Matthew 21:32

30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.

31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, ^a“Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

32 For ^aJohn came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him; ^bbut tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward¹ relent and believe him.

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers

33 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner ^awho planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and ^bwent into a far country.

34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

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Matthew 21:32

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.

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