Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 11:18
And the scribes and chief priests heard [it,] and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
18. chief priests ] This title was applied to (i) the high-priest properly so called; (ii) to all who had held the high-priesthood (the office under Roman sway no longer lasting for life, and becoming little more than annual); (iii) the heads of the twenty-four courses (1 Chronicles 24, Luk 1:9).
was astonished at his doctrine ] and hung upon His lips eager to hear Him (Luk 19:48), and while He was thus high in favour, no one knew how far they might not be disposed to rise on His behalf, if an open effort was made to seize Him. Caution was therefore essential.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And the Scribes and chief priests heard it,…. The reproof he gave to the money changers, and buyers, and sellers in the temple; and his strict prohibition that none should carry any vessels through it; and the argument he used from the prophecy of Isaiah, and the sharp rebuke he gave for the profanation of the holy place:
and sought how they might destroy him: they took counsel together to take away his life, for they hated reformation:
for they feared him; lest he should go on to make great changes and alterations among them, which would affect their credit and character, and their gains also, and draw the people after him:
because all the people were astonished at his doctrine; both as to the matter of it, which were such words as never man spake; and, as to the manner of it, being with such majesty, power, and authority, as the Scribes and Pharisees taught not with; and also at the miracles, by which it was confirmed, as well as at the reformation and discipline he was introducing; which was done with such an air of sovereignty and power, as was amazing.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Sought how they might destroy him ( ). Imperfect indicative, a continuous attitude and endeavour. Note deliberative subjunctive with retained in indirect question. Here both Sadducees (chief priests) and Pharisees (scribes) combine in their resentment against the claims of Jesus and in the determination to kill him. Long ago the Pharisees and the Herodians had plotted for his death (Mr 3:6). Now in Jerusalem the climax has come right in the temple.
For they feared him ( ). Imperfect middle indicative. Hence in wrath they planned his death and yet they had to be cautious. The Triumphal Entry had shown his power with the people. And now right in the temple itself “all the multitude was astonished at his teaching” ( ). Imperfect passive. The people looked on Jesus as a hero, as the Messiah. This verse aptly describes the crisis that has now come between Christ and the Sanhedrin.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And the scribes and chief priests heard it, ekouson hoi archiereis kai hoi grammateis) “An chief priests and the scribes of the temple heard it,” Heard what He said. It was they who governed the temple and had granted commercial trade usage of the become party to thieving and robbery of those who up to the temple to worship, Mat 21:45.
2) “And sought how they might destroy Him:’ ezetoun pos auton apolesosin) “And they sought (ways by which) they might destroy Him,” cut Him d liquidate Him, get rid of Him, get Him out of the temple out of the city, and away from His hurting their lucrative business, Mat 21:46, Luk 19:47-48; Psa 2:2.
3) “For they feared Him,” (ephobounto gar a “Because they feared Him,” were afraid of His influence. Their fixed purpose of heart, as Jewish priests and scribes was to get rid of Jesus, but how to do it puzzled because of His acceptance by the masses, Mat 21:1.
4) “Because all the people,” (pas gar ho ochlos) For all the crowd,” of the Jerusalem area, and the disciples the crowd that followed Him up from the Jericho area Mar 10:46; Mar 11:9-10; Mar 11:15.
5) “Was astonished at His doctrine.” (ekseplesse te didache autou) “Was astounded at His teaching also declared, Mar 1:22; Luk 19:39-40.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(18) They feared him.Peculiar to St. Mark. Note also his omission of the facts recorded by St. Matthew: (1) the healing of the blind and the lame in the Temple; (2) the children crying Hosanna.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and sought how they might destroy him, for they feared him, for all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.’
The chief priests, who ran the Temple and controlled its ministries, were inevitably angry because He had hit at their pockets and at their reputation. And the problem was that they knew that everyone believed it was true. The scribes here might be Sadducean scribes who naturally sided with the leading Sadducees, the chief priests. But we need not doubt that many scribes of the Pharisees were also willing to side with them as well in this particular case. Jesus’ teaching was getting too uncomfortable and as a result some of the people were beginning to question their authority. There was only one answer, and that was to destroy Him. Mark has already described the same intention in Galilee (Mar 3:6). Now the rot had spread through the whole country.
‘They feared Him.’ Because He was undermining their authority and revealing the inadequacy of much of their teaching.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it , and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
Ver. 18. Astonished at his doctrine ] While they hung upon his holy lips, Luk 19:48 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
18. ] ] This remark, given by Mark and Luke, is omitted by Matt.: probably because he has given us so much of the , itself.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 11:18 . , the purpose to get rid of Jesus fixed, but the how puzzling because of the esteem in which He was held.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
sought = began to seek.
at. Greek. epi. App-104.
doctrine = teaching.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
18.] ] This remark, given by Mark and Luke, is omitted by Matt.: probably because he has given us so much of the , itself.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 11:18. , and) They either had approved of that traffic as lawful, or as a source of gain: or else they thought that it ought to have been done away with rather by their agency than by His.–, they feared) Therefore they sought for artifices.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
and: Mar 3:6, Mar 12:12, Mar 14:1, Mar 14:2, Isa 49:7, Mat 21:15, Mat 21:38, Mat 21:39, Mat 21:45, Mat 21:46, Mat 26:3, Mat 26:4, Luk 19:47, Joh 11:53-57
feared: Mar 11:32, Mar 6:20, 1Ki 18:17, 1Ki 18:18, 1Ki 21:20, 1Ki 22:8, 1Ki 22:18, Mat 21:46, Act 24:25, Rev 11:5-10
astonished: Mar 1:22, Mat 7:28, Luk 4:22, Joh 7:46
Reciprocal: Joh 7:30 – they
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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The scribes and chief priests feared him in the bad sense of that word. They were afraid of an uprising among the people if they did any harm to Jesus.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 11:18. Might destroy him. The determination to kill Him had been formed before (see Joh 11:53). How, was now the question. The answer was the treachery of Judas, who probably meditated this step already (from the time of the supper at Bethany on Saturday evening), but first treated with them on the next (Tuesday) evening.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Mar 11:18-19. The scribes, &c., sought how they might destroy him They had heard the rebuke which he had given them for allowing the temple to be profaned, and they had heard likewise the application which he had made of a passage in the eighth Psalm to the case of the children in the temple, wishing him all manner of prosperity; and these things, with the authority which he assumed, galled and exasperated them greatly. They were, however, afraid to take him by violence, or to attempt any thing openly against him, lest it should raise a tumult: they only consulted among themselves how they might destroy him with as little noise as possible; because all the people were astonished at his doctrine Both at the excellence of it, and at the majesty and authority with which he taught.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jesus’ action and words had threatened the reputation and resources of the Sanhedrin members. They plotted to kill Him (cf. Mar 3:6). The intensity of their hatred becomes clear later (Mar 11:27 to Mar 12:37). Mark alone recorded that they feared Jesus. The reason was the impact His teaching was having on the multitudes that gathered from all over the ancient world for Passover (cf. Mar 1:22; Mar 6:2; Mar 7:37; Mar 10:26).
At evening, Jesus and the disciples again left Jerusalem and spent the night on Mt. Olivet (Luk 21:37), probably in Bethany (Mar 11:11).
"If the Lord Jesus were to show up in our house of worship, what changes would He make?" [Note: Wiersbe, 1:151.]