wanting – Ministry of Grace Church

¹³Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, ¹⁴and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. … ²⁰Pilate addressed them again wanting to release Jesus. ²¹But they shouted saying, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” ²²And the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found in him no cause for death. … ⁴Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews, “Look, I am bringing him out to you that you may know that I find no fault in him.”

Truth to Learn

Jesus is the true Pascal Lamb, sacrificed for you and me!

Behind the Words

The word translated “examined” is the Greek word anakrinō, which is a compound word made up of ana, used here as an intensifier meaning “repeatedly” and krinō, meaning “to judge.” It specifically refers to a thorough legal examination.

“Wanting” in Luke 23:20 is translated from thelō, which is most often translated “will.” But it implies more than just a wish or a desire, it implies a determination. Hence, it implies that Pilot was determined to release Jesus.

Meaning Explained

In Exodus chapter thirteen the LORD gave Moses instructions regarding the Passover. On the tenth of the first month, they were to select a lamb without spot or blemish. On the fourteenth of the month, they were to kill the lamb and sprinkle its blood on the two side posts and the top of the doorway. This was to be the sign to the destroyer to “pass over” the house and not kill the first born within the house. Any family in Egypt which did not have the blood sprinkled on the door posts of their home would wake up in the morning to find their first born son dead.

After the Israelites entered the Promised Land and built the temple, they rigorously followed this ritual. Each year on the 10^th of Nisan (the 1^st month), they selected the paschal lamb, leading it through the streets of Jerusalem to the temple. As it entered the temple, the people waved palm branches in all four directions and sang “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” laying palm branches before the lamb. This lamb was kept under observation until the fourteenth of the month when it was declared to be without spot or blemish. Then it was sacrificed by one of the priests for the sins of the people.

On the 10^th of Nissan, Jesus entered the gates of the city to the cries of “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” while palm branches were laid in His path. On the 14^th of Nissan, Jesus was judged by the Sanhedrin and no fault was found in Him except that He claimed to be the Christ, the Messiah. Pilot then gave Him a thorough legal examination and declared, “I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.” Then, even though Pilate was determined to set Him free, the Jewish religious leaders, including the chief priests, insisted on having Him crucified.

Application

Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, was declared to be without spot or blemish and His blood was shed to pay for your sins and mine. Has that blood been applied to your sins?

In God’s service, for His glory,

The Lord of the promise is not slow as some consider slowness, but is long-suffering with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Truth to Learn

God is very patient with sinners, but His patience will end one day, and many will suffer His wrath on that day.

Behind the Words

The word in today’s verse translated “slow” (“slack” in some translations) is the Greek word bradunō, which means “to be slow or to be delayed.” I think a word in our modern vernacular which expresses it well is “tardy.”

“Long-suffering” is translated from the Greek word macrothumia, which is a compound word made up of macro, meaning “large or long” and thumos, meaning “strong feeling or passion, either good or bad (as if breathing hard).” Hence, “long-suffering” and “patient” are both good translations of this word.

The word translated “wanting” is boulomai, meaning “to be desirous” or “to be willing.” There is another word translated “wish” or “will” in the New Testament. It is the word thelō, but it includes the implication of intention and action. Thus we can say that boulomai refers to “desirous will,” whereas thelō refers to “determined will.” You see, God is not desirous that any should perish, but He has determined that many will.

Meaning Explained

Now, to answer your question, “Why is God taking so long, and what is He waiting for?” The answer is, “He loves all of mankind and is desirous that all should be saved.” Now, let’s see what this really means.

Peter tells us in this verse that God is not tardy in carrying out His promise. And what is the “promise” that Peter is referring to? It is the promise of the coming of the Messiah, the Christ, on the Day of Judgment.

Now, if He is not tardy, why hasn’t it happened yet? Peter says that it is because God is very patient. The implication is that God is holding his wrath in check, wrath that would destroy all of sinful mankind. And Peter tells us why God is holding back. He is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” The word “wanting” is a key word in this verse. As was pointed out in Behind the Words, this refers to God’s desirous will. It is not God’s desire that any should perish, He wants all mankind to repent of their sins, and He is holding back His wrath to give everyone the greatest possible opportunity to repent and submit to Him. So, what is it that will prevent God’s wrath from destroying us? Faith. That is, belief in the sacrificial death of the Son of God as payment for our sins. The Apostle John says it in his gospel account, through the words of Jesus, Himself:

The one believing in him is not condemned, but the one not believing has already been condemned because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. (John 3:18)

Application

We should be proclaiming the gospel message to everyone. The good news that all men are sinful and guilty before God but that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross to pay for that sin. Let us not be ashamed of it! Let us proclaim it from the roof tops because His patience will not last forever!

In God's service, for His glory,

Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: wanting

Luke 23:13, 14; 20-22; John 19:4 – Spotless Lamb of God

2 Peter 3:9 – Merciful Patience