IN LUKE 23:1-7 we have an account of Christ's being sent by the Jews to appear before Pilate, the Roman Governor. The reason for this action is that the Romans had political control of Palestine and had the power of the death sentence in their hands. While the Jews were granted some independence in their own internal affairs, they were supervised by the Romans, and the Jews could sentence no one to death without the Roman Governors first having given his approval. The Jews, therefore, after having condemned Christ to death, took Him to Pilate in order to get the latter's approval.

Matthew tells us that the Jewish Sanhedrin bound Jesus and led Him away and delivered Him up to Pilate, the governor. (See Matt. 27:1,2)

Immediately upon Christ's being turned over to Pilate, the Jews began to accuse Him saying: "We found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ a king" (Luke 23:2). From the standpoint of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Jesus was perverting the nation; but from the scriptural standpoint He was not. He was simply saying nothing but what Moses and the prophets had said would come to pass. Of course, the Pharisees had held strictly to the divine revelation that had been given through Moses and the prophets. The Sadducees, being the modernist and materialists of that day and time, did not attach the same importance to the Scriptures that the Pharisees did, but they joined in with the Pharisees in the condemnation of Jesus, because His life and teaching condemned them.

The charge that Jesus was forbidding to give tribute to Caesar was absolutely false--there was not an iota of evidence in support of this baseless allegation. Jesus had taught exactly the opposite, as we learn from the Gospel Record. (See Matt. 22:16-22) Jesus said: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." In other words, He told them to give to Caesar that which belonged to Caesar. It is strange how even some good religious people can sear their consciences as with a hot iron and deliberately falsify and make things appear differently from what they really are. By lying and perversion, they put their points over with men, but they are not deceiving God, before whom they will be brought eventually, and to whom they will have to give an account for such deliberate lying.

The Jews charged Christ with claiming that He, Himself, was a King. Yes, Jesus was of the regal line of David. He was Israel's rightful King. He offered Himself to become the Sin-bearer of the world when He was here the first time, but Israel rejected Him in this capacity and demanded the death sentence. Eventually He will return, will show His lion qualities, will mount the throne of David, seize all authority in the world, and establish a reign of righteousness. Thus He will be, not only Israel's King, but the King of the entire world.

When the Pharisees stated that Christ made Himself King, Pilate turned to Him and asked, "Art thou the King of the Jews?" Jesus' reply was, "Thou sayest." This statement of Jesus was an affirmation that He was just what they asserted that He claimed to be, namely, the King of the Jews. As just stated, the King was rejected, was crucified, poured out His life's blood for the redemption of the world, was raised from the dead, went at the invitation of God back to heaven, and is seated there at the right hand of God at the present time. He will remain there until Israel, having been convicted of her national sin of rejecting Him as the Saviour of the world, pleads for Him to return. When the people of Israel do this, the Lord Jesus Christ will return. Then He will assert His royal prerogatives.

After a preliminary trial Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes: "I find no fault in this man" (Luke 23:4). But the opponents of Christ became the more insistent, saying: "He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place." It is true that Christ preached in Judea, in Samaria, and in Galilee. Moreover, there were four periods of retirement from the Holy Land, during which He did teach. It is possible for one's opponents who have no regard for truth to take hold of some statement, magnify it out of all proportions, and withhold other vital facts, and by so doing make a situation appear to others to be entirely different from what it is. This very thing the opponents of Jesus did on this occasion. But of course there is coming the reckoning day, when they will have to appear before God and answer for their perversion of the facts!

When Pilate heard that Jesus had taught in Galilee, he instantly took hold of that fact, thinking that he could get rid of Jesus; for he knew that Herod was king of Galilee and of Perea. Pilate thus decided instantly to send Jesus to Herod in order that the latter might handle the case, instead of his having to do it.

At this time Herod was in Jerusalem, as we learn from Luke 23:7. When Jesus was thus sent to Herod, the latter, we are told, "was exceeding glad: for he was of a long time desirous to see him." Herod desired to see Jesus in order that he might observe His performing some miracles. But our Lord would not answer any questions, though Herod put many to Him. Jesus looked into the depths of Herod's heart and knew that it was through curiosity, and not for the purpose of learning truth, that he thus questioned Him. Jesus would not cast pearls before swine, or give that which is holy to the dogs.

The chief priests and the scribes had followed Jesus to the court of Herod and were accusing Him most vehemently; but all their efforts to turn Herod against Jesus failed. The king refused to render a decision concerning Him. He therefore sent Jesus back to Pilate. But Herod was disappointed in not seeing some miracles and was chagrined at our Lord's not answering his questions, and he "with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate" (vs. 11).

What a pity that these men were so blinded that they could not recognize in Jesus the pure, holy Son of God, the Saviour of the world! But blind prejudice and sin in the life constitute a cataract, as it were, before a man's eyes so that he cannot see the truth.

Prior to this time Herod and Pilate had been enemies, but Herod misinterpreted Pilate's action, thinking that the latter honored him by sending Jesus to him. Misunderstanding the situation, Herod made friends with Pilate on this occasion, "And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day." The full account of Christ's being before Herod is found in Luke 23:8-12.

Jesus' Final Trial Before Pilate