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Explanation for:
Matthew
27
:
26
Then he released to them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified.
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"What was the reason for the scourging? It could be to act as a condemned man, to create a facade of justice, or to appease the Jewish authorities. Regardless, it was essential to stand firm. Prior to this, He had stated, “Take Him ye, and according to your law judge Him” (John 18:31). There were numerous factors that could have stopped Him and the Jews, including miraculous signs, the profound suffering of the Innocent One, and His remarkable silence. In defending Himself and engaging in prayer, He affirmed His humanity; conversely, through His silence and His disdain for their accusations, He manifested His majesty and elevated dignity, leaving them in awe. Yet, none of this influenced them.\\n\\nWhen the mind succumbs to a powerful, reckless passion, it is challenging to regain composure unless the spirit possesses exceptional courage. It is a grave misfortune to yield to such vile passions, and we must strive to repel them and deny them access. Once these passions invade and take hold of the soul, they ignite a ferocious flame, akin to fire consuming dry wood. Therefore, I urge you to utilize every measure to prevent their entry and refuse to give way to any destructive thoughts that might suggest, “What significance does this or that hold?” Such reasoning spawns countless evils. The crafty adversary employs subtlety, coercion, and indulgence to bring about the ruin of humanity, often beginning with seemingly minor matters. Observe how he attempted to lead Saul to heed the seemingly harmless whispers of a medium. Had he approached Saul with this suggestion at first, Saul would have outright rejected it. How could one pursuing a sorceress give ear to such folly? Thus, the devil led him gradually and unobtrusively toward that end.\\n\\nInitially, when Saul disobeyed Samuel and rashly offered a burnt sacrifice in his absence, he rationalized his actions by citing urgent need due to his adversaries and dismissively remained composed as if he had committed no wrong. Later, when God commanded the annihilation of the Amalekites, Saul failed to obey. His schemes against David followed, and he continued to slip ever deeper into destruction until he reached the abyss. Cain's story parallels this; the devil did not compel him to murder his brother outright, as persuasion would have taken time. Instead, he first enticed Cain to present inferior sacrifices, subtly laying the groundwork. Next, he stoked hatred and envy, convincing Cain that no harm lay in such feelings. Finally, he led him to commit fratricide, locking himself away from God in a dreadful act of murder, carrying him through to ultimate evil.\\n\\nIt is imperative to resist wrongdoing from the outset; even the slightest offenses should not be dismissed, for they can lead to greater transgressions as anger brews within the soul. Therefore, all efforts must be made to eradicate vices at their inception. Do not underestimate the minor sins, for they serve as the roots of greater evil when neglected. It is noteworthy that vast sins demand greater vigilance and effort, while the common, trivial ones lead to spiritual lethargy, preventing us from taking decisive action to eliminate them. If left unchecked, these minor sins can quickly escalate.\\n\\nThis is how Judas succumbed to great evil. His initial disregard for the plight of the poor contributed to his ultimate betrayal of Christ. Likewise, had the Jews not deemed their vanity a trivial concern, they likely would not have resorted to crucifying Christ. This pattern is common; no one plunges into wickedness all at once. There exists within the soul a natural sense of shame regarding sin and a respect for what is good, making it impossible for one to rapidly embrace complete shamelessness. Instead, the descent into utter depravity occurs gradually and subtly.\\n\\nThus, idolatry emerged when people began to honor others—both the living and the deceased—beyond measure, eventually leading to the veneration of idols. Similarly, other vices such as fornication multiplied. One would jest, another would insult, while yet another dismissed fear, arguing that it was inconsequential. Such trivialities give rise to empty chatter, leading to shameful discourse and eventually immoral actions. When one is reproached for speaking ill of another, they may mockingly dismiss the significance of their words. However, from such attitudes arises intense hatred, irreconcilable enmity, endless accusations, and potentially even violence and murder.\\n\\nThe wicked one escalates this pattern, deftly leading one from minor sin to greater despair. It is true that it is not the act of sinning alone that destroys, but rather the despair that often follows. A sinner who remains alert can correct their transgressions through repentance. But one who gives in to despair goes without correction, having neglected the remedy of repentance. There exists a third, particularly treacherous scheme of the devil, whereby he cloaks sin in the guise of righteousness. \\n\\nYou may wonder how the devil can be so malevolent in his deceptions. Pay attention to his tactics. Christ, through Paul, instructed that a wife should not abandon her husband, nor should couples deny one another, except by mutual consent; yet, some, in a misguided pursuit of temperance, have forsaken their spouses, erroneously believing they act righteously, thereby leading themselves into adultery. Consider the misfortune of those who have endured great labor only to be accused of egregious wrongs and to face grave consequences for their actions, while those who carried out wrongdoing alongside them head towards ruin.