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2005 Lenten Study Series: Matthew's Passion of Christ
The Roman Trial of Christ
Read: Matthew
27:11-31
“Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say.”
~ Matthew 27:11
1. Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Under the circumstances the concept of Jewish kingship was filled with confusion, ridicule, and misunderstanding. Is this not true, as well, when people ask us if we are Christians? What can we learn from Jesus’ response to Pilate? What impressed Pilate?
2. Throughout the trial how many statements does Pilate make? How many of these are questions? What does this say about Pilate and politics?
3. What was Pilate’s perception of why Jesus had been handed over? What was his wife’s assessment of Jesus?
4. How does Pilate’s hand washing in front of the crowd parallel the chief priests’ use of the thirty silver coins?
5. How does Pilate’s response throughout the trial typify the response of the world-at-large to Jesus?
6. In the Praetorium, Matthew sees more than brutal violence. He sees an evil parody of Christ’s royalty and the utter humiliation of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Compare this situation to the anointing in Bethany.
7. If you keep your eyes on Jesus throughout this entire ordeal what do you see?
8. Reflect on Dale Brunner’s statement:
“Everything religious leadership did to wipe the memory of this man from the face of the earth has conspired to engrave his name more indelibly into history. The leadership wins but loses by winning; the Lord loses but wins by losing. Jesus proves more impressively than anyone else that for one who loves God ‘everything works out for good’ (Romans 8:28). The peacemaker almost always seems to lose. Seems.” (Matthew 7:21).
