Matthew 27:11-26
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 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?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 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.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
Reflection
Barabbas was a notorious prisoner (Matt. 27:16) who justly deserved his penalty. Jesus was recognized as a “righteous man” (v. 19) who had done nothing to deserve imprisonment or punishment. Though Pilate could find no good reason to sentence Christ (v. 23), his desire to save his own neck (cf. John 19:12) and please the unsettled crowd drove him to release the guilty party and meet the people’s demand that he “destroy Jesus” (Matt. 27:20).
The release of Barabbas at the expense of our righteous Lord Jesus is a powerful illustration of the gospel: “For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). In God’s abundant grace, he gave the innocent One so that the guilty could be set free.
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
2 Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6 For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9 Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; 12 for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. 13 Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. 16 If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
Reflection
In the next major section of the letter (1 Cor. 11:2–14:40), Paul addresses several problems related to worship in Corinth.
The first problem is women who are dishonoring their husbands by praying and prophesying without wearing head coverings (11:5). In Corinth, a head covering in public worship was a symbol of femininity and respect for authority (vv. 4–7, 13–15). Women who rejected this cultural symbol were publically disgracing themselves (v. 6) and dishonoring their husbands (vv. 3–5). Paul attempts to correct this problem by pointing to the relationship between Jesus and his Father. Christ gladly honors his Father, and does not try to establish independence from him, but accepts his authoritative role as the “head” of the relationship (v. 3). In the same way, the marriage relationship should reflect this pattern of divine love (vv. 3–6; cf. Eph. 5:21–33). This means that a wife should respect her husband’s authority (as the Son honors the Father), and a husband should delight in his wife (as the Father delights in the Son). In the church, God is restoring relationships that have been distorted by sin, so that his unchanging character may be displayed. It is therefore crucial that our conduct in worship reflect the character of divine love, which requires us to embrace our God-given gender identities.
Psalm 95:6-7
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,
As our Creator, God takes our gender and sexuality quite seriously and provides important and loving instructions for us in the Scripture. Ask him to help you joyfully embrace the Bible’s teachings on manhood or womanhood so that he will be honored as you uphold his good design.