THE DREAM OF PILATE’S WIFE
Matt. 27:11-26
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: THE AGGIE’S LAST REQUEST
1. Back in the Old West three Texas cowboys were about to be hung for cattle rustling. The lynch mob brought the three men to a tree that hung over the Rio Grande River.
2. The idea was that after each man died, they'd cut the rope and he'd drop into the river – saving them the trouble of digging graves. They put the first cowboy in the noose, but he was so sweaty and greasy he slipped out, fell in the river and swam to freedom.
3. They tied the noose around the second cowboy's head. He, too, oozed out of the rope, dropped into the river and got away.
4. As they dragged the third Texan, an Aggie, to the scaffold, he resisted, "Please! Would yaw'l tighten that noose a little bit? I can't swim!"
B. TEXT
11 [Pontius Pilate] asked Him...“Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” 15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore...Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.” 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” 23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising....26 he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
C. THESIS
1. Out of the thousands of Roman governors who served the Empire over a thousand years, only one is remembered by millions today, as they recite in the Apostle’s creed of how Christ “suffered under Pontius Pilate.” Pilate lives in infamy!
2. Pontius Pilate was a rich and worldly-minded Roman statesman, who had a sense of justice when it didn’t conflict with his own self-interests and aims. He had no fixed principles except his own climb to power and influence.
3. We find Pilate already in deep trouble. He’d inflamed the Jews by moving the standard of Caesar into Jerusalem and a gold shield with the names of deities on it – both he was forced to remove again, the 2nd by the order of Caesar. He took sacred money and used it to build an aqueduct & caused a riot. He slaughtered Galileans & mingled their blood with his sacrifices (Lk. 13:1).
4. And at the very time Jesus was brought before him, a new complaint was on its way to Caesar, and Tiberius wasn’t happy with complaints. Pilate was trying not to inflame the Jews further. Yet at this crucial moment, a warning comes from the hand of God!
I. THE NATURE OF THE DREAM
A. ITS SUPERNATURAL CHARACTER
1. Normally dreams are caused by:
a. what you eat or drink;
b. stress/ cares: “multitude of business” Eccles. 5:13;
c. condition of the body (health, position);
d. Noises around the person.
2. But this WAS A DREAM FROM GOD
a. God routinely tries to keep us back from sin. He sometimes uses dreams to restrain us. (Ex. God warned Laban not to harm Jacob).
b. Pilate’s wife was so fearful & startled that she hurried to interrupt the Judge on his bench. Her request was stated in the form of a pleading command. She considered it deadly serious.
B. ITS TIMING
1. The drama of Christ’s sufferings were moving to their climax: Jesus had been betrayed, arrested, tried before the Sanhedrin, and shuffled back and forth between Pilate and Herod.
2. Christ now stood before Pilate for final judgment. At the very moment Pilate was vacillating, the pressure came. He offered the Jews the choice between Barabbas and Jesus. Pilate at last sat on the official judgment seat – it was at this moment that the hand of God sent warning to him!
3. After he left home that morning his wife had gone back to sleep (“a dream this day”). When she awoke, she immediately sent a messenger, who arrived just as Pilate was about to pass sentence! Q-Has God’s hand of warning ever come to you?
C. WHO GOD SENT THE DREAM TO – Pilate’s Wife
1. Q – How could God reach Pilate? to give him warning? No earthly person will speak up for Jesus: His disciples are in hiding. Pilate won’t listen to Jesus.
2. ANSWER – Who is more dear to a man than his wife? Who has more access to Pilate than his wife? If anyone can sway him or reach his heart, it MUST be his wife!
3. JOKE. Wives have a way of getting their husband’s attention. We’ve all heard that in heaven there’s 2 lines for men to enter: “Henpecked” or “NOT henpecked.” All the millions of men stood in the first line. Finally, one man approached the “Non-henpecked” line. All the men asked, “How did you manage to get into that line?” The man answered, “I don’t know; my wife told me to stand there!”
4. Pilate’s wife loved him more than any other. Here she stands, at God’s direction, between her husband and a crime! “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man!”
5. How many times has God used our praying mothers, godly wives, or even our kids to speak to us. Be careful not to trifle with God’s messengers! To Pilate her warning was God’s ultimatum. God never warned him again. (Be careful to keep a teachable spirit!)
