Matthew 21:26

KJV

But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G1161} if {G1437} we shall say {G2036}, Of {G1537} men {G444}; we fear {G5399} the people {G3793}; for {G1063} all {G3956} hold {G2192} John {G2491} as {G5613} a prophet {G4396}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But if we say, `From a human source,' we are afraid of the people, for they all regard Yochanan as a prophet."

Berean Standard Bible

But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”

American Standard Version

But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 21:26 captures the profound dilemma faced by the chief priests and elders of Israel when confronted by Jesus' counter-question regarding the authority of John the Baptist. Trapped between acknowledging John's divine commission (which would expose their unbelief) and denying it (which would provoke the revered populace), the religious leaders reveal their primary motivation: not a pursuit of truth or reverence for God, but a profound fear of public opinion and the loss of their social standing. This verse underscores the widespread popular acceptance of John as a true prophet and highlights the spiritual cowardice and hypocrisy of those who claimed spiritual authority.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within a pivotal confrontation in Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, immediately following His triumphal entry into the city and the dramatic cleansing of the Temple. Having asserted His authority through these actions, Jesus is challenged by the chief priests and elders in [Matthew 21:23](/matthew/21-23 "Matthew 21:23 - Challenge to Jesus' Authority"). They demand to know "By what authority do You do these things? And who gave You this authority?" Instead of directly answering, Jesus poses a counter-question about John the Baptist's baptism: "From where was it? From heaven or from men?" Their response to this question, or lack thereof, would reveal their true spiritual state and motives, effectively turning the tables on their challenge to Jesus' own authority. The entire exchange serves to expose the spiritual blindness and self-serving nature of the religious establishment.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judea was under Roman occupation, but the Jewish religious leaders, particularly the Sanhedrin (composed of chief priests, elders, and scribes), held significant religious and civil authority under Roman oversight. Maintaining social order and their own power was paramount. Prophets, like John the Baptist, held a unique and revered place in Jewish society, seen as direct messengers from God. The public's perception of a prophet carried immense weight, often more so than the official religious hierarchy, especially if the hierarchy was perceived as corrupt or compromised. John the Baptist had garnered immense popular support, drawing crowds from all over Judea and beyond, and his message of repentance and the coming Messiah resonated deeply with the common people, who saw him as a legitimate prophetic figure in the tradition of Elijah. To deny John's divine authority would risk public unrest and potentially incite a riot, a situation the leaders desperately wanted to avoid, given the watchful eye of the Roman authorities.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Matthew's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the **contrast between divine authority and human authority**, demonstrating Jesus' unparalleled wisdom in exposing the leaders' true allegiances. Secondly, it vividly illustrates the **danger of the fear of man over the fear of God**, a recurring biblical warning, as seen in [Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Snare of Fearing Man"). The leaders' primary concern was not truth or God's will, but their own reputation and safety. Thirdly, it underscores the **hypocrisy and spiritual blindness of the religious elite**, who, despite their outward piety, prioritized political expediency and self-preservation over spiritual integrity and submission to God's revealed truth. Their inability to answer Jesus' question directly reveals their moral and spiritual bankruptcy, a theme consistently critiqued by Jesus throughout His ministry, particularly in [Matthew 23](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **fear (Greek, _phobéō_):** This verb, G5399, means "to frighten, i.e. (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. revere." In this context, it clearly denotes alarm and dread of the consequences of offending the populace, rather than a reverent awe of God. The leaders are paralyzed by the potential negative repercussions from the crowd, revealing their misplaced priorities.
* **people (Greek, _óchlos_):** G3793, derived from a word meaning "a vehicle," refers to "a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot." Here, it specifically refers to the common multitude or crowd who held John in high esteem. The leaders' fear was of this "throng" potentially turning into a "riot" if John's prophetic status was denied.
* **prophet (Greek, _prophḗtēs_):** G4396, from a compound of _pró_ (before or forth) and _phēmí_ (to speak), literally means "a foreteller ('prophet'); by analogy, an inspired speaker." While foretelling the future is part of a prophet's role, the primary function is to "speak forth" God's message, to be His mouthpiece. The fact that "all hold John as a prophet" signifies the widespread belief that John's words carried divine authority and that he was a genuine messenger from God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But if we shall say, Of men;":** This clause reveals the leaders' internal deliberation and their awareness of the two possible answers to Jesus' question about John's authority. To declare John's baptism as merely "of men" (i.e., human in origin, lacking divine sanction) was the alternative they considered, but immediately rejected due to external pressure. It highlights their strategic, rather than theological, thinking.
* **"we fear the people;":** This is the core admission of their motivation. Their decision-making process is dictated not by truth or conviction, but by the pragmatic concern of public backlash. The "fear" here is a self-preserving dread of the multitude's potential anger or violence, demonstrating a profound lack of courage and spiritual integrity.
* **"for all hold John as a prophet.":** This final clause provides the explicit reason for their fear. John's widespread popularity and his undisputed status as a prophet among the common people made it politically untenable for the leaders to deny his divine authority. The universal popular consensus regarding John's prophetic calling rendered the "of men" option too dangerous for their positions and safety.

