PILATE AND HIS WIFE
1. One of the bible characters that interacted with Jesus was Pilate.
2. The Bible refers to this man as Pontius Pilate.
3. The name “Pontius” was his family name; this means that he was from a Roman family.
4.
This man was a Roman official who governed the area of
5. Pilate was appointed when he was in his early 30’s and he reigned from 26-36 A.D.
6. When Jesus and Pilate came face to face they were about the same age.
7. From what we know about Pilate this ruler was not very wise.
8. It has been recorded that he was proud, hot-tempered, and obstinate.
9. When he didn’t get his way he became childish.
10. We have already heard a few verses read from Jn. 19.
11. A sign was made to describe who Jesus was.
12. This sign said that Jesus was king of the Jews.
13. The chief priests (verse 21) objected.
14. They said, “write that He claimed He was king of the Jews.”
15. Pilate’s stubbornness and childishness can be seen from his reply:
16. “What I have written I have written.”
17. As we look at the New Testament we find that Pilate was married.
18. The Bible does not say a lot about his wife but what it does say is interesting.
19. We can learn some things as we look at a single event from this couple’s life.
20. Historical records say that Pilate’s wife was the granddaughter of Emperor Augustus.
21. She was royalty, sophisticated, cultured, and sensitive.
22. From what I can determine she was a good woman.
AS WE LOOK AT PILATE AND HIS WIFE HERE IS WHAT WE HAVE. ON THE ONE HAND THERE IS A MAN WHO IS CHILDISH, STUBBORN, HOT TEMPERED, AND PROUD. THIS MAN IS MARRIED TO A WOMAN WHO HAS SOME VERY DIFFERENT QUALITIES.
A. In the world we still see this kind of relationship.
B. We sometimes wonder how a wonderful woman ended up with a rotten man.
C. This seems to have been the kind of relationship Pilate and his wife had.
D. The relationship between these two is briefly displayed in Mt. 27:19.
E. This chapter describes a custom.
F. There was a time during the year when a prisoner was released.
G. In this case there were two men who could have been released.
H. There was an insurrectionist named Barabbas. The other choice was Jesus.
I. It seems that Pilate was giving the crowd some time to answer him.
2. It was during this time that his wife contacted him.
3. Listen to or read with me Mt. 27:19 – READ.
4. This a very interesting statement.
A. Pilate’s wife called Jesus as “righteous” man.
B. How did she know that?
C. The text doesn’t tell us.
D. This woman had experienced a dream about Jesus that troubled her.
E. Her counsel to her husband was “Have nothing to do with Jesus.”
5. We know that Pilate did not listen to his wife’s advice.
6. It is true that he wanted to release Jesus.
7. However, he lacked the courage to do what was right.
8. John
9. Here was a man who was married to a woman who knew what was right.
10. She told her husband what was right. He didn’t listen.
11. THIS IS NOT THE
ONLY TIME WHEN WE FIND A HUSBAND WHO FAILED TO LISTEN TO HIS WIFE. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS FOUND IN 1 SAM. 25.
12. This chapter tells us about Nabal and Abigail.
13. This couple was a lot like Pilate and his wife.
14. Abigail was a wonderful lady.
15. In 1 Sam. 25:3 it is said that she was beautiful.
16. The story that is recorded shows that she was also thoughtful, kind, and generous.
A. Her husband was anything but kind and courteous.
B. Nabal was a businessman who was rich (verse 2).
C. He is described in verse 3 – READ.
D. The word churlish meant hard, rough, and rude.
E. This man was wicked and cruel (“evil”). He was someone who was crude.
17. This chapter describes a time when David and his men were hungry.
18. David sent his men to get some food from Nabal (verse 5 – READ).
19. The servants were sent on a “good” day (a feast day, verse 8).
20. On this type of day plenty of food would have been available.
21. The information in 8b shows that David was willing to take whatever was offered.
22. Nabal’s response to helping David is found in verses 10-12 – READ.
A. It sounds as if Nabal didn’t know who David was.
B. This was a façade (pretence, an act).
C. According to verses 16 & 21 David had watched Nabal’s sheep.
D. Nabal was a man who was selfish and he did not want to share his food.
23. This man was so bad that his wife called him a “worthless fellow” (25a).
24. At the end of verse 25 she said that “folly” was “with him.”
25. Nabal was someone who was involved with alcohol (verse 36, “very drunken”).
26. A man like this would need someone to help him.
A. A nature like the one described in 1 Sam. 25 would be prone to making enemies.
B. Problems would have been created by his drunkenness.
C. On this occasion Nabal’s stupidity made David angry.
D. David was so angry he was prepared to kill Nabal – verse 13 – READ.
E. David was ready to go.
F. He was so angry he rallied the troops.
G. He has his men strap on their swords.
H. This was not going to be a casual social call.
I. David was going to take vengeance on Nabal.
27. Before David could reach the house Abigail met him and interceded.
28. Before David could come and kill her husband she got very busy.
29. Verses 18, 20, 24 – READ.
30. One of the key verses in this account is verse 17 – READ.
31. Abigail knew that she was married to a man who would not listen to anyone.
A. Nabal didn’t want to listen to anyone but himself.
B. He was not a person who was receptive to hearing his wife’s counsel.
C. He certainly didn’t want to hear from David.
32. In the Bible we find at least two couples who had the same problem.
33. Two couples had difficulties in the area of communication.
A. Wives had information that was very important for their husbands to hear.
B. Nabal put his life at risk because he didn’t want to listen to his wife.
C. Pilate consented to crucifying the Son of God because he didn’t listen to his wife.
34. Today many of those who are married commit the same mistake.
35. It is true that wives are not always right.
36. There are times when spouses make suggestions that are simply wrong.
37. In the opening chapters of Job we find that Job’s wife made a suggestion.
38. She said “curse God and die.”
39. That was poor advice; it was the wrong thing to do.
40. No one can say that spouses are right all the time.
A. A second person’s input is, however, often very valuable.
B. David was a person who made some serious mistakes.
C. He was not a flawless man.
D. On this occasion there was a woman who wanted to tell him something.
E. Notice verse 32 – READ.
F. David listened.
G. This
hero of
H. Notice verse 33 – READ.
I. David listened to Abigail and he praised her.
J. He thanked her for her input.
K. He said that what she had told him was valuable.
41. No marriage is perfect.
42. When we look at the both testaments we find one of the keys to making a marriage work.
43. Men are often the ones who are the least likely to listen.
44. Wives try to tell their husbands something and husbands do not always pay attention.
45. Some men either refuse to listen or regularly reject their spouse’s input.
46. Both testaments show that this choice can often have dire consequences.
47. David looked upon the woman who told him some things as a divine blessing.
48. This should be the kind of view that men have concerning their wives.
49. A wife, to use Biblical terminology, is a helpmeet.
50. Some of that “help” comes in the forms of suggestions, input, and advice.
51. Not all this advice will be right.
52. Husbands have an obligation to listen to it and follow it when it is right.
53. If we doubt the importance of this let’s look a little further in the text.
54. Verse 37 – READ.
55. Nabal didn’t want to listen to anyone—including his wife—and he died.
56. He paid a significant price for his stubbornness and strong opinions.
57. Other men have followed the same path and have had to suffer unnecessary consequences.
58. Men don’t need to do that.
A. The bible teaches that we can learn from the examples that are in it.
B. Again and again the Bible tells us and shows us the best way to live.
C. Is this they way that we have chosen?
D. Are we a Christian?