Sermon Central
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Unsung Heroines-Pilate’s Wife
Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Jun 4, 2022 (message contributor)
Introduction: Some women can be unsung heroines even if they were not believers at the time. Such a woman is the wife of Pontius Pilate, the Roman official overseeing Israel at the time.
Text, Matthew 27:19, KJV: 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.
Thoughts: In the context, Jesus has been shuttled to various places. Each of the Four Gospels gives information about where Jesus was taken and what happened to Him. Here, He is standing before Pilate, the Roman governor who began by questioning Jesus.
While this is going on, Pilate’s wife sent him a message saying, in so many words, “Don’t do anything to this just (righteous) Man! I’ve had a dream and suffered many things because of Him!” We don’t know anything about Pilate’s wife, whether she was a Roman or from another ethnic group; whether she had become familiar with the Jewish religion and if so, how much; or even how she had heard about Jesus in the first place. It’s true Jesus and the disciples had spent several days in and near Jerusalem so it’s possible someone might have heard and discussed some of the things Jesus had said.
The important thing is that she had a dream and because of that dream she “suffered many things”. Matthew didn’t record if she meant she suffered “in the dream” or in real life but no matter, this woman was shaken to the core. Somehow she realized Jesus was not only just but also innocent, and she warned her husband to not do anything to Jesus.
Sadly, we realize Pilate did not listen to his wife. We also know the rest of the story, how he gave in to the Jews who wanted Jesus crucified. In all fairness, and lest I be accused of anything derogatory, that group was a small but vocal minority of the Jews: most of the Jews loved Jesus and heard Him gladly.
Pilate’s wife may not have even been a believer in the God of Israel but she took her dream to heart. That alone is commendable for any woman, from any background. Her desire to protect a just and innocent Man from certain death makes her an unsung heroine.
Maybe Pilate should have listened to her more often!
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV).
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