But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
Matthew 21:26 belongs to the chapter describing the journey to Jerusalem for the triumphal entry. That same chapter warns through the fruitless fig tree that those who profess to serve God but bear no fruit in their lives do not bring glory to Him.
The chief priests and elders feared the people because all the people held John as a prophet. The priests and rulers shared that fear, knowing everyone regarded John as a prophet. For that reason they would not say his baptism was of men or merely human, for fear of the people's anger and reaction. They would not state that it came from human authority because they wanted to avoid the consequences of their answer rather than from honest weighing of the evidence.
They also would not say John's baptism was from heaven, since that would expose their failure to believe him. Acknowledging its heavenly authority would require them to explain why they had rejected his testimony that Jesus was the Messiah. They had rejected John's message and would not admit He was sent by God, for that admission would confront them with his testimony about Jesus and their concern was for influence rather than honest judgment of the truth.
Saying John's baptism was of men would turn the wrath of the people against themselves instead of against Christ. Caught in a dilemma from which no sophistry could free them, they stood watched with intense interest by the multitude waiting for their decision.
Their professed ignorance and refusal to answer was not honest lack of knowledge. It was a hypocritical falsehood and evasion chosen to protect themselves, to avoid consequences and anger, and to preserve influence. It revealed hypocrisy and cowardice rather than risking the people's anger.
John was sent by God to prepare the way of the Lord. The chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees refused to believe him because his teaching exposed the defects in their religious lives and condemned their conduct. Though faced with strong evidence of God's power, they pretended not to know rather than admit they were wrong.
By contrast with the leaders, many publicans, sinners, and harlots accepted John's testimony, repented, and received the offered salvation.
Matthew 21:26 belongs to the chapter describing the journey to Jerusalem for the triumphal entry. That same chapter warns through the fruitless fig tree that those who profess to serve God but bear no fruit in their lives do not bring glory to Him.
The chief priests and elders feared the people because all the people held John as a prophet. The priests and rulers shared that fear, knowing everyone regarded John as a prophet. For that reason they would not say his baptism was of men or merely human, for fear of the people's anger and reaction. They would not state that it came from human authority because they wanted to avoid the consequences of their answer rather than from honest weighing of the evidence.
They also would not say John's baptism was from heaven, since that would expose their failure to believe him. Acknowledging its heavenly authority would require them to explain why they had rejected his testimony that Jesus was the Messiah. They had rejected John's message and would not admit He was sent by God, for that admission would confront them with his testimony about Jesus and their concern was for influence rather than honest judgment of the truth.
Saying John's baptism was of men would turn the wrath of the people against themselves instead of against Christ. Caught in a dilemma from which no sophistry could free them, they stood watched with intense interest by the multitude waiting for their decision.
Their professed ignorance and refusal to answer was not honest lack of knowledge. It was a hypocritical falsehood and evasion chosen to protect themselves, to avoid consequences and anger, and to preserve influence. It revealed hypocrisy and cowardice rather than risking the people's anger.
John was sent by God to prepare the way of the Lord. The chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees refused to believe him because his teaching exposed the defects in their religious lives and condemned their conduct. Though faced with strong evidence of God's power, they pretended not to know rather than admit they were wrong.
By contrast with the leaders, many publicans, sinners, and harlots accepted John's testimony, repented, and received the offered salvation.