And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
The chief priests and scribes counseled together over how to seize Jesus into their power and kill him, while holding back from open action because they feared provoking a tumult among the people. They feared the people because many who had witnessed His mighty works believed Him to be a prophet from God, even the prophet of the Most High, and would have opposed and been greatly angered and incensed by any attack upon Him or attempt upon His liberty. They therefore decided that open violence was bad policy and rejected it, choosing treachery and secret betrayal to serve their purpose.
The secret means was Judas, one of the twelve disciples, who made a secret proposal to betray Jesus into their hands, and they sought such a one to betray Him secretly. He was to lead them to one of Jesus' quiet resorts for prayer and retirement where He could be seized with no multitude to oppose them, contracting for thirty pieces of silver. They could not put Him to death on their own hasty condemnation because the power to execute had passed from the Jews to the Romans, so the case had to be referred to the Roman authorities for final decision.
They felt there was no time to lose and were anxious to hasten His trial and execution before the immediate celebration of the Passover. Delay through the feast week would keep Jesus in bonds while the intense excitement of the mob clamoring for His life was allayed, a natural reaction would set in, the better part of the people would become aroused in His behalf, and His release would in all probability be accomplished. Their hostile seeking for a way to kill Jesus while fearing the people parallels hatred, envy, jealousy, and rage that seeks an occasion to accuse and oppose His followers.
The chief priests and scribes counseled together over how to seize Jesus into their power and kill him, while holding back from open action because they feared provoking a tumult among the people. They feared the people because many who had witnessed His mighty works believed Him to be a prophet from God, even the prophet of the Most High, and would have opposed and been greatly angered and incensed by any attack upon Him or attempt upon His liberty. They therefore decided that open violence was bad policy and rejected it, choosing treachery and secret betrayal to serve their purpose.
The secret means was Judas, one of the twelve disciples, who made a secret proposal to betray Jesus into their hands, and they sought such a one to betray Him secretly. He was to lead them to one of Jesus' quiet resorts for prayer and retirement where He could be seized with no multitude to oppose them, contracting for thirty pieces of silver. They could not put Him to death on their own hasty condemnation because the power to execute had passed from the Jews to the Romans, so the case had to be referred to the Roman authorities for final decision.
They felt there was no time to lose and were anxious to hasten His trial and execution before the immediate celebration of the Passover. Delay through the feast week would keep Jesus in bonds while the intense excitement of the mob clamoring for His life was allayed, a natural reaction would set in, the better part of the people would become aroused in His behalf, and His release would in all probability be accomplished. Their hostile seeking for a way to kill Jesus while fearing the people parallels hatred, envy, jealousy, and rage that seeks an occasion to accuse and oppose His followers.