#### Literary Devices
The passage is rich with **Irony**. The very religious leaders who should be discerning divine truth and leading the people in righteousness are shown to be more concerned with human opinion than with God's will. Their fear of the people, rather than a reverent fear of God, is deeply ironic given their sacred office. There is a strong **Contrast** established between Jesus' unwavering authority and truthfulness, and the leaders' cowardice and duplicity. The leaders' internal monologue, though not explicitly stated as such, functions as a form of **Indirect Discourse**, revealing their true motivations and the trap Jesus' question has set for them. The phrase "all hold John as a prophet" acts as a form of **Hyperbole** to emphasize the overwhelming popular support for John, making the leaders' position untenable.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This passage powerfully illustrates the spiritual danger of prioritizing human approval over divine truth, a theme echoed throughout Scripture. The chief priests and elders, representatives of God's chosen people, were so consumed by their fear of the crowd and the desire to maintain their power and reputation that they were willing to compromise truth and evade responsibility. Their fear of man became a snare, blinding them to the clear evidence of John's prophetic ministry and, by extension, to the Messiah he proclaimed. This stands in stark contrast to the call for believers to fear God alone, which is the beginning of wisdom and the foundation of true spiritual freedom.

* [Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "The Fear of Man Brings a Snare")
* [Galatians 1:10](/galatians/1-10 "Seeking God's Approval")
* [Acts 5:29](/acts/5-29 "Obeying God Rather Than Men")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 21:26 serves as a profound mirror for us today, especially for those in positions of influence within the church or society. It challenges us to honestly examine our own motivations: are we driven by a genuine pursuit of God's truth and obedience to His will, or are we subtly swayed by the desire for human approval, the fear of criticism, or the potential loss of status? The example of the chief priests and elders demonstrates the spiritual decay that sets in when we prioritize public image and personal safety over divine conviction and integrity. True courage in faith means standing for what is right, even when it is unpopular, trusting in God's approval above all human applause. This passage calls us to cultivate a robust fear of God that liberates us from the enslaving fear of man, enabling us to speak truth, act justly, and live authentically, regardless of the consequences.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life am I more concerned with human opinion than with God's approval?**
* **How does the fear of man manifest in my decisions, especially when faced with difficult choices?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a deeper reverence for God that outweighs my fear of others?**
* **How can I speak truth courageously, even when it might be unpopular or costly?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jesus ask the religious leaders about John's baptism instead of directly answering their question?**

Answer: Jesus' counter-question was a masterful rhetorical strategy designed to expose the true motives and spiritual condition of the chief priests and elders. By asking them to declare the source of John's authority—"from heaven, or of men?"—Jesus forced them into a dilemma. If they said "from heaven," they would condemn themselves for not believing John, who testified about Jesus [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - John the Baptist's Witness to Jesus"). If they said "of men," they risked a violent backlash from the populace, who universally revered John as a prophet. Their inability to answer revealed their hypocrisy and their greater concern for self-preservation and public opinion than for divine truth. This exposed their lack of genuine authority and integrity, effectively disarming their challenge to Jesus.

**What was the significance of John the Baptist's popularity among the people?**

Answer: John the Baptist's widespread popularity, as noted by the phrase "all hold John as a prophet," was highly significant. It indicated that the common people genuinely recognized him as a legitimate messenger from God, a true prophet in the tradition of ancient Israel. His ministry, characterized by a call to repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins [Luke 3:3](/luke/3-3 "Luke 3:3 - John's Ministry of Repentance"), resonated deeply with the spiritual longings of the time. This popular esteem meant that any official denial of John's divine authority by the religious leaders would be met with strong public disapproval, potentially leading to social unrest or even a riot, which the leaders feared. His popularity also served as a powerful testimony to the truth of his message, which ultimately pointed to Jesus as the Messiah.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 21:26, though focusing on the religious leaders' fear and hypocrisy, ultimately points to the supreme authority and uncompromised truth of Jesus Christ. The leaders' refusal to acknowledge John's divine authority was, in essence, a veiled rejection of God's preparatory work for the Messiah, and by extension, a rejection of Christ Himself. John, as the greatest of the prophets [Matthew 11:11](/matthew/11-11 "Matthew 11:11 - John the Baptist's Greatness"), served as the direct forerunner to Jesus, preparing the way for His ministry. The leaders' fear of man prevented them from embracing the divine truth John proclaimed, which would have led them to recognize Jesus as the Son of God. In contrast to their cowardice, Jesus consistently demonstrated unwavering obedience to His Father and fearless proclamation of truth, even when it led to His own suffering and ultimately, His crucifixion. His authority was not derived from human approval but from His divine nature and His perfect submission to the Father's will [John 5:30](/john/5-30 "John 5:30 - Jesus' Obedience to the Father"). This passage, therefore, highlights the essential choice presented to humanity: to succumb to the fear of man and reject God's truth, or to embrace Christ's divine authority and follow Him, regardless of the cost, finding true life and freedom in Him [Matthew 10:39](/matthew/10-39 "Matthew 10:39 - Losing Life for Christ").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 6:20

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Matthew 21:46

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

Matthew 14:5

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Matthew 11:9

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

John 5:35

He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

Isaiah 57:11

And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid [it] to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

John 10:41

And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.