But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he would release Barabbas for them instead.
The chief priests not only rejected Christ themselves, but also stirred up the people to enter into the same rejection. This shows the weight of their sin: those who ought to have led the people toward God’s truth became those who misled the crowd. The people did not arrive at that choice on their own, but yielded to the evil influence of their leaders. Preferring Barabbas reveals the tragic blindness of a sinful heart: they ask for freedom for a rebel and a murderer, while leaving the Lord of life on the path to condemnation. This verse warns how dangerous it is when spiritual leadership serves not the truth, but envy and evil.