Exodus 23:7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. 8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blinds the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.
The conscience of a nation is its judiciary, therefore, when it came down to crunch time, we find that the judiciary under Caiaphas, and the spiritual leaders of God’s chosen people, as well as those under their jurisdiction choosing Barabbas, a known felon over Christ. Several times Pilate put the matter before them and over and over again they deliberately and knowingly chose a convicted felon over Christ.
Thus, when this became the case, it demonstrated in real time that righteousness, on the national level had gone out of the window and this triggered the downward spiral that cemented the choices then made. What is notable about this action taken by both the judiciary and the people is that not long after doing so, their probation was finally, and permanently closed, for in three and a half years, the designation of being God’s chosen people was removed, and as a nation, they became disconnected from God, even though individuals can still be saved if requirements are met.
This close of their probation was actually part of the prophecy in Daniel, by which the prophet predicted that the sun would set for the chosen people, since Messiah was to be cut off by unnatural means in the middle of the last prophetic week of probationary time. And so said so done.
Daniel 9: 24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!