👑 Why the Crowd Chose Barabbas Over Jesus? | Matthew 27 Devotional (7-Step QT)
7-Step QT Notes
1. 🙏 Quiet Time
Pause.
Take a deep breath.
Ask God to help you recognize His truth over the noise of the crowd.
< h3>2. 📅 April 1, 2026Today’s passage reminds us:
The crowd may be loud, but only Jesus is truly right and worthy to be followed.
3. ✝️ Matthew 27:1-26
The religious leaders handed Jesus over to Pilate to be put to death, while Judas, filled with remorse, returned the thirty pieces of silver, and the money was used to buy the potter’s field in fulfillment of prophecy. Standing before Pilate, Jesus remained silent, revealing both His innocence and His willing submission to the will of God. In the end, the crowd chose Barabbas and demanded Jesus’ crucifixion, and Pilate delivered over the innocent Jesus despite knowing He had done no wrong.
4. 📖 Key Verse
And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” (v. 25)
5. 📝 Reflection
Have you ever heard the expression “collective intelligence”? At first glance, it may seem like a very progressive and attractive concept. However, this idea originally came from an entomologist’s observation of ant societies. Later, from a humanistic perspective, some began to oppose God-centered rule and argue that when people combine their strength, they can demonstrate intellectual power beyond that of any individual. They believe that a society guided by such collective intelligence can become more advanced and satisfying for everyone.
Yet Scripture clearly shows through many events that collective intelligence apart from God is bound to fail. What the Jewish crowd displayed in Pilate’s courtroom was by no means successful collective intelligence. Rather, it was closer to collective madness. In verse 25, all the people cried out together:
“His blood be on us and on our children!”
This was truly an irrational and horrifying cry. God’s chosen people were actually shouting for God to be crucified.
Beloved saints, expressions such as collective intelligence, collective wisdom, or the wisdom of the masses become empty illusions when they are separated from God. Human wisdom has obvious limits. The moment we ignore God, we are no longer truly rational beings, but a crowd swept away by madness. The source of our wisdom is God alone. Therefore, I sincerely pray that today, too, we would make fearing the Lord our highest priority.
6. 💬 What does this passage speak to you today?
- Where am I being influenced more by the crowd than by Christ?
- In what area of my life am I tempted to stay silent or compromise because of pressure from others?
- What would it look like today to follow Jesus with courage, even if it means standing apart?
7. 🙏 Prayer
Lord, keep me from being shaped by the crowd more than by Your truth.
Give me courage to stand with Jesus, even when it is unpopular or costly.
Help me fear You more than I fear people.
Amen.
Scriptures
📖 (Matthew 27:1-26, ESV).
1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter’s field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord directed me.”
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.
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