The priests saw that they were in a dilemma from which no sophistry could extricate them. If they said that John's baptism was from heaven, their inconsistency would be made apparent. Christ would say, Why have ye not then believed on him? John had testified of Christ, "Behold 594 the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29. If the priests believed John's testimony, how could they deny the Messiahship of Christ? If they declared their real belief, that John's ministry was of men, they would bring upon themselves a storm of indignation; for the people believed John to be a prophet.

Præsterne indså, at de var kommet i en forlegenhed, hvor ingen spidsfindigheder ville kunne hjælpe dem. Hvis de sagde, at Johannes dåb stammede fra Himmelen, ville det være en tydelig selvmodsigelse. Kristus ville sige: Hvorfor troede I ham da ikke? Johannes havde vidnet om Kristus: "Se Guds Lam, som bærer verdens synd!" Joh. 1,29. Hvis præsterne troede på Johannes vidnesbyrd, hvordan kunne de så benægte, at Kristus var Messias? Hvis de fremkom med deres egentlige tro: at Johannes virksomhed var menneskeværk, så ville de pådrage sig en storm af protester; thi folket anså Johannes for at være en profet.