The Yale expositor., 1906-11-30
JESUS BEFORE
PLATE
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. 2. 1906
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

LESSON TEXT.-Luke 2s:1s-2. Mem
CRY verses 20. n.
GOLDEN TEXT;-"Then1 said Plate
| TIME.-A. ID. 80, Friday morning from
dawn till eight or nine o'clock.
PLACE.-The Judgment hall OF Plate
PARALLEL ACCoUNTs.-Matt 27;S-
30; Mark l5:2-l9; John lS:2S-l9:l6
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. Is. "Pilate called together" etc.
Evidently the crowd about the Prae-
torium had in a measure dispersed
when Jesus had been taken to Herod.
Now, PLATE, having the case thrown
back upon his hands, summons not
only the accusers of Jesus, 'the chief
priests and rulers" but also the peo-
pie" whom he hoped to find more kind.
ly disposed. His keen eye had dis
Icerned that for envy the ruling Jews
wished to get rid of Jesus.
V. IA. We and / are the emphatic
words of this verse. "One that per-
verteth the people" One that turns
them aside from the course they
should follow. Thus Plate summarizes
the three charges which Jews had prof
fered against Jesus. He wen knew
that If these charges had been true,
Jews would have hailed Jesus as de-
liverer. Examined him." The techni.
cal term for a legal examination.
v. Is. Notice the reading in the Re-
vised Version. Read about Jesus trial
before Herod in verses to IL of this
chapter.
V. 16. 81 will therefore chastise
him" BY making this proposition,
PLATE cuts loose from principles of
justice.
V. II. Note that revisers have omit
ted this verse as of doubtful authority.
IL was entirely in accord with Roman
policy to curry favor with the Jews by
releasing, upon a feast day, some pris-
oner whom they should name. Plate
hit upon this expedient as a mode OF
saving the pride of the priests and yet
getting rid of condemning Jesus to the
cross.
V. 1S. About this time Pilates wife
sent a messenger to him urging that
he do nothing against the just man on
trial. and claiming that she had been
warned by vision concerning him. 1t
brings Lukes account more into har.
mony with other records to understand
they cried out all at once" as refer
ring to the priests, who hurried to
avail themselves OF Pilates preoccupa-
ton with the messenger, and cried out
to the people to ask for the release of
Barabbas. Upon Jewish priests main
ly rests the guilt of the murder of
Jesus.
V. 10. Who for murder"
Nothing more definite is known about
Barabbas. IL seems probable that he
had headed an uprising of Jews
against the government, and by his
hands some had been slain
V. 20. Willing (desiring) to release
Jesus" The sense of justice. which
was strong in a Roman, demanded
that he do so.
V. 81. They cried. Cruelty him!
Cruelty him." Thus the Jewish peo-
pie, instigated by their rulers, rejected
Jesus. Cried" or shouted" refers to
a continuous cry, growing in vehem
ence. Crucifxion was the Roman
method of executing the lowest GRIM
inals. (Gal. 3:13; Heb. 1912, 49,
V. %. said the third time" See
verses and IA. Why" The word
might be rendered "Impossibie!"-an
ejaculation of surprise and inquiry
combined. mo cause of death" Moth.
ing meriting the infection of death.
v. %. Nothing awaited to turn the
now bloodthirsty crowd. "They were
instant (urgent) with loud voices, re-
quiring (asking) that he might be cru
Cited" Plate then took water and
washed his hands before the multi.
tude, saying. | am innocent of the
blood of this Just person" In response
to Pilates expressive act, the Jewish
mob declared their willingness to as
sumo all the responsibility, crying,
His blood be on us and on our chill
dren" (Matt). Voices pre-.
vailed" Not by reason, nor by evi.
dence, but by the clamor OF their
voices, PLATE was overcome and yield.
ed TO the Jewish priests.
| V. 81. Inc HIldl anu prevailing aTgu'
ment on the part of the Jewish leaders
seems to have been their threat that If
Plate set Jesus free they would report
him to the Roman government as abet.
ting an enemy of Caesar John 1912,
13).
" %. Released him muir.
der!" Such an one as Barabbas was a
man after their own heart, but the holy
, and just Jesus they would have none
of. Delivered Jesus to their will"
What now took place was the mockery
I of Jesus by the soldiers. Matt.
27:26-31.)
, Practical Points.
v. 10. He whose wages are death,
had no claim upon the sinless Prince
, of Life.-1 Pet. 2:22.
v. Is. The eyes of critical world
are upon Christians as well as upon
their Master. They may be blamed,