Matthew 27:17

Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

Matthew 27:17 (KJV)

Context

After Jesus was arrested, He was brought before various authorities, including the Jewish religious leaders and ultimately Pilate. The Jewish leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy and sought His execution, but they lacked the authority to carry out a death sentence. Therefore, they brought Jesus to Pilate, hoping that he would condemn Jesus to death.

Pilate, as the Roman governor, held the power to decide Jesus’ fate. At the Passover festival, it was customary for the governor to release one prisoner to the people. Pilate addresses the crowd and presents them with a choice.

Meaning

Pilate’s question, “Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?” sets the stage for a crucial decision. The name “Christ” means the Messiah or Anointed One, the promised deliverer of Israel. By placing Barabbas and Jesus side by side, Pilate forces the crowd to choose between a known insurrectionist and the proclaimed Messiah.

The juxtaposition highlights a stark contrast. Barabbas was a criminal and rebel, while Jesus was innocent, regarded by many as a teacher and healer. The offer to release one prisoner symbolized freedom and mercy, yet Pilate’s intention was likely to appease the crowd and avoid unrest. In doing so, he unknowingly presented a choice between true freedom in Christ and the temporary release of a guilty man.

Biblical connections

This moment fulfills the prophetic picture of the suffering servant who is despised and rejected, as described in Isaiah 53:3. The crowd’s choice, influenced by the chief priests and elders, leads to the crucifixion of Jesus. The release of Barabbas and the condemnation of Jesus vividly illustrates substitutionary atonement: the innocent dies for the guilty. This truth is foundational to the gospel and demonstrates God’s sovereignty in using even unjust human decisions to accomplish His redemptive purposes.

Application

The choice presented to the crowd is a mirror of the choice every person faces: to accept or reject Jesus as the Christ. The crowd’s answer reveals the hardness of their hearts, preferring rebellion and self-rule over the sinless Savior. This passage calls for self-examination: do we, like the crowd, prefer Barabbas—the way of self-rule—over Jesus, or do we acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior? The depth of God’s love is seen in allowing His Son to be delivered up for our transgressions, and this should lead to gratitude and worship.

Reflection

Matthew 27:17 emphasizes the weight of the decision placed before the crowd and its symbolic implications. It sets the stage for the events that culminate in Jesus’ crucifixion, ultimately fulfilling God’s redemptive plan for humanity. The innocent Savior took the place of the guilty, and that exchange remains the heart of the gospel.