\\n\\nOthers, in their zeal to obey fasting regulations, have arrived at a point of abhorring food altogether, incurring severe punishment as a result. A similar error occurs when one justifies personal biases that contradict Scriptural truth. Some in Corinth falsely believed that consuming anything, even that which is forbidden, represented spiritual maturity (1 Cor. 8). Yet, this is not a sign of perfection but rather an egregious delusion. Consequently, Paul vehemently condemned such practices, warning that they would incur harsh penalties for these missteps.\\n\\nOthers also believe that cutting their hair signifies piety, but this too is misinterpreted and utterly shameful. Still, others think they will benefit greatly by grieving excessively over their sins; yet, as illustrated by Judas, this too can ensnare one in despair. Paul admonished the Corinthians to forgive swiftly, lest the individual be overwhelmed by sorrow (2 Cor. 2:7). Recognizing this as one of the devil's traps, he warned against yielding to despair, as he stated, “lest Satan should do us harm, for we know not his wiles” (2 Cor. 2:11).\\n\\nSurely, had he presented himself openly, his defeat would be straightforward. Even now, we can triumph over him if we remain vigilant; God has equipped us with the tools to withstand such clever devices. Hear this call to vigilance so as not to disregard any minor sin: “Whosoever shall say to his brother, ‘He that is mad, shall be subject to hell of fire’” (Matthew 5:22); likewise, to gaze lustfully is to commit adultery in the heart. He chastises those who laugh and takes care to root out the seeds of evil, declaring that we shall give an account for even our idle words. This is why Job meticulously purified even the thoughts of his children (Job 1:5).\\n\\nScripture also admonishes us not to lose hope: “Do they not rise again when they fall, and when they stray from the path, do they not return?” (Jeremiah 8:4). Again it states, “Do I not desire the death of the wicked, but that he may turn from his ways and live?” (Ezek. 18:23), and “if ye would now hearken to His voice” (Ps. 94:7). Numerous similar phrases and examples permeate Scripture, guiding us towards repentance.\\n\\nTo safeguard ourselves against godliness that masks peril, heed Paul’s caution: “lest he be consumed with excessive sorrow” (2 Cor. 2:7). Aware of this, let us protect ourselves from dangerous paths through understanding divine teachings. Do not dismiss the significance of gazing upon a beautiful woman; lust in the heart often leads to physical adultery. Do not say, “What harm is there in ignoring a beggar?” For if you neglect one, you will likely turn away from another, and then a third. Likewise, do not entertain coveting your neighbor’s possessions; this is exactly how Ahab was led to ruin when he seized Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21). He who buys should not employ force but persuasion. If Ahab was condemned for taking what he paid for without consent, what consequences await those who steal openly while living under grace?\\n\\nThus, to avoid punishment, let us remain pure of all violence and theft. We must guard against not only sins but also their very beginnings, diligently nurturing virtue. In doing so, we will partake in everlasting blessings through the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Barabbas, the thief who incited the crowd and was guilty of murder, was set free for the people of Israel. However, Jesus, whom they had betrayed, received commendation from Pilate's wife, and the governor himself declared Him innocent. Additionally, the centurion proclaimed, “Truly He was the Son of God” (Matt. 27:54). A discerning reader might question Pilate's actions when he washed his hands and declared, “I am innocent of the blood of this Righteous One” (Matt. 27:24), yet proceeded to hand Jesus over for scourging and crucifixion. It is crucial to understand that according to Roman law, an individual condemned to crucifixion was required to be scourged beforehand. Thus, Jesus was surrendered to the soldiers for this punishment, and their whipping struck the most sacred flesh, the very body where God resides. As it is written, “Many sorrows to the wicked” (Psalm 31:10), this occurred so that through the suffering of Jesus, we might be rescued from our own afflictions. The Scripture reassures the righteous, “No evil shall come upon thee, neither shall any pestilence come near thy dwelling place” (Psalm 90:10)."},{"author-name":"Apollinarius of Laodicea","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"These are the strikes endured for the transgressions of humanity, for many are the afflictions faced by the sinner, as foretold in the scripture: I have given my back to those who strike (Isaiah 50:6). The righteous act on behalf of the unrighteous reaches its fulfillment, embodying the ultimate expression of goodness, when the just suffer in place of the unjust (1 Pet. 3:18). Through his wounds, our healing is accomplished (Is. 53:5), as stated by Isaiah."},{"author-name":"Isaiah the Hermit","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d84ba9f49624b317355_Isaiah%20the%20Hermit.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The account of the Lord Jesus being \\"scourged\\" prior to His crucifixion encourages us to attribute nothing to any human shame or dishonor."