What does Matthew 27:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Barabbas" name means "son of the father." Jesus, of course, was the true Son of the Father. The Greek word translated "notorious" (episemos) really means eminent or outstanding (cf. Romans 16:7). He was a famous prisoner but not necessarily one that the Jews regarded as an undesirable character. On the contrary, he had evidently been leading an insurrection against the Roman government as a freedom fighter (cf. Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19; John 18:40). His guerrilla actions were fairly common then. ^[1] Many of the Jews would have viewed Barabbas as a hero rather than as a villain. He was more of a messianic figure, in the minds of most Jews, than Jesus was. [source][source]

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Possibly the two men crucified with Jesus were Barabbas" partners. Matthew used the same Greek word to describe them as the other evangelists used to describe Barabbas (i.e, lestes, "rebels" or "insurrectionists," Matthew 27:38). All three were more than common robbers; they were more like Robin Hood"s men. [source][source]

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Jesus really took the place of one rebel, Barabbas, because the people preferred one who tried to overthrow Rome"s power, to the Messiah that God had provided for them. This shows their insistence on having a Messiah of their own design (cf. 1 Samuel 8:5; 1 Samuel 8:19-20). [source][source]

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Context Summary

The vacillation of Pilate made him a criminal. Weakness becomes sin. At first he evidently meant to release Jesus, but instead of saying so outright, he strove to bring about His release by indirect means and without committing himself.

First, he sent Him to Herod, Luke 23:17, thinking that a Jew would view favorably the position of a fellow-Jew. Then he sought to touch the springs of pity by the anguish of scourging. Finally, he gave the people the choice between Barabbas and Christ, feeling sure that they must choose the liberation of a lover of men rather than that of an outlaw.

None of these expedients succeeded, and he drifted into the very act which his conscience had condemned from the first. He is a specimen of those weak men who want the right thing to be done, but will not adventure their own interests to get it done. There is no chance of such men coming out right. The one hope for us all is to declare ourselves for the right and true, at once and from the start. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 27

¹  Jesus is delivered bound to Pilate
³  Judas hangs himself
¹⁹  Pilate, admonished of his wife,
²⁰  and being urged by the multitude, washes his hands, and releases Barabbas
²⁷  Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns;
³³  crucified;
³⁹  reviled;
⁵⁰  dies, and is buried;
⁶²  his tomb is sealed and watched