Luke 23:22
And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
Luke 23:22
Pilate asks a third time, probing for a justification: “Why, what evil hath he done?” This question exposes Pilate’s moral discomfort and repeated attempts to find a legal or ethical basis to release Jesus. The text emphasizes Jesus’s innocence and Pilate’s struggle between political necessity and personal conviction. The phrase “I have found no cause of death in him” reiterates the case for acquittal, while the attempt to “chastise him, and let him go” reveals the governor’s preference for a controlled punishment that would appease the crowd without executing him. Luke shows the tension between justice and expediency, between truth and public demand. The crowd’s insistence suggests a deep moral failure in the leadership of that moment, as justice is sacrificed to appease, appeasement, and fear.
Theologically, this verse reinforces the innocence of Jesus as the spotless blemish-free sacrifice who bears the sins of others. Jesus’s non-retaliation and readiness to endure unjust punishment reveal the nature of God’s love—gracious, patient, and merciful. The refusal to find a “cause of death” in Jesus highlights the paradox of justice: God’s justice requires punishment for sin, but Jesus bears that punishment in humanity’s place. Luke frames the cross as the only path to true deliverance, which unfolds through courageous steadfastness in the face of crowd-driven violence.
We’re called to reflect on times we settle for lesser punishments to avoid conflict or discomfort. It can show up when we bypass due process, rush to judgment, or seek to “discipline” others without love or restoration. Practical steps: slow down the conversation, verify facts, and pursue just ends with mercy. If you’re in a leadership role, resist the impulse to appease popular opinion at the cost of truth. Stand for integrity, even when it costs you influence or status. Embrace the principle that true justice protects the vulnerable and seeks reconciliation, not vengeance.
Cross-References: Deuteronomy 16:18-20; Romans 3:25-26; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 19:4-6; Isaiah 53:11-12