because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed, , and yet he liked to listen to him.
His parents said these things because they were afraid of the Jews, since the Jews had already agreed that if anyone confessed him as the Messiah, he would be banned from the synagogue.
Then the scribes and the chief priests looked for a way to get their hands on him that very hour, because they knew he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people.
They were looking for a way to arrest him but feared the crowd because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. So they left him and went away.
Who was it you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and didn’t remember me or take it to heart? I have kept silent for a long time, haven’t I? , So you do not fear me.
Did John’s baptism come from heaven, or was it of human origin? ’ They discussed it among themselves, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will say to us, “Then why didn’t you believe him? ”