Note 2 at Mt 27:18: The Jews were God's chosen people and therefore God's representatives on earth. Yet they lied and condemned an innocent man to death. Pilate could see that their real motivation for wanting Jesus dead was envy (see note 6 at Mr 15:10). If these Jews had thought about what type of witness they were giving, even they would have known that God could not have been inspiring their actions.

We should remember that we are God's witnesses here on earth. Or, as Paul said, we are epistles "known and read of all men" (2Co 3:2). Judging our actions in the light of, "What kind of witness will this give to others?" will help us discern whether or not we are being led of God.