Matthew 21:46

46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

Matthew 21:46 in Other Translations

46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

46 And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

46 They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.

46 They wanted to arrest Jesus and put him in jail, but, intimidated by public opinion, they held back. Most people held him to be a prophet of God.

46 And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet.

46 They wanted to arrest him but were afraid of the crowds, who thought he was a prophet.

46 Although they were looking for a way to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they regarded Him as a prophet.

46 So they looked for a way to arrest him. But they were afraid of the crowd. The people believed that Jesus was a prophet.

Matthew 21:46 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 21:46

But when they sought to lay hands on him
Not that they attempted by any outward action to apprehend him, and carry him off, or by any immediate act of violence to take away his life; but they secretly wished, and earnestly desired to do it: they were so irritated and provoked, that they could scarcely keep their hands off of him, and could have been glad of an opportunity of satiating their revenge upon him: and whereby they would but have fulfilled what he in this parable had prophetically said of them: and yet so hardened were they, though they understood his meaning, they were not deterred thereby, but on another account:

they feared the multitude;
which were now about Christ, lest there should be a tumult, and they should take the part of Christ against them, to which they seemed inclined; when their lives, had they attempted anything of this nature, would have been in a great deal of danger:

because they took him for a prophet;
by the doctrines which he taught, by the boldness and freedom of speech he used, and by the miracles he wrought: wherefore, though they might not all of them believe that he was the Messiah, or that prophet Moses spoke of; yet, since it was exceeding manifest, that he was a teacher sent of God, and endowed with very wonderful gifts; and from whom many of them had received singular benefits, if not for their souls, yet for their bodies; being healed by him of their lameness, or blindness, or other diseases; therefore would not suffer him to be abused, and ill treated by them: so that, as Mark says, "they left him, and went their way"; to consult together what was proper to be done, and wait for a better opportunity to seize him.

Matthew 21:46 In-Context

44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.

46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.

Cross References

• 1. S ver 11,26