Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
All Commentaries on Matthew 27:25 Go To Matthew 27
John Chrysostom
AD 407
What then did they do? When they saw the judge washing his hands and saying, “I am innocent,” they cried out, “His blood be on us and on our children.” They were rendering a sentence against themselves. He was yielding himself up that all should be done. Note how great is their madness. For passion and evil desire work on us like this. They did not permit anyone to see anything of what was right. They not only curse themselves, they draw down the curse upon their own children as well. They acted with unutterable madness. They acted both against themselves and against their children! Yet this lover of humanity did not hold their own sentence against them. He did not confirm it upon their children or even upon them. Rather he received both from them and from their children those who repented. He counted them worthy of good things beyond number. Think of who might have been among them! Even Paul perhaps. Even some among the thousands that believed in Jerusalem, for it is said, “You see, brothers, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed.” And if some continued in their sin, to themselves let them impute their punishment. The Gospel of Matthew, Homily
