Hearing John the Baptist and Not Repenting - Matthew 21:32

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus asked the chief priests and the elders of Jerusalem, “what think you? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you” and in chapter twenty-one and verse thirty-two of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus said, “John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not” where we read:

For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterward, that you might believe him.

The verse reads, “For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him:” Matthew began with the words, “For John” which means “because John the Baptist” “came unto you” or “appeared unto the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem” “in the way” which means “in the course of conduct and path” “of righteousness” or “pertaining to the state of integrity, purity of life, rightness and correct thinking, feeling and acting”, “and you believed him not” which means “and the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem did not trust in, were not persuaded of nor put confidence in John the Baptist”: “but” or “nevertheless, nonetheless, moreover and” “the publicans” which means “the tax gatherers and collectors” “and the harlots” or “the women who sold their bodies for sexual uses known as prostitutes” “believed him” which means “trusted in, were persuaded of and put confidence in John the Baptist”. Matthew shared how Jesus reminded the religious leaders in Jerusalem how John the Baptist came to them preaching “rightness, purity and correct thinking”, and they did not “believe” him. However, the “tax collectors” and “prostitutes” did.

The verse continues, “and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterward, that you might believe him.” Matthew added the words, “and you” which means “the chief priests and elders in Jerusalem”, “when” or “at the time and moment” “you had seen it” or “the chief priests and elders perceived, noticed, discerned and discovered the way of righteousness”, “repented not” or “did not care afterwards or regret” “afterward” which means “later, more lately or at the last”, “that you might believe him” or “that the chief priests and elders would think to be true or have confidence in John the Baptist”. Matthew wrote how Jesus said the “religious leaders in Jerusalem” actually perceived the message of John the Baptist but did not “turn from their ways” to “trust in” him and his message.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus pointedly told the “religious leaders in Jerusalem” how John the Baptist came preaching “righteousness” and the “tax collectors and prostitutes” believed him, however, the “religious leaders” did not. This prideful behavior kept them from surrendering their lives to God's message through John, and they forfeited the opportunity to have a personal relationship with Him. God desires to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and those who “cling to, rely upon and trust in” Him shall inherit eternal life as they comply with God's everlasting plan.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus instructs, “hear another parable”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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