My Kingdom Is Not Of This World
28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”
30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.”
31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”
32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”
35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Read on BibleGatewayMy Kingdom Is Not Of This World
Key Verse 36: Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”
V28-31
Why did the Jews deliver Jesus to Pilate? What did the Jews avoid doing so that they would remain pure and lawful? Why do you think they did these things? In what way did their delivering of Jesus to Pilate fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken? (John 12:32-33)
V33-36
Why did Pilate ask Jesus if he was the King of the Jews? What does it mean that Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world? Why does Jesus explain this to Pilate at this time?
37-38a
For what purpose did Jesus come into the world? What Truth is Jesus bearing witness to? What does it mean to be “of the truth”? What did Pilate mean when he said “what is truth” and what does this say about him?
V38b-40
How did Pilate judge Jesus? What did the Jews cry out? Why? Who was Barabbas?
Application:
If our king and kingdom is not of this world, how should we live our lives differently?