Matthew Chapter 27, Verse 24
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24: ιδων δε ο πιλατος οτι ουδεν ωφελει αλλα μαλλον θορυβος γινεται λαβων υδωρ απενιψατο τας χειρας απεναντι του οχλου λεγων αθωος ειμι απο του αιματος του δικαιου τουτου υμεις οψεσθε
24: When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather
a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before
the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just
person: see ye to it.
24: And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a
tumult was made, taking water washed his hands before the people,
saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man. Look you to it.
He took water, etc. The Jews were accustomed to wash their hands when they wished to show that they were innocent of a crime committed by others. See Deut 21:6, Ps 266. They often used signs to represent their meaning. Pilate, in doing this, meant to denote that they were guilty of his death, but that he was innocent. But the mere washing of his hands did not free him from guilt, he was bound as a magistrate to free an innocent man; and whatever might be the clamour of the Jews, he was guilty at the bar of God for suffering Jesus to be led to execution, to gratify the malice of enraged priests, and the clamours of a tumultuous populace.
See ye to it. That is, take it upon yourselves. Ye are responsible for it, if ye put him to death.
