Matthew 27:24

“When Pilate saw he could prevail nothing, etc.] That it was to no purpose to talk to them, and in favour of Jesus; he saw they were determined upon his crucifixion, and that nothing else would satisfy them: but that rather a tumult was made; there was an uproar among the people, and he might fear the consequences of it, should he not grant their request; otherwise, as Philo the f1656 Jew says of him, he was, thn fusin akamphv kai meta tou anyadouv ameiliktov, “naturally inflexible, rigid, and self-willed”: but he knew the temper of these people, and had had experience of their resoluteness, when they were determined on any thing; as in the case of his introducing the golden shields into the…”

“He took water ... - The Jews were accustomed to wash their hands when they wished to show that they were innocent of a crime committed by others. See Deuteronomy 21:6; Psalms 26:6. 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 the holy Saviour to be led to execution, in order to gratify the malice of enraged priests and the clamors of a tumultuous populace. See ye to it - That is, take it upon yourselves. You are responsible…”

“Then Pilate took water and washed his hands - This was a custom frequently used among the heathens as well as among the Jews, in token of innocency. Matthew 27:25”

“27:24 The responsibility is yours! The priests had said the same thing to Judas (27:4).”

“and washed: Deu 21:6, Deu 21:7; Job 9:30, Job 9:31; Psa 26:6; Jer 2:27, Jer 2:35 just: Mat 27:4, Mat 27:9, Mat 27:54; Joh 19:4; Act 3:14; Co2 5:21; Pe1 3:18 Matthew 27:25”