The religious leaders recognized the support of the crowds for Jesus to whom they were now very hostile. We may list what had aroused their hostility:

(i) The extraordinary authority of Jesus, particularly towards the Law and the use of the Sabbath

(ii) His power to exorcize demons and heal those who were ill

(iii) His assurance of forgiveness of sins

(iv) His challenges to the religious leaders and condemnation of their hypocrisy

(v) His familiarity with outcasts

(vi) The widespread rum ours that he was the expected Messiah.

All this led them to fear Jesus as a very dangerous threat to established religion and their authority in particular. They determined to arrest and kill Jesus as soon as they could do this without angering the crowds.