Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 11:49-50

"But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." — John 11:49-50 (ASV)

That was his advice. You are, none of you, up to the mark. You do not handle this thing rightly. Let us kill this man. Let him be put to death — not that he deserves it, but because it is expedient that this should happen, so that our nation would not be destroyed.

This is the way that governors and kings have been accustomed to think — not "Is it right?" but "Is it expedient?" And we may always pray to God that we may have a government that will do what is right, and not be guided by the evil direction of what is expedient.

It has been well said that if the death of a righteous man would save ten thousand, yet it would be an atrocious thing that he should be put to death unwillingly to save anyone. The right is, after all, expedient.

Yet Caiaphas did not know what he said. He was speaking a great truth.