Why did the chief priests fear the crowds in Matthew 21:46? Setting the Scene Matthew 21 unfolds during the final week before the crucifixion: - Jesus’ triumphal entry (21:1-11) stirs messianic excitement. - He cleanses the temple (21:12-17), challenging the religious establishment’s profit system. - He teaches parables that expose the leaders’ hypocrisy (21:23-45). Verse 46 follows immediately: “Although they wanted to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they regarded Him as a prophet.” The Crowds’ High Regard for Jesus Why were the people so ardently behind Him? - Recent miracles: Blind and lame healed in the temple (21:14). - Prophetic fulfillment: The donkey ride echoed Zechariah 9:9; the crowds shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (21:9). - Moral authority: He publicly overturned corrupt temple commerce, doing what many wished their leaders would do. - Fresh, gripping teaching: “He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.” (cf. Matthew 7:29). Why the Chief Priests Felt Threatened 1. Loss of religious credibility • Jesus’ popularity exposed their spiritual emptiness. • If the people saw Him as God-sent, their own authority would plummet. 2. Loss of financial gain • Temple commerce enriched the priestly families; Jesus’ cleansing jeopardized that revenue stream. 3. Fear of political backlash • A prophet-king figure could spark unrest. • “If we let Him keep doing this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” (John 11:48) 4. Concern for personal safety • Riots were common during Passover. • Luke 20:6 notes they feared being “stoned by the people” if they denied John’s prophetic status; the same dynamic applied to Jesus. Layers of Fear Revealed - Public opinion: Their reputations were fragile in a crowd-driven culture. - Political survival: Rome crushed insurrections ruthlessly; the priests served at Rome’s pleasure. - Spiritual conviction: Deep down, they sensed the truth in Jesus’ words and parables (Mark 12:12), yet hard hearts resisted repentance. Scriptural Echoes - Mark 12:12; Luke 20:19 – parallel accounts underline their dread of the people. - Matthew 26:5 – during plotting, they again postpone action “so there won’t be a riot among the people.” - Acts 5:26 – later, temple officers arrest apostles “without violence, for they feared the people.” Key Takeaways • Religious power without true submission to God breeds insecurity. • Popular affirmation of God’s work can restrain evil—yet superficial admiration is no substitute for saving faith. • Fear of man blinds hearts to the Messiah; reverent fear of God opens them. |
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