A STUDY IN CHARACTER DEFICIENCY
Giving others the right to make decisions
 Pilate tried to avoid making the decision?
 Deferring to Herod (Lk.23:6-7)
 Using the custom of releasing a prisoner(Lk.23:1724; Mk.15:15)
 Instructing the Jews to judge Him (Jn.18:29-32; 19:6)
 Ways we allow others to make decisions for us:
1)Being Silent
2) Lack of Involvement
 Does our silence or lack of involvement effect our
responsibility?
“What then shall I do with Jesus…”
(Mt.27:22)
 What some have tried to do…
 Like Pilate, pass the choice on to others (Mt.27:24)
 Some will mock & ridicule (Acts 17:32)
 Some are waiting for a “better time” (Acts 24:25)
 What should we do with Jesus?
 Accept Him & obey Him (Heb.5:9)
 Walk in Him & be estab. in the faith (Col.2:6-7)
 Put Him first in everything we do (Phil.3:7)
A person who allows others to make decisions for
them lacks good character.
Seeking to please the people
Mk.15:15
 “So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released
Barabbas…” (Mk.15:15)
 In what ways did he please the people?
 Gave in to their demands (Lk.23:23-24)
 Feared making the Jews mad (Mt.27:24-25)
 Feared punishment by Caesar (Jn.19:12-13)
A person who compromises justice & truth lacks
good character.
Seeking to please the people
 What typically causes us to do what pleases
others?
 Fear of what others might think-Jn.9:22; 12:42-43
 Fear of being politically incorrect or religiously
intolerant –Gal.2:11-13
 Fear of losing acceptance among others –Jn.7:10-13
 When is it acceptable to do what pleases others?
 Only when God’s word is not compromised(Rom.14:19)
Refusing to take Responsibility
Mt.27:24
 Pilate had authority to make decisions (Jn.19:10)
 3 times he declared Jesus’ innocence(Lk23:4,14,22)
 Wanted Herod to make a decision (Lk23:6-7)
 He washed his hands to symbolize he was not a
party to their decision (Mt.27:24)
A person who fails to take responsibility or act
responsibly lacks good character.
Refusing to take Responsibility
 Examples of difficult & unpleasant decisions
common to Christians that we would sometimes
like to wash away.
 Putting away certain sinful practices we enjoy
 Loving our enemies
 Teaching the lost
 Confronting another Christian who has sinned
 ??????
 How are we effected when we refuse to take
responsibility?
 James 4:17
No concern for the Truth
Jn.18:37-38
 “What is truth?” –Jn.18:38
 Pilate ignored truth for what was beneficial to him
Or
 He doubted the existence of real Truth
 Regardless, his actions indicated no interest in
learning the truth offered by Jesus (vs.38)
A person who shows no interest in the Truth lacks good
character.
No Concern for the Truth
 Value of being interested in the Truth
 Prov.3:13-18 ; Mt.13:44-46
 How can we show interest for the Truth?
 Appreciate the value of the Truth (Prov.23:23)
 Know the Truth (Jn.8:32)
 Obey the Truth (1Pet.1:22)
 Love the Truth (2Thess.2:10)
Motivated by Pride?
 Pilate wanted to release Jesus, not necessarily because
it was the right thing to do, but because he knew it
would anger the Jews (Mk.15:9-10).
 Apparently, he didn’t care about justice, Jesus, or the
Jews; but only what was good for him.
 The Danger of Pride
 Prov.16:18; Mk.7:21-23; 1Jn.2:15-17
 Importance of Humility
 Jam.4:6; Prov.18:12; Isa.57:15; Mic.6:8
A person who is motivated by pride lacks good
character.
The Importance of Character
Character of the Wicked
Character of the Righteous
 Motivated by Pride
 Demonstrates Humility
 Unconcerned about Truth
 Desires to know the Truth
 Fails to take Responsibility
 Takes Responsibility
 Seeks to please others
 Seeks to please God
 Follows Decisions of others
 Makes own Decisions
How would your Character
be described by God?