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Mark noted that Pilate intended to act in a manner pleasing to the crowd, while Luke pointed out that he agreed to their demands. The scourge, a whip made of ropes and straps, was used to lash those condemned. John makes it explicit that Pilate ordered Jesus to be scourged. Pilate did this with the hope of mitigating the fury of the Jewish leaders, believing that if they witnessed the humiliation of Jesus and heard the verdict by which He was surrendered to their desires, as Luke mentioned, namely to be crucified—something they desired—they might eventually release their pent-up anger. To further appease them, Pilate permitted a series of indignities, including dressing Jesus in a purple robe, placing a crown upon His head, providing Him with a reed, and otherwise subjecting Him to mockery."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Crucifixion represented the most agonizing and disgraceful method of capital punishment in ancient times, so much so that, as Cicero noted, its mere mention should not grace the thoughts, sight, or ears of a Roman citizen, let alone affect him personally. This practice originated in the East and was employed by civilizations such as the Persians, Phoenicians, and Carthaginians long before it reached Europe. In Palestine, it was first introduced by Alexander the Great after his conquest of Tyre, where he executed two thousand inhabitants as a severe warning to the rest for their fierce resistance. The Romans later adopted this method through Crassus, who infamously crucified the slaves who had revolted under Spartacus, displaying them along the route from Rome to Capua. Ultimately, this form of execution became part of the punitive measures established by Augustus and was commonly used against various insurgents and criminals who defied state authority.\\n\\nThe horror of crucifixion was particularly acute for the Jews, as it was viewed as a distinctly pagan form of punishment. The Old Testament may refer to ‘hanging on a tree,’ but this typically involved placing a body on display or occurred in rare instances authorized by some kings under the influence of neighboring pagan cultures. Under normal circumstances, the crucifixion of a Jewish person would have been unthinkable due to the deep national sensitivity surrounding such an act. Therefore, the frenzied calls for the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth by the chief priests, Jewish leaders, and the crowd illustrate the extraordinary extent of malice and animosity to which the ‘chosen people’ were driven by the ruler of this world, seeking to demonstrate the total triumph of darkness on earth."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Jesus suffered brutal physical punishment: the Romans traditionally subjected slaves sentenced to crucifixion to severe beatings to intensify their anguish. Nevertheless, it seems unlikely that Pilate, fully aware of Jesus Christ’s innocence, authorized the beating purely for the sake of inflicting pain. According to John's narrative (John 19:1-5), Pilate commanded that Jesus be scourged to present Him as wounded and dishonored to the Jewish people, hoping to evoke their compassion and persuade them to spare Him from the death penalty. Scourging was an extremely harsh form of punishment employed by the Romans: the condemned individual would be stripped bare, bound by the hands in a bent posture against a pole, and lashed with leather whips; the strikes could land indiscriminately, often with malicious intent, even targeting the face. The severity of this torment sometimes rendered the individual unconscious, and in certain cases, it could lead to death (for additional context on scourging among the Jews, refer to the note on Matthew 10:17). Jesus was 'betrayed to crucifixion' — recognized as innocent, yet betrayed by the cowardice and moral weakness of those against their better judgment."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Gumilevski)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896f4b6fd32caa244b5d7_Philaret%20(Gumilevski).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The relentless determination of the Sanhedrin to fulfill its malicious intent towards Christ Jesus paints a grim picture. Pilate wrestled deeply with this fierce hatred. While he does not possess the sincerity to act unequivocally in truth, he compromises truth by succumbing to falsehood's demands; yet, he still strives to defend truth against the Sanhedrin’s stubbornness. The Sanhedrin persists in its diabolical opposition to Jesus. How often might the sight of such unyielding wickedness stir within us a profound distress for the state of unrepentant souls! Subsequently, Pilate had Jesus beaten and scourged (John 19:1). He commanded the soldiers to whip Jesus while releasing Barabbas instead, as scourging was typically a preliminary act before executing a death sentence. Pilate, as we will see, intended to persuade the Jews to limit their demands to this compromise. This illustrates the judge’s morally dubious calculations: performing an evil act to produce a righteous outcome. Scourging, while somewhat acceptable, was also practiced among the Jews (Deut. 25:2-3; 2 Cor. 11:24). However, Christ Jesus was subjected to scourging at the hands of Roman soldiers, a punishment reflecting the brutality of the Gentiles. The Roman scourging was notoriously harsh and shameful, reserved even for slaves. The Evangelists refrain from detailing the specific agony Christ endured, but the very term used for this punishment signifies that Jesus's scourging was extraordinarily barbaric, consistent with Pilate’s character. Typically, the victim was bound to a post, and the number of lashes was not legally specified, allowing for cruelty and unpredictability under pagan law. Thus, many succumbed to the severity of the beatings. Historical accounts from the second-century martyrs of Smyrna reveal they endured such brutal scourging that their veins and internal organs were exposed. Blessed Jerome noted he was shown a pillar splattered with the blood of the Lord, at which He was tied and subjected to beatings. Similarly, Chrysostom spoke of a wooden pole in Jerusalem where Jesus was bound and lashed."