In terms of ulterior motives, this necessarily involves speculation. One possibility is that Pilate considered Barabbas a greater threat than Jesus. By referring to Jesus as the king of those assembled, Pilate may have hoped to release Jesus, whom he did not take seriously. This would allow him to carry out his plan to crucify Barabbas, a revolutionary who - based on the fact that his followers joined him in a public demonstration while Jesus' followers had deserted him (Matthew 26:56) - had a more committed following.

But no, Pilate did not seriously recognize Jesus as king of the Jews. "Here is your king" is not a declaration of fact but either an enticement (as above) or more likely a sarcastic insult. As procurator, Pilate himself stood in the position formerly occupied by Herod I as the Jewish king. He had no interest in promoting Jesus to that authority, with a title even higher than his own.

Conclusion: Pilate did not seriously think that Jesus was the King of the Jews. He said this as an insult to the Jewish leaders who had turned Jesus over to him for punishment. This seems to have been his motive in saying what he did, although it is also possible that he meant it as an enticement to enable him to crucify Barabbas, whom he considered to be the greater threat.

In terms of ulterior motives, this necessarily involves speculation. One possibility is that Pilate considered Barabbas a greater threat than Jesus. By referring to Jesus as the king of those assembled, Pilate may have hoped to release Jesus, whom he did not take seriously. This would allow him to carry out his plan to crucify Barabbas, a revolutionary who - based on the fact that his followers joined him in a public demonstration while Jesus' followers had deserted him (Matthew 26:56) - had a more committed following.

But no, Pilate did not seriously recognize Jesus as king of the Jews. "Here is your king" is not a declaration of fact but either an enticement (as above) or more likely a sarcastic insult. As procurator, Pilate himself stood in the position formerly occupied by Herod I as the Jewish king. He had no interest in promoting Jesus to that authority, with a title even higher than his own.

Conclusion: Pilate did not seriously think that Jesus was the King of the Jews. He probably said this as a sarcastic insult to the Jewish leaders who had turned Jesus over to him for punishment. This seems to have been his motive in saying what he did, although it is also possible that he meant it as an enticement to enable him to crucify Barabbas, whom he considered to be the greater threat.

In terms of ulterior motives, this necessarily involves speculation. One possibility is that Pilate considered Barabbas a greater threat than Jesus. By referring to Jesus as the king of those assembled, Pilate may have hoped to release Jesus, whom he did not take seriously. This would allow him to carry out his plan to crucify Barabbas, a revolutionary who - based on the fact that his followers joined him in a public demonstration while Jesus' followers had deserted him (Matthew 26:56) - had a more committed following.

But no, Pilate did not seriously recognize Jesus as king of the Jews. "Here is your king" is not a declaration of fact but either an enticement (as above) or more likely a sarcastic insult. As procurator, Pilate himself stood in the position formerly occupied by Herod I as the Jewish king. He had no interest in promoting Jesus to that authority, with a tile even higher than his own.

Conclusion: Pilate did not seriously think that Jesus was the King of the Jews. He said this as an insult to the Jewish leaders who had turned Jesus over to him for punishment. This seems to have been his motive in saying what he did, although it is also possible that he meant it as an enticement to enable him to crucify Barabbas, whom he considered to be the greater threat.

In terms of ulterior motives, this necessarily involves speculation. One possibility is that Pilate considered Barabbas a greater threat than Jesus. By referring to Jesus as the king of those assembled, Pilate may have hoped to release Jesus, whom he did not take seriously. This would allow him to carry out his plan to crucify Barabbas, a revolutionary who - based on the fact that his followers joined him in a public demonstration while Jesus' followers had deserted him (Matthew 26:56) - had a more committed following.

But no, Pilate did not seriously recognize Jesus as king of the Jews. "Here is your king" is not a declaration of fact but either an enticement (as above) or more likely a sarcastic insult. As procurator, Pilate himself stood in the position formerly occupied by Herod I as the Jewish king. He had no interest in promoting Jesus to that authority, with a title even higher than his own.

Conclusion: Pilate did not seriously think that Jesus was the King of the Jews. He said this as an insult to the Jewish leaders who had turned Jesus over to him for punishment. This seems to have been his motive in saying what he did, although it is also possible that he meant it as an enticement to enable him to crucify Barabbas, whom he considered to be the greater threat.