Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 21:46

"And when they sought to lay hold on him, they feared the multitudes, because they took him for a prophet." — Matthew 21:46 (ASV)

Since they could not answer Him, they intended to arrest Him. Fortunately, the crowd thought too highly of Jesus to allow them to lay hands on Him, even though they sought to do so. These prominent religious leaders were as cowardly as they were cruel; they feared the crowd because the people regarded Him as a prophet.

They did not dare to tell the truth about John because they feared the people, and that fear restrained their anger against John's Lord. It was arranged by providence that ecclesiastical malice should be held in check by popular sentiment.

This was an instance of the way in which very often the earth has helped the woman (Revelation 12:16), and the will of the masses has shielded God's servants from priestly cruelty. He who rules over all things sets in motion a higher order of politics in human affairs concerning His Church. Sometimes, rulers have saved men of God from priestly rancor, and at other times the crowd has preserved them from aristocratic hate. One way or another, Jehovah knows how to preserve His Son and all those who are with Him, until the hour comes when, by their deaths, they can glorify His name and enter into glory themselves.