Note 2 at Mt 21:26: Pr 29:25 says, "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe." These men were seeking to snare Jesus in His words, but they couldn't, because He was safely trusting in the Lord. It was easy for Jesus to "turn the tables" on them and catch them, because they feared man (Joh 5:44).

Jesus had already shown that all of their works were done so that they could be "seen of men" (Mt 6:5). They were not really seeking to please God, but they were doing all of their religious works for the praise that they got from people (Joh 12:43). It is totally vain for people who are bound by the fear of man to try to intimidate those whose trust is totally in the Lord.