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Prior to condemning the Lord Jesus Christ to death, Pilate commanded Him to be whipped. “THEN,” St. Matthew recounts, “he released Barabbas to them, and JESUS, after being scourged,” thinking that this brutal punishment might appease the fury of Jesus’ adversaries. However, when this method failed to elicit their compassion, he handed Jesus over for crucifixion. The Holy Evangelists did not elaborate on the gruesome specifics of this punishment, as such knowledge was familiar to the early Christians. While the Jews practiced scourging, it was less brutal than that administered by the Gentiles; Jewish law permitted no more than thirty-nine stripes for the accused. In contrast, the Gentiles imposed no such limit, with soldiers stripping the condemned to the waist, binding Him to a post, and beating Him mercilessly with whips that had multiple thongs. Often, sharp bones or metal pieces were interwoven within these whips to inflict severe lacerations, resulting in many scourged individuals succumbing to their wounds. This form of punishment was not only cruel but also a matter of disgrace, reserved solely for slaves. Pilate sought to appease the foes of our Lord through this horrific chastisement. It is undeniable that the brutal Roman soldiers, who bore a deep-seated animosity toward the Jews, were eager to unleash their fury on Him whom they deemed the King of the Jews."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Pilate surrendered Jesus to the authority of the Sanhedrin. Subsequently, as recorded by Luke the Evangelist, Pilate agreed to their demand and released Barabbas, a man imprisoned for insurrection and murder, into their custody, while handing Jesus over to them. Thus was fulfilled the judgment of humanity against Divine Truth. The sinful world, entrenched in wickedness, could not tolerate this truth and reacted violently against it; in this rebellion, the intense struggle of evil to cling to its long-established reign over humanity was revealed. While evil cannot ultimately triumph over Divine Truth, in this fierce battle, the Herald of Truth, as a man, faced death rather than defeat. His passing was foreseen and proclaimed by the Prophets inspired by God. Even the noblest among the Gentiles sensed that if Truth were ever to manifest in humanity, it would provoke opposition from nearly the entire world; for instance, Plato, the Greek philosopher, articulated three hundred years before Christ’s arrival that if a Righteous One should emerge on earth, He would be scourged, tormented, shackled, and ultimately nailed to a tree. In this moment of the Herald of Divine Truth's death, evil felt it had claimed victory, yet it was gravely mistaken: this death proved to be a defeat for evil! It was only after Christ’s death and resurrection that humanity gradually recognized, though not all at once, that they had turned against God Himself. They came to understand God's will and submitted to it; realizing that through His suffering and death on the Cross, Christ willingly offered Himself as a sacrificial atonement for the sins of humanity, fulfilling the divine plan of His Father. Pilate communicated the trial of Jesus to Tiberius, as noted by Justin the Philosopher and Tertullian; Tiberius was so moved by this account that he suggested to the Senate that Jesus Christ be counted among the Roman deities. The Senate rejected this proposal, and Tiberius instead mandated that Christians should not face persecution. \\n\\nPilate ended his life through suicide, yet those who mirror his actions persist even today. In a powerful oration on Good Friday before the shroud, Archbishop Innocent urged public figures to convene at Christ's Tomb and reflect on their actions, addressing the judges directly: “O ruler of the destiny of your neighbors, to whom is entrusted the authority to adjudicate and decide, stand before this Tomb and give an account! You hold no power unless it has been granted to you from above; and you are the instrument of God’s judgment. Remember this, and weigh righteousness with reverence for God. Do not fear losing the favor of the earthly powers for the sake of truth; the Sufferer of Calvary has secured for you the title of God’s friend, enabling you to discern innocence from guilt, weakness from malice. He has bestowed upon you the illumination of His Word to guide your conscience. Do you utilize this gift for the welfare of your neighbors, walking diligently in the path of justice and duty? If you do not favor faces, if you uphold the truth, regardless of its disdain from others; if your actions are not tainted by the blood and tears of the unjustly condemned, then approach your future Judge and Lord, touch His wounds, and draw from them renewed strength to conquer falsehood, to resist temptation, and to sanctify truth. At the world's judgment, you too will stand at the right hand, receive mercy, and be crowned with the crown of truth. However, if you possess the authority to free the innocent and, despite knowing their innocence, choose instead to hand them over to their adversaries to appease their pride; if, instead of defending and pronouncing judgment upon innocence, you ridicule its plight and subject it to repeated trials; if your version of truth consists merely of appeasing the crowd, then depart from this Tomb! Your place is not here, but in Pilate's judgment hall.”"}]}
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