II. PILATE’S RESPONSE TO THE DREAM
It was the best means of reaching Pilate, but he wouldn’t listen even to his own wife. WHY?
A. WATCHING OUT FOR #1
1. Think what people will do for money, prestige, & power! They will sell their souls to gain a spot in Hollywood, politics, or the Corporate world. Pilate did too!
2. But us regular folks do it also – giving Christ a back seat to their careers. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these other will be added” and God “adds no sorrow with it.”
B. PILATE ACTED A COWARD
1. A man with legions to support him, but afraid of a Jewish
Mob? A lot of people appear tough – professional athletes,
macho TV actors, etc. – but they’re really wimps! It takes guts to serve the Lord. It’s easier to go with the crowd than to stand alone for God. It’s not popular.
2. We’re afraid of being laughed at or offending a special friend and we hide our light. Pilate, like a coward, tried to shift the blame. He washed his hands and said, “I’m innocent of this man’s blood...you see to it.”
C. HE WAS DOUBLE-MINDED
1. It’s terrible to be a double-minded person. A vacillating person, when pressed from 2 sides, will choose the path of least resistance. Like wind-sock politicians, who have no real convictions, but vote the way of the loudest hew & cry.
2. Pilate did seek to release Jesus. He believed Jesus was no ordinary person. But Pilate’s desire to do right wasn’t as strong as the Jews determination to murder Jesus. So Pilate stooped to murder as the ‘easy-out.’
3. If you don’t take a stand for Christ (determine to do the right thing) the day will come when you too will crucify Christ by your actions! Count the cost! “Keep your oath, even if it hurts” Ps. 15:4.
III. PILATE’S END
A. “YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT”
Pilate betrayed Jesus to keep his possessions, position, his honors, etc. But he ended up losing it all! “He that will save his life shall lose it.”
B. PILATE’S DEMISE
1. Shortly after condemning Jesus, Pilate killed many of the Samaritans and was removed as Governor.
2. He stood trial before Emperor Caligula and was condemned and exiled from the Empire. Eusebius adds, “wearied with misfortunes” he killed himself (he followed Judas’ route).
3. Christian traditions claim Pilate’s wife’s name was Claudia, and that she was eventually baptized as a Christian. Origen, the 3rd Century Church father, wrote about her in his ‘Homilies on Matthew.’ She is also recognized as a saint in the Greek & Ethiopian Orthodox Churches.
4. One day, Pilate will be summoned to stand before the Great White Throne Judgment seat in Heaven. Imagine his surprise when he sees who the JUDGE is! How sad that his own wife will have to witness against him! How different it could have been.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: PORTRAIT OF THE SON
1. I'm reminded of the story of the millionaire who died and his estate, which had many valuable pieces of furniture and artwork, was to be auctioned off.
2. The mansion was packed with people hopeful of getting a valuable item. Many priceless works were displayed at the front.
3. The auctioneer said, "It was Mr. Smith's request that we begin the auction by first selling the portrait of his son, William, who died when he was 15 years old. The bidding will start at $50. Who will begin the bidding?
4. Most of the attendants rolled their eyes, but none made a bid. At last a former housekeeper raised her hand. Everyone looked relieved that they could get on with the sale.
5. The auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice, SOLD to Mrs. Abercrombie. THIS CONCLUDES THE AUCTION. You may all go home now."
6. "What? What do you mean?!" The auctioneer responded, "Mr. Smith stipulated that whoever bought the portrait of his son would get his entire estate along with it. Therefore, Mrs. Abercrombie will inherit Mr. Smith's entire estate!"
7. It's the same with God. If you choose his Son, Jesus, He throws in the universe, the future, and all material and spiritual riches with Him!
B. THE CALL: YOU ARE PILATE ON THE JUDGMENT SEAT
1. A message of warning has been sent to you through this preacher. What will you do with Jesus? Accept Him as Lord or Reject Him?
2. Is God trying (in your private life) to keep you from some sin, but you’re weakening? Is your career more important than the Kingdom? Is “courage” or “coward” a better word for your witness?
3. How many of you are unashamed to choose Jesus this morning? Will you throw off all other priorities to make Jesus your highest priority?
4. If so, step out of your seat and join me at the front. PRAYER.
[This message had influence from Charles Spurgeon on this topic.]
