When Pilate saw that he could pervail nothing.
Pilate a type of self-justifying rejectors of the gospel
Observe the resemblance in his evasive pleas.
1. Assuming that the matter presented had no claims on him-“Take ye Him.”
2. Substituting a favourable opinion of Christ for a decision-“I find in Him no fault at all.” “I have the highest regard for the Christian religion,” say some.
3. Assmning that it was out of his power to decide-“And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction he sent Him to Herod” (Luke 23:7). A law is in the way, perhaps the Divine decree: the law of inherited corruption.
4. Proposing a compromise-”I will therefore chastise Him and release Him.” With Christ in some things quiets conscience.
5. Surrendering the rights of judgment “What shall I do with Jesus?” I submit the case to your decision.
6. Turning censor-“Why, what evil hath He done?” (S. V. McCorkle.)
Pilate and his modern imitators
I. Whoever does wickedness through others is not less wicked than they, but more. Pilate was no less guilty because the Jews hated and condemned Christ first. As soon as he said to them, “Take Him; see ye to it,” he did all that was necessary to make him a partaker in their villainy..
II. Evil which many men commit is not distributively borne. If a thousand men commit a murder, each man is not guilty of one thousandth part of that murder; but of the whole.
III. Evil actions are not less guilty because they are done for reasons of state. Pilate sacrificed Christ from political considerations.
IV. Wickedness which a man can prevent, and which he does not prevent, inculpates him. (H. W. Beecher.)
Better to be a Puritan than a Pilate
There is another point. This makes me a Puritan. I had rather be a Puritan than a Pilate. What is a Pilate? A Pilate is one of those courtly gentlemen, polished, tasteful expert, who is not disturbed nor warped by convictions in over-measure; who looks upon all moral qualities as a gambler looks upon cards, which he shuffles, and plays according to the exigency of his game-and one just as easy as another. A Pilate is a man who believes in letting things have their own way. “Do not sacrifice yourself. Do not get in the way of a movement. Do the best thing. Live in peace with your time. Be not like the fool, who stands in his own light. Maintain good appearances-that is profitable. See to it that you do not go too far, one way or another. Study the interest of Number One all through. And, whatever comes, see that you come out uppermost. Do not be gross, brutal, fanatical-that is not profitable. Preserve your balance. See that you keep your eye on the chances. If they go this way, you go with them far enough to reap them. If they go the other way, go with them. Do not be too scrupulous. Be just enough so to gain your ends. Use men, use events, use everything that is profitable. Do not use your conscience too much i “ This is the language of the Pilates of our day. Those men who ride astride of the times, and of administrations, and of policies; those men who are polished, cold, calculating, speculating-these are the Pirates-the Pilates, I mean! It was a blunder of the lip, but, after all, it hit right! (H. W. Beecher.)
Lessons from the incidents
I. Men have not always that strict regard to justice and honour, that might be reasonably expected from their stations and characters.
II. Truth and innocence are frequently overpowered by numbers, and oppressed by noise and tumult.
III. A party spirit does oftentimes hurry men to the most fatal extremities. (William West.)