Did the Jewish people curse themselves?

Recently, I received an email from a theologian and pastor—who shall remain unnamed, someone respected around the world—asking whether the Jewish people need to repent of the curse spoken just before the crucifixion before revival can come to Israel.

Matthew 27:25 — “His blood be on us and on our children” — has been one of the most weaponized verses in history. It's been used to justify centuries of antisemitism, from church-sanctioned pogroms to the Holocaust itself.

But is that what the text actually says?

Did the crowd in Jerusalem that day speak for all Jewish people, for all time?

This man wasn’t asking from a bad motive at all—he longs to see revival among the Jewish people. So I began to research. Did Israel curse herself? Is unrepented guilt over that “curse” the primary thing holding back a national awakening?

Below is my answer. I didn't intend for it to become so extensive, but this is a question that deserves a real answer. And with the rising tide of antisemitism, this verse will no doubt continue to be used to stir up hatred against the Lord's people according to the flesh. Remember—Jesus is not coming back for an antisemitic bride.

That's the full breakdown—all 13 slides.

If this was helpful to you, the best thing you can do is share it. Here is a link so you can share it as a PDF. Copy these slides and post them on your own social media, send this email to a friend, or share the link below. The more people who understand what this verse actually says—and doesn't say—the better equipped we are to push back against the antisemitism it's so often used to fuel.

Thank you for reading, and for caring about this.