Daily Devotional For Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Hello Southside. The devotion for today comes from Matthew 27:19-26:
“While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.’ (20) But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. (21) But the governor said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ And they said, ‘Barabbas.’ (22) Pilate said to them, ‘Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said, ‘Crucify Him!’ (23) And he said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they kept shouting all the more, saying, ‘Crucify Him!’ (24) When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.’ (25) And all the people said, ‘His blood shall be on us and on our children!’ (26) Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified” (NASB).
While Pilate is trying to decide what to do with Jesus, he receives a communication from his wife. She informs her husband she had a dream about Jesus and Pilate should have nothing to do with prosecuting Jesus. In that day, both Greeks and Romans believed that their gods spoke to them in their dreams. It is possible that Yahweh spoke to her in a dream just like He did with the Magi at Jesus’ birth (see Matt. 2:12). Though the contents of the dream are not disclosed, it was an apparent nightmare to her. This dream was so powerful that it convinced Pilate’s wife of Jesus’ innocence.
Pilate was too impotent to uphold Roman law. The Jews and the religious leaders have him in a pickle and they use this to blackmail him. Josephus, a first century Jewish historian tells us the blackmail the Jewish leaders used on Pilate.
First, was when he became governor. He came marching into Jerusalem with the standard with the image of the Roman Emperor on them. The Jews hated this because they knew that the Romans saw the Emperor as a god and worshipped him. To them this was a graven image. They urged him to remove it as previous governors had but he refused. When the Jews protested he told them to meet him in the amphitheater where he had Roman soldiers hidden to slaughter them. They pulled back their robes and exposed their necks and said, “Go ahead and do it.” He didn’t, but Rome heard about this and warned him not to ever back down again.
Second, when there was a drought in and around Jerusalem, Pilate decided to build an aqueduct to bring water into the city. He could not get funds from Rome so he raided the Temple treasury to do it. There was a revolt by the Jews and this time he slaughtered them in the streets.
Third, Pilate was warned by Rome and the Emperor that if he messed up again, he would be removed and brought back to Rome – probably to face either exile, imprisonment or execution. The Jews and their religious leaders knew this and they used this to their advantage over him. If a riot breaks out he knows he is history.
If you follow any events in the Middle East today you know how easy it is for a small fantical group to stir up a riot. Pilate knew Jesus was innocent from his own interrogation of him and from his wife’s warning. “But they kept shouting all the more, saying, ‘Crucify Him!’” means the crowds were working up into a frenzy of a potential riot about to get out of control.
Matthew presents a case that almost exonerates the Romans and incriminates the Jewish leaders and Jewish people. Pilate makes it clear that Rome has nothing to do with Jesus’ death. We know from verse 24 that Pilate “washed his hands” saying he was innocent of Jesus’ death. The Jewish leaders and people accept sole responsibility for Jesus’ death in verse 25. Unfortunately, much persecution and murder of Jews throughout history has occurred due to verse 25. The truth is Matthew and the New Testament indict all people from the beginning of time to the end of it for the death of Jesus.
This probably took place around 30 AD and God’s judgment on them for this took place in 70 AD. Rome came in and totally destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, slaughtering between 600,000 to 1 million Jews. An additional 97,000 were taken and enslaved for Roman servitude in Rome or forced into the gladiatorial games in Rome. But Pilate is not totally off the hook. Before he had Jesus crucified, he had Jesus scourged with the Roman flagellum, which ripped flesh, muscle, sinew, tendons and etc out of a body. It was common to actually see the ribs and sometimes the organs of the victim. Most died from blood loss and/or shock. Pilate, Rome and the Jews stand guilty as well as all humanity for killing Jesus. After this, Pilate released Barabbas – a notorious Jewish zealot of a prominent Jewish rabbi (see yesterday’s devotional on this).
Reflection Assignment: How often do you think on your part in the death of Jesus? Is there anyone or any sin that “blackmails” you into betraying or denying Jesus? Are you overwhelmed with grief and humility for what your sin has done to you and what it did to Jesus? Or, do you just “wash your hands” of your sin as if it is not so bad?
Scripture To Meditate On: Matthew 10:3, “But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (NASB).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, I stand guilty as charged for how my sins put You on the cross. It wasn’t just the Jews or Jewish religious leaders or the Romans. My sins crucified You. I really do not take my sin seriously and what it did to You on the cross. Please forgive me for my attitude. Help me to stay in an attitude of gratitude and humility for such grace to me. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly