Why was Barabbas chosen over Jesus in Matthew 27:16 by the crowd? Setting the Scene Matthew 27:16 introduces “Barabbas,” described as “a notorious prisoner.” Pilate offers the crowd a choice: release Jesus or Barabbas (Matthew 27:17). Their shocking cry, “Barabbas!” (Matthew 27:21), fulfills Scripture and exposes the human heart. Who Was Barabbas? • Name meaning: “son of the father” (Aramaic). • Notorious insurrectionist and murderer (Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19). • Symbol of violent rebellion against Rome. The Custom of Passover Release • Pilate’s yearly practice: free one prisoner as a goodwill gesture (Matthew 27:15). • Pilate sees Jesus’ innocence (Matthew 27:18, 23) and tries to leverage the custom to spare Him. • The chief priests and elders “persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death” (Matthew 27:20). Why the Crowd Chose Barabbas 1. Spiritual Blindness • Isaiah foretold, “He was despised, and we esteemed Him not” (Isaiah 53:3). • 2 Corinthians 4:4: “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers.” • The crowd, darkened in understanding, cannot see Jesus’ true identity. 2. Misguided Messianic Expectations • Many wanted a militant Messiah to overthrow Rome (John 6:15). • Barabbas, an insurrectionist, looked more like the deliverer they imagined. • Jesus preached peace and a heavenly kingdom (John 18:36), clashing with nationalistic hopes. 3. Manipulation by Religious Leaders • “Out of envy they had handed Him over” (Matthew 27:18). • The leaders stirred up the crowd (Mark 15:11). • Fear of excommunication (John 9:22) and respect for authority swayed public opinion. 4. Human Fear and Crowd Pressure • Proverbs 29:25: “The fear of man proves to be a snare.” • Collective emotion overrules individual conscience. • Pilate himself capitulates to avoid a riot (Matthew 27:24). 5. Prophetic Necessity • Psalm 118:22: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” • Jesus must be rejected to fulfill God’s redemptive plan (Acts 2:23). • Barabbas’ release dramatizes substitution: the guilty freed, the innocent condemned—prefiguring atonement (1 Peter 3:18). Takeaway Truths • God’s sovereignty shines even through injustice; Christ’s death was foreknown and foreordained. • Substitution is central: Jesus takes the place of sinners, just as He took Barabbas’s place on the cross. • Earthly popularity does not equal divine approval; crowds shift, but God’s Word stands (Isaiah 40:8). |
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