For he knew that it was because of envy that they had handed Him over.
Parallel translations
- WEB For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.
- KJV For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
- BSB For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
- NKJV For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.
- NLT (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Pilate realizes the leaders handed Jesus over out of envy. He sees through their motives.
Overview
Matthew reveals that Pilate discerned the true cause behind the charges: the religious leaders' envy of Jesus' influence and popularity. This insight makes Pilate's later capitulation all the more culpable, for he knew Jesus was innocent. The note also exposes the corrupt heart behind the prosecution of the Messiah.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Prov 27:4Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
- Mark 15:10For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up.
- Acts 5:17But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy,
- Acts 13:45But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
- Jas 4:5Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously”?
- Gen 37:11His brothers envied him, but his father kept this saying in mind.
- Acts 7:9“The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him,
- Eccl 4:4Then I saw all the labor and achievement that is the envy of a man’s neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
- Ps 106:16They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, Yahweh’s saint.
- Isa 26:11Yahweh, your hand is lifted up, yet they don’t see; but they will see your zeal for the people, and be disappointed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.
- 1 Sam 18:7–11The women sang to one another as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 27:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.