They were reasoning among themselves and saying, “If we say, ‘It was from heaven,’ he will say, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’”
Their deliberation reveals not a search for truth, but political calculation. They do not ask what is right, but which answer is safe for them. If they admitted that John’s baptism was from heaven, then they would have had to confess their unbelief, because they did not obey his preaching and did not accept his testimony about Christ. This verse shows the tragedy of false religious leadership: they could have answered correctly, but they did not want to humble themselves before the truth. When a person defends his position instead of the truth, his mind becomes crafty, but not enlightened.