Matthew 21:46
And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Their desire to arrest Jesus was powerfully held in check not by moral conviction, but by the fear of public backlash. This reveals how deeply the crowds' perception of Jesus as a prophet—a divinely appointed messenger—protected him, exposing the leaders' own lack of true authority.
Following Jesus' parable about the wicked tenants, which clearly condemned the religious leaders, they recognized the critique was aimed directly at them. Though enraged and seeking to arrest him, their fear of the large crowds, who believed Jesus was a prophet, prevented them from acting immediately. This fear, coupled with their inability to legally charge him, forced them to retreat and plan their next move.
Why did the religious leaders hesitate to arrest Jesus, even when they were furious with Him?
Matthew 21:46 reveals a crucial reason: the crowds saw Jesus as a prophet. This public perception acted as a shield. The religious leaders, while plotting against Jesus, were keenly aware of the popular support He held. They recognized that any move to arrest Him, especially in the heat of the moment after He had just delivered the parable of the wicked husbandmen, would likely incite a riot. Their fear wasn't of divine judgment, but of public backlash, showing how public opinion could restrain even the most powerful authorities.
This wasn't the first time the people's view of a messenger of God influenced the leaders. Earlier, they were afraid to say John the Baptist's ministry was not from God because the people believed him to be a prophet (Matthew 21:26). The people's conviction about a prophet's divine calling gave that prophet significant protection.
The leaders' hesitation was a form of protection, but was it for the right reasons?
While the religious leaders were restrained from arresting Jesus due to fear of the crowds, this restraint was born out of self-preservation and political calculation, not righteousness. They understood Jesus' message and knew He was speaking against them, yet their hearts were hardened by their own interests and sin.
As one commentator puts it, 'He who abstains from certain evils, only through fear of scandal or punishment, has already committed them in his heart, and is guilty before God.' Their external action of refraining from arresting Jesus did not reflect an internal change of heart. It was a temporary pause, driven by the external pressure of public opinion, rather than a genuine conviction or respect for Jesus' divine authority.
Understand the original words
zēteō / krateō · Greek Verb
To seize, take hold of, or capture someone, often implying forcible restraint or putting under legal control. In the Gospels, it is frequently used in the context of the religious leaders' attempts to apprehend Jesus.
phobeomai · Greek Verb
A feeling of reverence, awe, or terror. In a religious context, it signifies the appropriate response to the power and authority of God, but in this context, it refers to the leaders' apprehension regarding the public's reaction.
ochlos · Greek Noun
A large group of people. In the Gospels, the crowds often represent the common people who were frequently more receptive to Jesus' ministry than the established religious elite.
prophētēs · Greek Noun
c. 740 BC
Prophecy of Isaiah
Isaiah prophesied about a vineyard that would be unfaithful and its fruit taken away, foretelling God's judgment and the eventual establishment of a new covenant.
c. 520 BC
Prophecy of Zechariah
Zechariah foretold the coming of a humble King who would enter Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, as a fulfillment of God's promise.
c. AD 30
Jesus Clears the Temple
Jesus powerfully cleansed the Temple in Jerusalem, overturning tables and driving out merchants, asserting His authority.
c. AD 30
Jesus Teaches in the Temple
Jesus spoke parables, including the Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, directly confronting the religious leaders and exposing their corruption and impending judgment.
c. AD 30— this verse
Religious Leaders Plot Against Jesus
Enraged by Jesus' parables and teachings, the chief priests and Pharisees understood Jesus was speaking against them and sought to arrest Him.
This passage highlights how rulers were initially fearful of confronting prophets, choosing instead to focus on the public perception of them as divinely inspired individuals. This echoes the situation in Matthew 21:46 where the authorities hesitated to arrest Jesus due to the crowds viewing him as a prophet.
John 7:45-52Similar to Matthew 21:46, this passage shows the religious leaders' desire to arrest Jesus but their inability to do so because of the crowd's respect for him. They also dismiss the idea of him being the Messiah, suggesting he is a prophet, mirroring the sentiment in Matthew.
2 Kings 2:11-12This reference illustrates the profound respect and awe people held for prophets in ancient Israel, even attributing divine power to them. This shows why the crowds in Matthew 21 would have reacted strongly if Jesus, perceived as a prophet, were apprehended.
Amos 7:10-13Here, a prophet is directly confronted by religious authorities who are disturbed by his message and public standing. The prophet Amos is told to leave and not prophesy anymore, showcasing the tension between prophets and the established religious leadership, similar to what Jesus faced.
henryMatthew 21:33-46: "Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:"
21:33-46 This parable plainly sets forth the sin and ruin of the Jewish nation; and what is spoken to convict them, is spoken to caution all that enjoy the privileges of the outward church. As men treat God's people, they would treat Christ himself, if he were wi…
clarkeMatthew 21:46: "But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet."
They sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude - Restraining and preventing grace is an excellent blessing, particularly where it leads to repentance and salvation; but he who abstains from certain evils, only through fear of scandal or punishment, has already committed them in his heart, and is guilty before God. The intrepidity of our Lord is worthy of admirat…
Their desire to arrest Jesus was powerfully held in check not by moral conviction, but by the fear of public backlash. This reveals how deeply the crowds' perception of Jesus as a prophet—a divinely appointed messenger—protected him, exposing the leaders' own lack of true authority.
Following Jesus' parable about the wicked tenants, which clearly condemned the religious leaders, they recognized the critique was aimed directly at them. Though enraged and seeking to arrest him, their fear of the large crowds, who believed Jesus was a prophet, prevented them from acting immediately. This fear, coupled with their inability to legally charge him, forced them to retreat and plan their next move.
Following Jesus' parable about the wicked tenants, which clearly condemned the religious leaders, they recognized the critique was aimed directly at them. Though enraged and seeking to arrest him, their fear of the large crowds, who believed Jesus was a prophet, prevented them from acting immediately. This fear, coupled with their inability to legally charge him, forced them to retreat and plan their next move.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 21:46 is available in the Sola app.
A person chosen and commissioned by God to speak His message, call people to repentance, and often predict future events. Throughout Scripture, a prophet is an authorized mouthpiece for the divine will.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Triumphal Entry
A crowd welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with shouts of 'Hosanna,' acknowledging Him as a prophet, which emboldened the religious leaders to fear a public outcry if they seized Him.
"And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet." — Their desire to arrest Jesus was powerfully held in check not by moral conviction, but by the fear of public backlash. This reveals how deeply the crowds' perception of Jesus as a prophet—a divinely…
