After reporting Judas’ suicide, Matthew resumes the account of Jesus’ trial.
记载了犹大自杀事件后，马太继续复述耶稣的审讯过程。
- The King’s Silence 君王的沉默 (27:11-14)
The Sanhedrin’s purpose of delivering Jesus to Pilate was not only to put Him to death, but to avoid their responsibility. Despite their false charges, Jesus gave no response. A person who said nothing in his own defense was unheard of in Israel and it was astounding to Pilate. But Jesus’ innocence was so obvious that it demanded no defense on His part.
公会将耶稣送到比拉多的用意不仅是要将祂判死罪，也要逃避责任。虽受诬告，耶稣却不回答。在以色列，无人是不会为自己辩护的，所以比拉多甚觉稀奇。然而，耶稣的清白很明显，叫祂根本无需为自己辩护。
- The Crowd’s Demand 群众的要求 (27:15-23)
Though Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent, but out of his fear of the crowd, he could not release Jesus. In order to avoid executing Jesus, Pilate used the custom of releasing a prisoner during the Passover to set Him free. But under the incitement from the chief priests and elders, the crowd chose to release Barabbas and demanded for Jesus’ crucifixion. The multitude clearly wanted blood, not justice.
- The Governor’s Acquiescence 巡抚的默许 (27:24-26)
Finally realizing that no amount of reasoning or evidence would prevail with the obsessed mob, the governor made public testimony that although he did not concur with their decision, he released Barabbas according to the wishes of the crowd and had Jesus delivered to be crucified.
巡抚最后意识到：任何道理或证据都不能使众人改变心意。因此，他公开宣示虽然自己不赞同他们的决定，却会依他们的要求释放巴拉巴，并将耶稣交给人钉十字架。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- When Jesus was accused by the chief priests and elders, He gave no answer. (Mt. 27:12) On the other hand, what could he say? “No, I have no sin?” If so, he cannot take away our sin. If he says, “Yes I sinned,” then he lied. So He did not open his mouth just as what Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 53:7. What a difficult moment we have put Jesus in. Please respond in prayer.
当耶稣被祭司长与长老控告的时候，祂什么都不回答（27:12）。另一方面，祂又能说什么？祂若说：“不，我没有罪”，就无法担当我们的罪；若说：“有，我有罪”，便是说谎。因此，祂不开口，就如《以赛亚书》53章7节所预言的。我们将耶稣处在一个如此两难的局面啊！请在祷告中回应。
- The crowd was shouting without thinking, “We want Barabbas, and crucify Jesus. (Mt. 27:20). It was the peer pressure that drove their decision. What about us? Are we following the crowd or do we think carefully what we are doing? Pray that we are not driven by peer pressure but the Word of God.
众人因遭到同侪压力，便不经大脑大喊：“我们要巴拉巴，把耶稣钉十字架！”（27:20）我们呢？我们是否随波逐流，还是先仔细细想我们所做的事呢？祈求催逼我们的是神的话，而不是周围人的压力。
- Because of his political career, Pilate did not stand for the justice. Are we not the same? How many times because of career we sacrifice Jesus or Sunday service? Pray that we will be willing to stand for Jesus, His truth and His kingdom.
比拉多为了自己的政治事业，放弃公义。我们是否亦然？我们有多少次为了事业而牺牲耶稣，或者周日敬拜呢？祈求我们愿为耶稣、真理及祂的国站起来。
