They looked down on the common people who were getting baptized in symbol of repentance.
وَقَدِ ٱسْتَعْمَلَ يُوحَنَّا ٱلْمَعْمَدَانُ كَلِمَةَ « هَرَبَ » بِهذَا ٱلْمَعْنَى حِينَ جَاءَ لِرُؤْيَتِهِ ٱلْقَادَةُ ٱلدِّينِيُّونَ ٱلْيَهُودُ ذَوُو ٱلْبِرِّ ٱلذَّاتِيِّ .‏