7:1-8
This may be the explanation, but whatever the Jews thought of Pilate's act, they accepted full, responsibility. Whether it reminded them of the provision of the law in the case of an uncertain homicide (Deuteronomy 21:6) or not, they cried out, in reckless hardihood, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Theirs therefore was the greater guilt, though the Gentiles were not exonerated, as the Lord said to Pilate, “He that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”
In conclusion, let us observe that whatever else is not fully established, it is certain that material water could never remove the defilement of the Jew, nor the blood-guiltiness of the Gentile (Job 9:30, 31). And the appeal of God still goes forth, “O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from. wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thine evil thoughts lodge within thee?” (Jeremiah 4:14). “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes” (Isaiah 1:16). “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded” (James 4:8). But there can be no real national response until they look to Him whom they pierced. Then will they mourn for Him. And “in that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and uncleanness” (Zechariah 13:1). Then Jehovah Himself will undertake their purification, as He promised long ago to do, saying, “I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness and from all your idols, will I cleanse you” (Ezek. 36:25).
W. J. H.