Matthew 27:15-20 A Warning Dream
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 12, 2019 Matthew 27:15-20
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
(Understanding the Text) Matthew is still condensing the narrative. He just wants us to know that the Jews had a chance to release Jesus, but they chose to kill the Messiah instead. He wants us to know that it was at the instigation of the leaders of Israel that this was done. He does add one detail. Pilate’s wife sent a message that Pilate should let Jesus go because she had received a dream about Jesus.
It’s interesting that Matthew includes the part about Pilate’s wife. Some traditions say that she later became a Christian and at this time she may have been a “God-fearer,” which means that she was a Gentile who believed in Yahweh, but had not officially become a Jew. I guess that is sort of like a visitor who does not become a church member but still comes to church frequently. This belief that she was a “God-fearer” is partly supported by the fact that she was in Jerusalem during Passover time when she should have been in residence at Caesarea. The dream may have been as much for her as it was for Pilate.
Pilate chose to condemn an innocent man in order to keep his power. He knew that Jesus was innocent. His wife confirmed his knowledge providing a supernatural confirmation, but he refused to take a stand. His compromise was for nothing. He was removed from power not much later for other actions that he had taken. What would have happened if he had made a pure choice here? Maybe, he would have been removed from office quicker. Maybe, he would have had more problems, but does it matter? In the end, even with his compromise with the Jewish leaders, he would still soon be in trouble and still be gone, but with innocent blood on his hands.
(Revelation of God) God always tries to give people a chance to make choices with integrity. He did not want Pilate to have the guilt of Jesus’ death on his hands, so he gave Pilate every possible chance to make the right moral choice, including supernatural means. Just because we do not take the opportunities that we are given, does not mean that God has not given us opportunities to know and act well. He will also help us to act righteously if we are willing to follow His guidance.
(Application) It is better to do what’s right even with extra problems resulting than to know that my compromising morality has resulted in hurting someone else. I might not like the results of my choices to behave with integrity, but this life is never without trouble and problems. Situations can turn on you without warning. Avoiding trouble is good but impossible to do in all cases. Thus, it should not be the criteria for my choices. I should choose right, and then trust God to help me through the resulting furor. Maybe, He will keep me out of trouble or maybe, He will be with me as I pass through trouble. Either way, it is better to choose to do right than to live with knowing that I have chosen to do wrong.
(Prayer) Please, guide me through the moral dilemmas that face me every day and give me the courage to always behave with integrity, regardless of the outcome for myself. Help me to know what to do in the gray areas where my choices will affect others. When is compromise out of love appropriate and when is it hurtful. I do not have the wisdom to know. I need Your wisdom.