Yes, Pilate believed he was innocent of Jesus' blood, but Les Feldick teaches that his hand-washing did not remove his actual responsibility.
Pilate publicly washed his hands and declared himself innocent of the blood of a just person, yet he still had the authority to act and failed to use it. Although he repeatedly said he found no fault in Jesus, he ultimately yielded to the Jewish crowd's demand for crucifixion. Les Feldick emphasizes that Pilate's self-acquittal was invalid because he could have prevented the injustice and did not.
Matthew 27:24 — This verse records Pilate washing his hands and declaring, 'I am innocent of the blood of this just person.'
In Matthew 27:24, Pilate sees that he cannot persuade the crowd and that a tumult is rising. He takes water, washes his hands before the multitude, and says, 'I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.' In John 19:4 and Luke 23:4, Pilate explicitly states, 'I find no fault in this man.' The gospel accounts also record that Pilate's wife warned him not to have anything to do with 'that just man' because of a dream (Matthew 27:19). Yet despite these declarations, Pilate delivers Jesus to be crucified. The Bible also shows Peter later accusing the nation of Israel: 'You denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of Life' (Acts 3:14-15). Scripture does not affirm Pilate's innocence; it simply records his claim.
Les Feldick teaches that Pilate 'thought he was going to be set free of the whole thing, but he wasn't, he's still responsible' [Clip 7]. Pilate came close to recognizing who Jesus was—he said, 'I can find no fault in this man' and had received his wife's dream warning—'but he didn't' [Clip 1]. Les emphasizes that Pilate 'also put his stamp on the crucifixion' and thereby shares responsibility [Clip 1]. Furthermore, Les points to Revelation 20:11-12, noting that one day Pilate, like all world leaders, will stand before Christ at the Great White Throne [Clip 0]. The hand-washing did not absolve him; rather, the whole human race falls under guilt because both Jewish and Gentile rulers rejected Jesus [Clip 4]. Les also highlights that Peter's accusation in Acts is directed at the nation of Israel, who 'demanded' Jesus' death and 'caused Rome to carry it out' [Clips 2, 5]. Even though Pilate washed his hands, he remained responsible because he had the power to act and did not.
Les Feldick explains that Pilate washed his hands as an attempt to publicly absolve himself, but his self-declared innocence was invalid. 'He thought he was going to be set free of the whole thing, but he wasn't, he's still responsible' [Clip 7]. Pilate's responsibility remained because he had the authority to release Jesus and instead yielded to the crowd's demand.
Les Feldick notes that Pilate came close: he said 'I can find no fault in this man' and received a warning from his wife through a dream. 'He came close to seeing it, but he didn't. And so Pilate also put his stamp on the crucifixion' [Clip 1]. This near-recognition made his failure more culpable rather than excusing him.
Les Feldick teaches that although Jesus stood before Pilate as a prisoner, one day Pilate will stand before Christ. He connects this to Revelation 20:11-12, where the Great White Throne judgment occurs: 'one day that same Roman authority is going to stand before Him' [Clip 0]. Unless Pilate was saved—a matter Scripture doesn't reveal—he will face Christ as Judge.
Les Feldick emphasizes that while Pilate was responsible, the nation of Israel was the primary instigator. Peter's sermons in Acts point the finger at the nation: 'You delivered up... you denied the Holy One and the just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you... and killed the Prince of Life' [Clip 2]. Les clarifies that even though Israel didn't physically crucify Jesus, 'they demanded it, and they caused Rome to carry it out' [Clip 5].
Pilate Will Stand Before Christ
Les teaches that although Jesus stood before Pilate, one day Pilate—and all world leaders—will stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne judgment.
Pilate Came Close But Didn't Recognize Jesus
Les says Pilate came close to seeing who Jesus was—he found no fault in Him and received his wife's dream warning—but he didn't, and thus put his stamp on the crucifixion.
Peter Points at the Nation of Israel
Les highlights Peter's accusation that Israel denied the Holy One and desired Barabbas, making the nation responsible for Jesus' death.
Why Israel Rejected Their Messiah — Acts 7 & Joseph Explained
Now that was in the days of the cities of refuge, so that good Jew, as soon as he realized what he had done, and knew that he would be accused of killing someone, he could run to a city of refuge. And he could tell his situation to the city fathers. And if the city fathers had maintained that he was innocent of not doing anything in premeditated murder, he was set free.
Whole Human Race Falls Under Guilt
Les teaches that both Jewish and Gentile rulers rejected Jesus, so the whole human race falls under guilt for the crucifixion.
Israel Demanded Crucifixion
Les explains that Israel didn't kill Jesus with their own hands but demanded it and caused Rome to carry it out.
What Jesus Said From the Cross — 7 Statements Explained
And so Jesus here is referring primarily to the Jew on whom the responsibility is going to be laid, as we go into the Book of Acts here, if not in this series of programs, we sure will in the next one. But the ones that He's talking about to forgive, for they know not what they do, is the nation of Israel. He's not including the Romans as much as He is the Jew.
Pilate's Hand-Washing Didn't Remove Responsibility
Les directly teaches that Pilate washed his hands thinking he would be set free, but he was still responsible.
Matthew 27:24: When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
This is the central verse showing Pilate's public claim of innocence.
Matthew 27:19: When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Pilate received a warning that should have alerted him to Jesus' innocence.
Luke 23:4: Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
Pilate himself declared Jesus innocent, yet he later condemned Him.
Acts 3:13-15: The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Peter directly accuses Israel of rejecting Jesus before Pilate, who wanted to release Him.
Revelation 20:11-12: And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Les uses this passage to show that Pilate will one day stand before Christ as Judge.
Yes, Pilate publicly declared 'I am innocent of the blood of this just person' while washing his hands (Matthew 27:24). However, Les Feldick teaches that his self-declared innocence was not accepted by God because Pilate had the authority to release Jesus and did not.
Pilate washed his hands to symbolically distance himself from the crowd's demand for Jesus' execution. But Les Feldick says Pilate 'washed his hands' and 'thought he was going to be set free of the whole thing, but he wasn't, he's still responsible' [Clip 7].
According to Les Feldick, yes. Pilate had the power to let Jesus go and didn't. He came close to recognizing who Jesus was but failed, thereby putting his stamp on the crucifixion [Clip 1].
Les Feldick teaches that one day Pilate will stand before Christ, just as all world leaders will. He connects this to the Great White Throne judgment in Revelation 20:11-12 [Clip 0].
Yes. Les Feldick emphasizes that Israel demanded Jesus' death and caused Rome to carry it out. Peter's sermon in Acts accuses them: 'You denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of Life' [Clips 2, 5].
Watch the Teaching: Why the Temple Veil Tore — Matthew 27 Explained