PILATE MOCKS THE CHIEF PRIESTS AT THE JUDGE’S SEAT

MATTHEW 27:22–26

Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, had something other than good hygiene in mind when he washed his hands at Jesus’s trial. Most likely, this act performed at the judge’s seat was meant to publicly mock those who were trying to manipulate him. In so doing, Pilate must have hoped to extract from them a political prize.

When Pilate took his official position at the judge’s seat (Matt. 27:19), his action sent a commanding message.29 This trial, or tribunal, had no jury; it was the Roman governor who entertained the charges, heard the evidence, and subsequently gave the verdict. Pilate could conduct the trial any way he saw fit, and he alone had the power to determine the outcome. The only law that governed Pilate’s conduct was the Roman law against extortion.30

With this background in view, Matthew notes an unexpected strategy in the trial of Jesus. Instead of delivering a verdict, Pilate asked a question of the accusers: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matt. 27:22). The chief priests had been looking for ways to kill Jesus, but they were afraid a riot might ensue if they did it during Passover (Matt. 26:3–5). Pilate recognized their attempt to manipulate him and knew they would not hesitate to press their followers to demonstrate against him in order to force his weakened hand. Therefore, aware that the chief priests had delivered Jesus to him because of their envy (Mark 15:10), Pilate took water and washed his hands in front of them.

Mosaic from St. Peter in Gallicantu (Jerusalem). After Caiaphas tore his clothes, the high priestly families took Jesus to Pilate for Roman involvement.

Mosaic from St. Peter in Gallicantu (Jerusalem), illustrating Pilate with Jesus at the judge’s seat.

Pilate was not one to succumb to such pressure without achieving his own political goals, which is exactly why he washed his hands at the judge’s seat, mimicking a ritual described in Deuteronomy 21:1–9. If a murder victim was found in the open country, the elders of the nearby villages were to measure the distance from the victim to the surrounding villages. The elders of the nearest village sacrificed a heifer and washed their hands over the heifer (v. 6) as they declared their innocence. “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done” (v. 7). According to the rite as later described in the Mishnah, the priests then confirmed their declaration of innocence.31 In Pilate’s parody, he washed his hands and declared, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. . . . It is your responsibility!” At that point the crowd of the chief priests and their supporters shouted, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” (Matt. 27:24–25).

Pilate’s actions made it clear to the chief priests that he knew what they were up to. He might give them what they wanted, but first he would extract from them a political prize for himself. By the time the trade-off was over, Pilate ordered the crucifixion of Jesus, but he had what he wanted from the chief priests—total loyalty to Rome (John 19:15).

Pilate may have used a Roman-style pan such as this one to wash his hands.
© Dr. James C. Martin. Shrine of the Book, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem. Photographed by permission.

Statue of the emperor Tiberius. Although the chief priests had accused Jesus of blasphemy, it was they who rejected the living God and submitted to the direct imperial worship of Tiberius when they announced, “We have no king but Caesar.”
© Dr. James C. Martin. Musée du Louvre; Autorisation de photographer et de filmer—LOUVRE.