Matthew 21:32 kjv
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Matthew 21:32 nkjv
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent and believe him.
Matthew 21:32 niv
For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Matthew 21:32 esv
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
Matthew 21:32 nlt
For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins.
Matthew 21 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John's Ministry & Way of Righteousness | ||
| Isa 40:3 | A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” | Prophecy of John the Baptist preparing the way. |
| Mal 3:1 | “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.…” | Another prophecy identifying John's role. |
| Matt 3:1-2 | In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” | John's core message of repentance. |
| Matt 11:7-9 | “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?… a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.” | Jesus affirms John's prophetic authority. |
| Luke 7:29-30 | (When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God just… But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose…) | Illustrates acceptance by tax collectors and rejection by religious leaders. |
| Acceptance by Outcasts vs. Rejection by Religious Elite | ||
| Matt 9:10-13 | As Jesus reclined at table… many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining… “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” | Jesus' mission to call sinners to repentance. |
| Mark 2:15-17 | And as he reclined at table… many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples… | Further evidence of Jesus' association with sinners. |
| Luke 15:1-2 | Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled… | The grumbling of the religious leaders against Jesus' ministry. |
| Luke 18:9-14 | He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:… The tax collector, standing far off… “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” | The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, highlighting humility. |
| Matt 21:28-31 | “What do you think? A man had two sons… Truly, I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.” | Immediate context, the parable Jesus just told, identifying the "second son" with the outcasts. |
| Matt 18:3 | “Truly, I tell you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” | Humility and receptiveness required for kingdom entry. |
| Lack of Repentance and Spiritual Blindness | ||
| Luke 13:3 | “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” | Jesus' constant call for repentance. |
| John 3:19-20 | And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light… | People choose darkness over the light due to their deeds. |
| John 9:39-41 | Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”… “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.” | The spiritual blindness and pride of those who claim to see. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | “Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.”… | Prophecy of judicial hardening due to stubborn unbelief. |
| Acts 7:51 | “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit.” | Stephen's indictment of the persistent resistance of the religious leaders. |
| Rom 2:4 | Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? | God's patience is intended to lead to repentance, but some reject it. |
| Call to Believe | ||
| John 3:16 | “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish…” | The foundational call to belief. |
| John 1:11-12 | He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God… | Rejection of Christ by "his own" vs. acceptance leading to adoption. |
| Acts 17:30 | “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,” | God's universal command for repentance. |
Matthew 21 verses
Matthew 21 32 Meaning
Matthew 21:32 asserts that John the Baptist, a messenger sent by God, came proclaiming a path of righteousness that was accepted by marginalized groups like tax collectors and prostitutes, yet rejected by the chief priests and elders. Even after witnessing the genuine repentance and belief of these societal outcasts, the religious leaders remained unyielding in their unbelief and refusal to repent. This verse serves as Jesus' direct rebuke of their hypocrisy and spiritual blindness, emphasizing that outward piety does not equate to true responsiveness to God's will.
Matthew 21 32 Context
Matthew 21:32 is part of a series of confrontations between Jesus and the Jewish religious authorities (chief priests and elders) in Jerusalem, specifically occurring in the temple courts during Passion Week. Jesus has just entered Jerusalem triumphantly (Matt 21:1-11) and cleansed the temple (Matt 21:12-17). The chief priests and elders confront Him, challenging His authority (Matt 21:23). In response, Jesus poses a counter-question about the origin of John's baptism. When they refuse to answer, Jesus tells the Parable of the Two Sons (Matt 21:28-31), in which a son initially refuses to work in the vineyard but later goes, while another son says he will go but does not. Verse 32 immediately follows, explicitly interpreting the parable: the tax collectors and prostitutes are like the first son who initially refused (their former sinful lives) but then repented and obeyed (by believing John), while the religious leaders are like the second son who verbally assented to God's will but ultimately rejected His messengers (John and later Jesus). The historical context highlights the societal stratification, where tax collectors were despised as traitors and extortionists, and prostitutes were morally condemned, yet these groups demonstrated a humility and openness to God's message that the proud and self-righteous religious elite lacked. This passage carries a polemic against the superficial religiosity and spiritual arrogance of the Jewish leadership who prided themselves on their obedience to the law, yet failed to recognize God's latest outpouring through John.
Matthew 21 32 Word analysis
- For (γάρ - gar): A conjunction that introduces an explanation or reason, directly linking this statement to the preceding Parable of the Two Sons (Matt 21:28-31) and further clarifying Jesus' meaning.
- John (Ἰωάννης - Iōannēs): Refers to John the Baptist, a divinely appointed prophet whose ministry prepared the way for Jesus, marked by a call to repentance and baptism.
- came to you (ἦλθεν πρὸς ὑμᾶς - ēlthen pros hymas): Emphasizes John's direct mission and appeal to the very people Jesus is addressing—the chief priests and elders. They were not ignorant of his ministry.
- in the way of righteousness (ἐν ὁδῷ δικαιοσύνης - en hodō dikaiosynēs):
- way (ὁδῷ - hodō): Path, course, manner of life. Not merely a teaching, but a demonstrable, lived example.
