Matthew 21:32
<< Matthew 21:32 >>
New International Version (©1984)
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.

New Living Translation (©2007)
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.

English Standard Version (©2001)
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.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.

International Standard Version (©2008)
John came to you living a righteous life, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. But even when you saw that, you didn't change your minds at last and believe him."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
John came to you and showed you the way that God wants you to live, but you didn't believe him. The tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. But even after you had seen that, you didn't change your minds and believe him.

King James Bible
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.

American King James Version
For John came to 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.

American Standard Version
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 saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him.

Bible in Basic English
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you had no faith in him, but the tax-farmers and the loose women had faith in him: and you, when you saw it, did not even have regret for your sins, so as to have faith in him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For John came to you in the way of justice, and you did not believe him. But the publicans and the harlots believed him: but you, seeing it, did not even afterwards repent, that you might believe him.

Darby Bible Translation
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the tax-gatherers and the harlots believed him; but ye when ye saw it repented not yourselves afterwards to believe him.

English Revised Version
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 saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him.

Webster's Bible Translation
For John came to 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.

Weymouth New Testament
For John came to you observing all sorts of ritual, and you put no faith in him: the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners did put faith in him, and you, though you saw this example set you, were not even afterwards sorry so as to believe him.

World English Bible
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn't even repent afterward, that you might believe him.

Young's Literal Translation
for John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye did not believe him, and the tax-gatherers and the harlots did believe him, and ye, having seen, repented not at last -- to believe him.

Geneva Study Bible

For John came unto you in the {q} 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.

(q) Living uprightly, being of good and honest behaviour; For the Hebrews use this word way for life and manners.

People's New Testament

21:32 Repented not afterward. The Greek word here translated repent, is not the one which is used in all commands as, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mt 3:2), Repent and be baptized (Ac 2:38), Repent and be converted (Ac 3:19), etc. This term metamellomai means, rather, regret or sorrow; the word in the other passages, metanoeo, means change your minds or hearts. The regret, or sorrow, for sin leads to repentance (2Co 7:10). The scribes and Pharisees did not regret their course, when they saw sinners repenting, so that they could come into a penitent belief.

Wesley's Notes

21:32 John came in a way of righteousness - Walking in it, as well as teaching it. The publicans and harlots - The most notorious sinners were reformed, though at first they said, I will not. And ye seeing the amazing change which was wrought in them, though at first ye said, I go, sir, repented not afterward - Were no more convinced than before. O how is this scripture fulfilled at this day!

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin righteousness

See Scofield Note: "Rom 10:10".

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

32. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness-that is, calling you to repentance; as Noah is styled "a preacher of righteousness" (2Pe 2:5), when like the Baptist he warned the old world to "flee from the wrath to come."

and ye believed him not-They did not reject him; nay, they "were willing for a season to rejoice in his light" (Joh 5:35); but they would not receive his testimony to Jesus.

but the publicans and the harlots believed him-Of the publicans this is twice expressly recorded, Lu 3:12; 7:29. Of the harlots, then, the same may be taken for granted, though the fact is not expressly recorded. These outcasts gladly believed the testimony of John to the coming Saviour, and so hastened to Jesus when He came. See Lu 7:37; 15:1, &c.

and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him-Instead of being "provoked to jealousy" by their example, ye have seen them flocking to the Saviour and getting to heaven, unmoved.

Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (Mt 21:33-46).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:28-32 Parables which give reproof, speak plainly to the offenders, and judge them out of their own mouths. The parable of the two sons sent to work 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 whole human race are like children whom the Lord has brought up, but they have rebelled against him, only some are more plausible in their disobedience than others. And it often happens, that the daring rebel is brought to repentance and becomes the Lord's servant, while the formalist grows hardened in pride and enmity.


Luke 3:12 And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
Luke 7:29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. (NASB ©1995)

Afterward Afterwards Believe Believed Collectors Example Faith Harlots John Notorious Observing Prostitutes Publicans Regret Repent Repented Righteousness Ritual Show Sinners Sins Sorts Tax Tax-Farmers Tax-Gatherers Way Women

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.

came. 3:1-8 Isa 35:8 Jer 6:16 Lu 3:8-13 2Pe 2:21

and ye believed. 25 11:18 Lu 7:29,30 Joh 5:33-36 Ac 13:25-29

the publicans. Lu 7:37 *etc:

repented. Ps 81:11,12 Zec 7:11,12 Joh 5:37-40 2Ti 2:25 Heb 3:12 6:6-8 Re 2:21

Bible Gateway: Matthew Chapter 21 Verse 32 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: after afterward and as believe but came collectors did even feel For him in John not of prostitutes remorse repent righteousness saw seeing show so tax the this to way you

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NT Gospels: Matthew 21:32 For John came to you (Matt. Mat Mt) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

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