Matthew 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.
[The Desire of Ages pp 733] It was customary at this feast to release some prisoner whom the people might choose. This custom was of pagan invention; there was not a shadow of justice in it, but it was greatly prized by the Jews. Then, down through the ages, including the dark ages and onward to the 21st century, the practice of mortals forgiving sin and pardoning persons outside of the Scriptural stipulation continues.
During those dark days when the word of God was chained to the monasteries, the practice of pardoning persons was terribly abused. In particular, Tetzel of Germany, a convicted felon was employed to sell pardons, to raise funds for the Roman church, and what he then did, would make the prophets turn in their graves. Take a look: [The Great Controversy pp 127] As Tetzel entered a town, a messenger went before him, announcing, “The grace of God and of the holy father is at your gates.”
And the people welcomed the blasphemous pretender as if he were God himself come down from Heaven to them. The infamous traffic was set up in the church, and Tetzel, ascending the pulpit, extolled indulgences as the most precious gift of God. He declared that by virtue of his certificates of pardon, all the sins which the purchaser should afterward desire to commit would be forgiven him.
2nd Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!