- righteousness (δικαιοσύνης - dikaiosynēs): God's standard of moral rightness, justice, and conformity to His will. This refers to John's personal conduct, his righteous message (calling for repentance, living by God's truth), and the ethical transformation expected from those who responded to him. It contrasts sharply with the ceremonial righteousness the religious leaders pursued.
- and you did not believe him (καὶ οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ - kai ouk episteusate autō): Reveals the religious leaders' profound spiritual failure. "Believed" here (episteusate) implies not merely intellectual assent but trusting and acting upon his message, accepting his authority as from God. They withheld the very faith God required.
- but the tax collectors (ἀλλὰ οἱ τελῶναι - alla hoi telōnai): "Tax collectors" were Jewish agents who collected taxes for Rome, notorious for corruption and considered betrayers of their nation and religious unclean.
- and the prostitutes (καὶ αἱ πόρναι - kai hai pornai): "Prostitutes" were women living lives considered morally scandalous and religiously impure. Both groups were marginalized and condemned by mainstream Jewish society.
- believed him (ἐπίστευσαν αὐτῷ - episteusan autō): In stark contrast to the leaders, these outcasts accepted John's message and authority, leading to genuine repentance and change. Their "belief" was evident in their response to his call for baptism and their turning from sin.
- And even when you saw this (ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰδόντες - hymeis de idontes): This phrase intensifies the condemnation. The religious leaders were witnesses to the profound impact of John's ministry on the lives of those previously considered irredeemable. They saw clear evidence of God's work.
- you did not afterward change your minds (οὐδὲ μετεμελήθητε ὕστερον - oude metamelēthēte hysteron):
- change your minds (metamelēthēte): This Greek verb means to have regret, to feel remorse, to change one's purpose or intention. It indicates a shifting of attitude. While often linked to repentance (metanoia - a complete turning from sin to God), metamelēthēte specifically highlights the leaders' failure to even experience genuine regret for their unbelief, let alone a transformative change. Their will remained set against God's way.
- afterward (hysteron): Even after seeing the overwhelming evidence of John's divine mandate and its positive effect on "sinners," their minds remained unchanged.
- and believe him (τοῦ πιστεῦσαι αὐτῷ - tou pisteusai autō): This phrase underscores the ultimate deficiency of the leaders: they refused to repent in a way that would lead them to true faith in John, and by extension, in Jesus Himself. Their resistance was absolute and final.
Word Groups Analysis:
- "John came to you in the way of righteousness": This group establishes John's divinely authorized ministry, characterized by integrity and alignment with God's moral demands. It's a contrast to perceived righteousness based on human tradition or external observance.
- "and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him": This dramatic juxtaposition is at the heart of the verse. It highlights the surprising openness of the outwardly unrighteous versus the obstinate rejection by the outwardly religious. It's a key theme in Jesus' ministry—God's grace flowing to the humble, while the proud remain outside.
- "And even when you saw this, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him": This emphasizes the inexcusable nature of the leaders' unbelief. Their persistent spiritual hardness in the face of compelling evidence demonstrated their willful rebellion against God's direct call, even when clearly manifested through others. It's a condemnation of hardened hearts that refuse to respond to divine revelation, despite its observable impact.
Matthew 21 32 Bonus section
The phrase "the way of righteousness" (ἐν ὁδῷ δικαιοσύνης) can imply not only John's message and conduct but also that he represented the true path to righteousness. Unlike the path defined by the Mosaic Law or Pharisaic traditions (which the religious leaders claimed to follow), John presented a different, divinely ordained "way" characterized by inner repentance, a turning from sin, and a new life submitted to God's will. Their rejection of John was therefore a rejection of God's true standard of righteousness, which paved the way for Jesus Christ. This verse also implicitly carries Jesus' claim of continuity and authority over John's ministry. By identifying Himself with John's work, Jesus subtly claims the same divine authority that John possessed, making the leaders' continued rejection of Jesus even more severe. Their inability to "change their minds" (μετεμελήθητε) and "believe" (πιστεῦσαι) highlights a volitional choice rooted in hardened hearts, rather than mere ignorance. It illustrates the human capacity to reject undeniable truth, leading to profound spiritual consequences.
Matthew 21 32 Commentary
Matthew 21:32 provides a searing indictment of spiritual pride and hypocrisy, delivered directly by Jesus to those who presumed spiritual superiority. It reveals that the key to entering God's kingdom is not outward religious conformity or social status, but rather a humble and responsive heart capable of repentance and genuine belief. John the Baptist, in his uncompromising "way of righteousness," presented God's truth directly. While "respectable" religious leaders rejected him, common "sinners" embraced his message. The truly damnable aspect of the leaders' unbelief was not just their initial rejection, but their refusal to repent and believe even after witnessing undeniable evidence of God's transformative power in the lives of the outcasts. This signifies a profound spiritual blindness—they were not merely ignorant, but actively resistant to the Spirit of God. The verse warns against the danger of allowing pride and self-righteousness to obstruct one's path to true faith and the kingdom of God, emphasizing that God welcomes the repentant, regardless of their past.