Matthew 27:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Why do you choose to betray Him? Why did you not deliver Him, as Paul the centurion did? This individual understood that he would have satisfied the Jewish leaders; and due to Paul, there was outrage and confusion, yet he boldly stood firm against everything. In contrast, Pilate demonstrated great cowardice and weakness. All share in this wrongdoing: Pilate neither stood up against the mob, nor did the mob challenge the Jews. There is no justification for any of their actions; they cried out even louder, proclaiming, "Let Him be crucified." Their desire was not just to take a life; they intended to inflict the most severe punishment. When the judge opposed them, they only intensified their cries. Do you see the extent of what Christ did to win them over?

He cleanses his face, indicating his purity from animosity. He harbors ill thoughts, as he labeled Jesus as righteous while simultaneously betraying Him to His executioners. They accepted the consequences of His death, which ultimately led to their downfall during the Roman destruction of their people. Even today, the descendants of those who took part in the Lord's death carry the stain of His blood, facing persecution from all sides for their lack of faith in Him. In their suffering, they receive no compassion. Pilate inflicted punishment on Jesus, demonstrating his role in the condemnation, ensuring that the Jews did not crucify an innocent man, but one who was shamed. Thus, the prophecy was fulfilled: "I gave my back to the smiters" (Isaiah 50:6).

Pilate took water, recalling the familiar prophetic utterance, “I will wash my hands in innocence” (Ps. 25:6). In cleansing his hands, he symbolically absolved the deeds of the Gentiles, while pointing to the wickedness of the Jews, who cried, “Crucify Him.” In this act, he positions us Gentiles as outsiders, stating, “I desired to save the innocent. Yet amidst the outrage and the charge of treason presented against Me, I declare that I am free from the blood of this Righteous One.” The judge, faced with the duty of condemning Christ, does not condemn the One delivered into his care but instead rebukes those who accused Him by affirming that the one destined for crucifixion is indeed righteous. “You see,” he remarks, “I am merely enforcing the laws; it is upon your command that this blood is shed.”

He purified his hands with water, demonstrating that he was innocent and had no involvement in the act of killing. It was a Jewish tradition for those who wished to dissociate themselves from a murder to offer a declaration like this. As David proclaimed, I will wash my hands in innocence (Psalm 25:6).

On what principle, O Jews, is it permissible to desire what is prohibited? How can that which damages the physical body not also harm the spirit? You tremble at the thought of being tainted by the bloodshed, which will be upon you and your descendants. Since your moral decay prevents you from committing such a grievous act, you force the governor’s hand in judgment. Yet, in your insistence, you prevent him from evading the very end that you yourselves cowardly avoid. Pilate erred by acting against his own inclinations, succumbing to your schemes and fury. You adhered to the law so meticulously that you feared placing the silver received from the betrayal of Christ into the treasury, worried that the blood money would desecrate the holy coffers. Who bears such a guilty facade in their heart? The consciences of the priests accept what the collection box rejects! This is how you shroud yourselves in a veil of deception while striking a deal with the betrayer.

Christ achieves victory through trial, for His purity is evident, as Pilate declares, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man." In the most compelling scenario, there exists no defense, yet innocence shines through. The highest form of righteousness is validated not by mere words, but by the essence of truth itself. When true justice is at hand, it is fitting that the tongue remains still. Let the tongue be quiet in acts of goodness, as it is all too quick to speak in matters of wrongdoing. I do not seek to justify justice in the manner that malice is often excused. The triumph of Christ is rooted not in rhetoric, but in integrity, for He, the embodiment of Wisdom, understands how to prevail through silence and to conquer by refraining from reply.

Recognizing Christ's purity, Pilate symbolically ‘washed his hands,’ adhering to an ancient biblical ordinance established by God. This custom dictated that when a murder was committed and the offenders remained unidentified, the elders of the city were to cleanse their hands in the blood of a sacrificed heifer and proclaim, ‘Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it’ (Deuteronomy 21:7). However, Pilate did not cleanse his hands with water, but rather with the true blood of the spotless Lamb. This unrighteous man needed to heed the divine message relayed by the prophet Jeremiah, who proclaimed, ‘Wash your heart from your deceit, and you will be saved’ (Jeremiah 4:14).

Following this, Pilate chose not to act as the representative of Caesar in defense of justice. Instead of dispersing the crowd by force and confronting their audacious wrongdoing with authority, he engaged in dialogue with the people. He took water, washed his hands publicly, and declared, "I am innocent of the blood of this Righteous One; behold ye." By doing this, he effectively absolved himself and placed the responsibility for the blood of the Righteous One upon the crowd, behaving as if he were not a judge, not acting as Caesar's appointed authority, and neglecting the duty to suppress the arrogance of sinful passions with power while safeguarding righteousness from the malice of evil.

PILATE, recognizing that his efforts were futile and that the turmoil was growing, took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, signaling to those who could see that he deemed Jesus to be blameless. Loudly, he proclaimed, "I am not guilty of the blood of this just man; you bear the responsibility." Among the Jewish people, it had become customary, turning into law, that if a corpse was discovered, the elders from the nearest town would wash their hands over the head of a heifer, declaring, "Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes witnessed the act." Pilate was well acquainted with this tradition, particularly as Gentiles would also wash their hands as an expression of innocence and to atone for their sins.

The Jewish accusers dismiss the compromise; Pilate, displaying a typical inclination, appears to have already decided upon the crucifixion of Jesus and seeks to appeal to the mercy of the accusers in an effort to distance himself from the matter. He washes his hands and declares, “I am not guilty of the blood of this Righteous One.”

Pilate "took water and washed his hands," adhering to Jewish customs which dictated that such an action served as a declaration of innocence regarding the bloodshed of a man who had been murdered (Deut. 21:6; cf. Ps. 25:6). In front of the Jewish leaders, he utilized this ritual to distance himself from the accountability of the death of the innocent Jesus, whom he acknowledged as such. However, by participating in this ceremony, he did not genuinely evade responsibility; as the judge, his duty was to safeguard the innocent one he recognized. He should have released Him despite the shouts and threats from the Jewish authorities. Instead, Pilate behaved in a cowardly and ineffective manner, failing to oppose the injustice.

You are forcing my hand, just as Pilate declared, by making me spill righteous blood: you will need to answer for this.