John Calvin Commentary Matthew 27:25

"And all the people answered and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children." — Matthew 27:25 (ASV)

His blood be on us. There can be no doubt that the Jews pronounced this curse on themselves without any concern, as if they had been fully convinced that they had a righteous cause before God; but their reckless zeal carried them headlong, so that, while they commit an irreparable crime, they add to it a solemn imprecation by which they cut themselves off from the hope of pardon.

From this we infer how carefully we should guard against headlong rashness in all our judgments. For when people refuse to make inquiry, and venture to decide in this or that matter according to their own fancy, blind impulse must eventually carry them to rage. This is the righteous vengeance of God with which He visits the pride of those who do not condescend to take the trouble of distinguishing between right and wrong.

The Jews thought that, in slaying Christ, they were performing a service acceptable to God. But from where did this wicked error arise, unless from wicked obstinacy and from despising God Himself? Justly, therefore, were they abandoned to this rashness of drawing upon themselves final ruin. However, when the question relates to the worship of God and His holy mysteries, let us learn to open our eyes and to inquire into the matter with reverence and sobriety, lest through hypocrisy and presumption we become stupefied and enraged.

Just as God would never have permitted this execrable word to proceed from the mouth of the people if their impiety had not already been desperate, so afterwards He justly avenged it by dreadful and unusual methods. And yet, by an incredible miracle, He reserved for Himself some remnant, so that His covenant might not be abolished by the destruction of the whole nation. He had adopted for Himself the seed of Abraham, so that it might be:

a chosen nation, a royal priesthood, His peculiar people and inheritance,
(1 Peter 2:9)

The Jews now conspire, as with one voice, to renounce a favor so distinguished. Who would not say that the whole nation was utterly rooted out from the kingdom of God?

But God, through their treachery, renders more illustrious the fidelity of His promise, and, to show that He did not in vain make a covenant with Abraham, He rescues from the general destruction those whom He has elected by free grace. Thus the truth of God always rises superior to all the obstacles raised by human unbelief.