Mark 11:18

When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — After Jesus publicly condemns the temple authorities for transforming a house of prayer into a den of robbers, the chief priests and scribes react to His words. This occurs immediately following His temple teaching, before He withdraws from Jerusalem with His disciples that evening.

The words — The Greek ἤκουσαν (ēkousan) literally translates as "they heard," marking the precise moment the religious leaders perceived Jesus' declaration. Their subsequent plotting follows directly from this reception of His teaching.

The thread — The leaders' search for a way to kill Jesus aligns with John 11:53, where they formally plot against Him after Lazarus' resurrection, and Mark 12:12, where they seek arrest but are restrained by fear of the crowd. Matthew 7:28 similarly records the crowds' astonishment at His teaching, reinforcing the pattern of popular awe versus elite hostility.

Why it lands — The text states that the authorities feared Jesus because the crowd was astonished at His teaching, and notes their active search for a way to kill Him. A reader must acknowledge that institutional power reacts to divine authority with lethal calculation when it loses control over the people.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Matthew 7:28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,
Mark 12:12 At this, the leaders sought to arrest Jesus, for they knew that He had spoken this parable against them. But fearing the crowd, they left Him and went away.
John 11:53 So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.
Acts 24:25 As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”
Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
Mark 3:6 At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.
Mark 11:32 But if we say, ‘From men’...” they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John truly was a prophet.
Mark 14:1 Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were two days away, and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a covert way to arrest Jesus and kill Him.
Luke 4:22 All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.