Matthew 21 - IVP New Testament Commentaries

The Cowardly Politicians

This character of Jesus' opponents fits their later actions. Concerned about the populace's response, they both choose a more advantageous time to seize Jesus (26:4-5, 55; compare Lk 22:53) and allow Pilate and the Romans to carry out a death sentence. Without a degree of favor from the people whom they had to keep quiet as well as from the Romans, the household of Caiaphas could not have stayed in power so long.