over the One who brings life, opting for a well-known perpetrator of evil rather than the source of hope. Their jealousy ignited their desire for destruction. In their own corruption, they led the masses astray, ensuring that they would face consequences for their deception. As noted in Mark (Mark 15:11), they incited the crowd, stirring them to action.

When Pilate presented the option to free Jesus, in accordance with the tradition that allowed the crowd to release one prisoner during the festival, the crowd, swayed by the religious authorities, opted for Barabbas instead. The insight into their eventual rejection of Christ is embedded in the very name Barabbas, which translates to “son of the father.” They favored this “son of the father” over the Messiah. Influenced by their leaders, they chose the Antichrist, referred to as the man of sin and the son of the devil (See 2 Thess. 2:3). They selected one who was destined for condemnation, rejecting the Author of Life.

As the governor heeded the advice of his wife and allowed the crowd time for reflection, the members of the Sanhedrin worked tirelessly to sway public opinion. How great a task it is for deceitful malice to lead an unsophisticated populace astray! Furthermore, many of the residents of Jerusalem were affiliated with the Pharisees, the very adversaries of Jesus Christ, thus providing ample support to galvanize the assembly in favor of Barabbas and against Christ. Consequently, when Pilate asked again, “Whom shall I release for you?” the crowd replied, “Barabbas.” The dreadful choice made by the people was met with dismay from the apostle Peter, who said, “You denied the Holy One and the Righteous One, and asked for a murderer” (Acts 3:14). Even Pilate was taken aback by the crowd’s decision; he had not anticipated such a selection prior to his wife's intervention, nor did he foresee it afterwards. What action would Pilate take?

The EARLY CHURCHES and the Elders employed various tactics to incite the crowd to choose Barabbas and call for the destruction of JESUS. The deceptive leaders found it easy to manipulate the public sentiment. Was Jesus intended to liberate the Jewish people? Was He meant to restore the Davidic throne? The victorious Offspring of David awaited, with trepidation, either mercy or death at the hands of the Roman executioner. As St. Chrysostom points out, those who were themselves wicked corrupted the people, leading to their own severe punishment. Faced with the choice to release either a notorious criminal or an ambiguous one, they opted for the most grievous decision: to favor a well-known murderer rather than the Redeemer.

Pilate, noticing the determination of the high priests, suggests that Jesus might be set free, as it was tradition to release a prisoner during Passover. This approach would allow the Sanhedrin's decision to remain intact while sparing the life of the accused. However, in an attempt to appease their animosity toward Jesus, Pilate ordered Him to be scourged. Despite this, the crowd, incited by the high priests, called out for Barabbas to be released instead of Jesus. Faced with uncertainty concerning the right course of action, Pilate received a message from his wife. She had experienced a troubling dream that prompted her to urge Pilate not to condemn the Righteous One. This plea was significant, as Pilate recognized the truth of her warning (Matt. 27:19).

As Pilate engaged in conversation with the official who had brought his wife's message, the chief priests and other Sanhedrin members were actively plotting. They infiltrated the gathering and incited the populace against Jesus, unleashing their malicious words without hesitation. They slandered Him, insisting that Jesus was a wicked, irreverent individual, aligned with the forces of darkness, falsely claiming to perform miracles in that name. The crowd was predominantly made up of residents of Jerusalem, loyal to the Pharisees and harboring a disdain for the Galileans, which nearly guaranteed the success of the Sanhedrin's manipulations. They incited the people to call for Barabbas' release and the demise of Jesus.

Even this scheme was thwarted by the craftiness of the authorities, who had effectively convinced the populace that it was preferable to request Barabbas—a man who had demonstrated his defiance against the oppressive regime—rather than Jesus, who seemed unable to fulfill the aspirations of reestablishing David's kingdom. Consequently, when Pilate inquired as to whom they should set free, the multitude cried out: "Let Him be crucified, but free Barabbas to us!"

The authority to request the freedom of prisoners belonged to the community, specifically the assembly of the populace, rather than solely to the elders and their representatives. Consequently, these leaders swayed the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas while calling for the death of Christ. The throng fell under the influence of Christ’s adversaries, who acted with deceit and arrogance, insisting on freeing Barabbas. “Being evil themselves, they also corrupted the people together, that they might also suffer the most grievous penalty for their seduction.” What options were available? Should a well-known criminal be set free, or someone whose guilt was less clear? If it were acceptable to pardon one convicted criminal, how much more so for one of uncertain guilt? Undoubtedly, Jesus appeared to them not as the gravest among the supposed murderers. Yet, this one, Barabbas, was chosen over the Redeemer of all creation. Their envy utterly blinded them.

While Pilate conversed with the messenger sent by his wife, the high priests and elders seized this opportunity to rally the crowd against Jesus Christ, employing every tactic and their considerable influence to turn the people against Him.