The crowd was accepting full responsibility for Jesus’ death and asking that the consequences fall on themselves and their descendants.
They answered Pilate’s declaration of innocence by taking the blood of Jesus onto themselves and their children. In the Book of Acts, Peter spells out what that meant: the men of Israel had denied the Holy One, desired Barabbas, and killed the Prince of Life. Les Feldick emphasizes that Israel, not Rome, bore the guilt, even though they acted in ignorance.
Matthew 27:25 — This is the exact verse where the crowd calls Jesus' blood down upon themselves and their children.
In Matthew 27:24-25, Pilate saw he could not prevail and took water to wash his hands, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.” Then all the people answered, “His blood be on us, and on our children.” The crowd answered Pilate by taking the responsibility for Jesus' death onto themselves and their offspring. Later, Peter made the meaning explicit. He told the men of Israel in Acts 3:14-15, “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.” He also said in Acts 2:23, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.” The Bible records that the nation of Israel, not just the Romans, was charged with rejecting and killing their Messiah.
Les repeatedly points out that although no Jewish hand and no Roman hand actually took Jesus' life — He gave it up of His own will — Peter's inspired accusation still holds the nation responsible. He explains that the Jews demanded Jesus' crucifixion and caused Rome to carry it out. The crowd's cry in Matthew 27:25 is therefore not an empty phrase: the responsibility was laid on Israel. Jesus even asked forgiveness for the nation because they did not know what they were doing. Les also teaches that this guilt remained on the nation until they repented. Peter's call in Acts 3:19 — “Repent” — was directed at the nation for having killed their Messiah. The consequences are seen in Israel's loss of temple, land, dispersion, ghettos, and the Holocaust, yet these are not to be used for anti-Semitism. Les also notes that because they acted in ignorance, they did not face immediate judgment as premeditated murderers would have under the cities of refuge provision.
No human hand took Jesus' life — He gave it up of His own will. But in God's dealing with Israel, Peter accuses the nation of killing their Messiah. Even though they did not physically do it, they demanded it and caused Rome to carry it out.
Jesus' words from the cross were directed primarily at the nation of Israel, on whom the responsibility was going to be laid. Their ignorance of who He was spared them from the immediate penalty of premeditated murder, just as a person who killed unintentionally could find protection in the cities of refuge.
Because Israel rejected their Messiah, they lost their temple, lost their land, and went into dispersion. They have experienced the ghettos and the Holocaust. Peter's call to repent shows that the nation had not yet been forgiven of the fact that they rejected, killed, and crucified their Messiah.
Why the Temple Veil Tore — Matthew 27 Explained
And we're living in a day of such gross unbelief where they scoff this book, not knowing what they're scoffing. They just don't realize how meticulously, and this is what I've tried to show as I've been teaching all the way up from Genesis, how that this whole book has been so supernaturally put together that human intellect could have never done it. And yet they refuse to consider this.
Peter's Accusation of Israel
Les points out that Peter addressed the nation of Israel, reminding them they delivered up Jesus, denied Him, and desired Barabbas — showing the crowd took the side against Jesus.
Forgiveness for the Ignorant Nation
Les explains Jesus' prayer from the cross was directed primarily at Israel, on whom the responsibility was laid.
Consequences of Rejection
Les says Israel's rejection of their Messiah led to loss of temple and land, dispersion, and suffering, yet God has not given up on them.
Repentance Still Needed
Les notes Peter told the nation to repent because they had rejected and killed their Messiah, and the nation had not yet been forgiven at that time.
Ignorance Provides Mercy
Les uses the cities of refuge law to explain that Israel's ignorance of who Jesus was spared them from the punishment of premeditated murder.
Why a Seed Must Die Before It Can Live — 1 Corinthians 15:36 Explained
Back in John's Gospel, chapter 12, verse 23, and of course this is just shortly before His crucifixion. Matter of hours in fact, the crowds are already coming in from all over the Roman Empire for the Feast of Passover. And amongst that crowd were some Gentiles, some Greeks, and I always like to use the analogy that when we go to the Wailing Wall, we just sort of stand back, and we watch the Jews …
They Demanded Rome's Help
Les highlights Peter's words in Acts 2:23 — the nation killed Jesus even though they didn't do it with their own hands; they demanded it and caused Rome to carry it out.
Matthew 27:25: Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
This is the verse in question, where the crowd publicly accepts Jesus' blood upon themselves and their descendants.
Acts 2:23: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
Peter accuses the men of Israel of crucifying Jesus, even though they used Roman hands.
Acts 3:14: But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
Peter reminds Israel that they chose Barabbas over the Holy One, showing their rejection of Jesus.
Acts 3:15: And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
Peter plainly charges the nation with killing the Prince of life, confirming the guilt they took upon themselves.
Luke 23:34: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jesus' prayer for forgiveness reflects Israel's ignorance, which Les says spared them from the full penalty of premeditated murder.
Les teaches that Israel suffered real consequences for rejecting their Messiah — loss of temple, land, dispersion, and suffering — but he also stresses that God promised He would not give up on them. He also warns that this teaching must not be used as an excuse for anti-Semitism.
Peter addressed the whole nation of Israel, and Les explains that even though no Jew physically took Jesus' life, they demanded His crucifixion and caused Rome to carry it out. The nation as a whole is held responsible in Acts.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Temple Veil Tore — Matthew 27 Explained