Matthew 21:32

Way of righteousness. The “way of righteousness” is the Christian way, or philosophy, of life. For comment on the “strait” gate and the “narrow” way see on ch. 7:13,14.

Believed him not. See Luke 7:29, 30. Like the second son in the parable, the Jewish leaders refused to enter into the Lord’s vineyard and labor there, after having professed that they would.

Repented not afterward. They did not alter their original decision. When the One to whom John bore witness appeared, and for three and a half years gave evidence of His divine nature and of the character of His kingdom, the Jewish leaders persevered in their impenitence. Their obdurate hearts remained unchanged (see on Ex. 4:21). The fact that tax collectors and harlots responded so readily to the preaching of John and that of Jesus offended the Jewish leaders (see on Matt. 11:19). The latter were unwilling to labor in the same vineyard where social outcasts such as reformed tax collectors like Zacchaeus (see Luke 19:1—10) and reformed harlots like Mary (see on Luke 7:36, 37) were accepted as laborers.