SEV Biblia, Chapter 21:32
Porque vino a vosotros Juan en camino de justicia (rectitud) , y no le creisteis; y los publicanos y las rameras le creyeron; y vosotros, viendo esto, nunca os arrepentisteis despus para creerle.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 21:32
Verse 32. John came unto you in the way of righteousness] Proclaiming the truth, and living agreeably to it. Or, John came unto you, who are in the way of righteousness. This seems rather to be the true meaning and construction of this passage. The Jews are here distinguished from the Gentiles. The former were in the way of righteousness, had the revelation of God, and the ordinances of justice established among them; the latter were in the way of unrighteousness, without the Divine revelation, and iniquitous in all their conduct: John came to both, preaching the doctrine of repentance, and proclaiming Jesus the Christ. To say that it was John who came in the way of righteousness, and that to him the words refer, is, in my opinion, saying nothing; for this was necessarily implied: as he professed to come from God, he must not only preach righteousness, but walk in it. It is very difficult to get a worldly minded and self- righteous man brought to Christ. Examples signify little to him. Urge the example of an eminent saint, he is discouraged at it. Show him a profligate sinner converted to God, him he is ashamed to own and follow; and, as to the conduct of the generality of the followers of Christ, it is not striking enough to impress him. John, and Christ, and the apostles preach; but, to multitudes, all is in vain.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 32. For John came unto you in a way of righteousness , etc.] He had a commission from God; he was no impostor; the doctrine he taught was true, and which he faithfully delivered; his life and conversation were unblamable; there was nothing in his credentials, ministry, and conduct, that could justly be found fault with: and ye believed him not ; to be the forerunner of the Messiah, or the Elias that was to come; nor attended to the doctrine of repentance preached by him, nor were subject to the ordinance of baptism he administered; nor gave any assent, or credit, to the Messiah he so manifestly pointed out: but the publicans and harlots believed him ; what he said concerning the wrath to come, and the miserable state and danger they were in; and they repented of their sins, and confessed them, and were baptized of him in Jordan; believing the testimony he gave of Jesus of Nazareth being the Messiah, and Son of God: and ye, when ye had seen it ; the repentance and faith of these persons, and what a wonderful reformation was wrought in them, repented not afterwards ; of their disobedience, impenitence, and unbelief, after they had seen the effects of Johns ministry on these very profligate sinners, and after, the death of John; who, by his constancy, zeal, and faithfulness, had shown himself to be a true, and upright minister of the word; and afterwards under the ministry of Christ, and his apostles, by, whom the same doctrines were preached, and the same ordinances administered, that ye might believe him ; the testimony he has left behind him concerning the Messiah.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 28-32 - Parables which give reproof, speak plainly to the offenders, and judg them out of their own mouths. The parable of the two sons sent to wor in the vineyard, is to show that those who knew not John's baptism to be of God, were shamed by those who knew it, and owned it. The whol human race are like children whom the Lord has brought up, but the have rebelled against him, only some are more plausible in their disobedience than others. And it often happens, that the daring rebe is brought to repentance and becomes the Lord's servant, while the formalist grows hardened in pride and enmity.
Greek Textus Receptus
ηλθεν 2064 5627 V-2AAI-3S γαρ 1063 CONJ προς 4314 PREP υμας 5209 P-2AP ιωαννης 2491 N-NSM εν 1722 PREP οδω 3598 N-DSF δικαιοσυνης 1343 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ ουκ 3756 PRT-N επιστευσατε 4100 5656 V-AAI-2P αυτω 846 P-DSM οι 3588 T-NPM δε 1161 CONJ τελωναι 5057 N-NPM και 2532 CONJ αι 3588 T-NPF πορναι 4204 N-NPF επιστευσαν 4100 5656 V-AAI-3P αυτω 846 P-DSM υμεις 5210 P-2NP δε 1161 CONJ ιδοντες 1492 5631 V-2AAP-NPM ου 3756 PRT-N μετεμεληθητε 3338 5675 V-AOI-2P υστερον 5305 ADV του 3588 T-GSM πιστευσαι 4100 5658 V-AAN αυτω 846 P-DSM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
21:32 {In the way of righteousness} (en hodwi dikaiosunes). In the path of righteousness. Compare the two ways in #Mt 7:13,14 and "the way of God" (#22:16).
