Matthew 27:26

¶ Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered [him] to be crucified.

Then {G5119} released he {G630} Barabbas {G912} unto them {G846}: and {G1161} when he had scourged {G5417} Jesus {G2424}, he delivered {G3860} him to {G2443} be crucified {G4717}.

Then he released to them Bar-Abba; but Yeshua, after having him whipped, he handed over to be executed on a stake.

So Pilate released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed Him over to be crucified.

Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified.

Commentary

Context

Matthew 27:26 details the culmination of Pontius Pilate's dilemma regarding Jesus Christ, following the demands of the Jewish religious leaders and the crowd. It immediately follows Pilate's symbolic act of washing his hands, declaring himself innocent of Jesus' blood, a gesture recorded in Matthew 27:24. According to a Passover custom mentioned in Matthew 27:15, the Roman governor would release a prisoner chosen by the people. Despite Pilate's attempts to release Jesus, the crowd, instigated by the chief priests and elders, vehemently demanded the release of Barabbas instead, a notorious prisoner described as a robber or insurrectionist.

Key Themes

  • Injustice and Substitution: This verse starkly illustrates the profound injustice of Jesus' trial. An innocent man is condemned, while a guilty criminal, Barabbas, is set free. This exchange serves as a powerful foreshadowing and spiritual representation of Christ's substitutionary atonement, where the sinless One takes the place of the sinful.
  • Human Choice and Divine Plan: While human will, fear, and malice were undeniably at play in Pilate's decision and the crowd's shouts, this moment also underscores the sovereign plan of God for the salvation of humanity. Jesus' suffering and crucifixion, though brought about by human sin, were foretold by prophets like Isaiah (e.g., Isaiah 53:5) and were part of God's eternal purpose to reconcile the world to Himself.
  • The Intensity of Suffering: The act of "scourging" was a brutal Roman punishment, often a prelude to crucifixion. It involved a severe flogging with a whip (a *flagellum*) containing pieces of bone or metal, designed to tear the flesh and inflict immense pain, often leading to death. This deliberate act highlights the physical torment Jesus endured even before reaching the cross, emphasizing the depth of His sacrifice.

Linguistic Insight

The word "scourged" in the King James Version translates the Greek word phragelloo (φραγελλόω), which specifically refers to the Roman practice of flogging with a whip. This was not a light beating but a severe, often life-threatening, form of torture intended to weaken the condemned and maximize suffering on the cross. It underscores the horrific physical abuse Jesus suffered for humanity.

Practical Application

Matthew 27:26 compels us to reflect on the immense cost of sin and the boundless love of God. Jesus, the innocent Son of God, willingly endured unspeakable suffering and a criminal's death so that humanity, represented by Barabbas, could be set free. This verse challenges us to consider our own position before God—we, like Barabbas, are deserving of judgment, yet through Christ's sacrifice, we are offered pardon and new life. It calls us to respond with gratitude, repentance, and faith in the One who was scourged and crucified in our place, offering us eternal life through His great love.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 53:5

    But he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

  • John 19:1

    ¶ Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged [him].

  • Mark 15:15

    ¶ And [so] Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged [him], to be crucified.

  • Isaiah 50:6

    I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

  • Luke 23:16

    I will therefore chastise him, and release [him].

  • Matthew 20:19

    And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again.

  • 1 Peter 2:24

    Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
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