Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 21:32

32 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.

Matthew alone mentioneth this Parable. The Scope of it is taught us. v. 31. The Publicans and Harlots go (that is▪ shall go) into the Kingdom of Heaven before you. That is, you Pharisees: who these Pharisees, and who the Pubblicans were, we shewed before, Ch. 3.7. the Pub[illegible: 1 letter]icans were very od[illegible: 1 letter]ous to the Iews, see Mar. 2.16. H[illegible: 1 letter]rlots are great sinners. By t[illegible: 1 letter]e Kingdom of Heaven, here [illegible: 1 letter]s meant, that of [illegible: 1 word]. Our Lords saying, that Publicans and Ha[illegible: 1 letter]lots sho[illegible: 1 letter]ld go in before the Pharisees ▪ doth not imply that they should follow. It only signi[illegible: 2 letters]eth t[illegible: 2 letters]t some who had been Publi[illegible: 1 letter]ans, (as Matt[illegible: 1 letter]ew, and [illegible: 1 word]) and Harlots, were in a better Condition than these P[illegible: 1 letter]arisees: He proves it because they had done the Will of God, which the Pharisees notwithstanding all their fair Profe[illegible: 3 letters]on▪ had not, but resi[illegible: 1 letter]ed it, and particularly, in the Mini[illegible: 2 letters]ery of Iohn the Baptist, who came to them, In the way of Righte[illegible: 1 letter]usness, Pre[illegible: 1 letter]ching the true Doctrine of Righteousness▪ and living an Holy and Righteous Life; upon the hearing of whose Doctrine, some of the Publicans, and other great s[illegible: 1 letter]nners had believed in Christ, but the Pharisees tho they heard his Doctrine, saw his Conversation, and saw others repent, and own Christ, yet were so far from Believing, that they would not Repent, that they might believe; they would not be awakened to any Sense of their sinful Courses, nor amend any thing of their former ways, that they might receive Christ and imbrace his Righteousness, and Salvation. For altho Evangelical Repentance is the Fruit of Faith, yet that Repentance which lyeth in a previous Sense of sin, and a Resolution to leave sinful Courses, goeth before it. Now to Illustrate, and press this home upon the Consciences of these Pharisees: Our Saviour brings this Parable (as Nathan did to David, 2. Sam. 12.1. & 11.) that they might, being Convicted, Condemn themselves. Hence the Parable is easily understood: The Man mentioned is God. The two Sons were the Pharisees, a People highly pretending Obedience to the Law of God, and making a great shew of Religion. And the Publicans, and Harlots. Great sinners, bad and vile People, making no pretence to Religion: God saith to the one, and the other, Go and work in my Vineyard, that is, do my Will. Do the Work I command you to do. The Pharisees, so Hypocrites and Formalists, by their outward Pretence▪ and Profession say: Sir I go, but yet go not; all their Religion is a vain shew, a meer out-side Appearance. Others, by their Lives declare, That they will not go. But yet upon second Thoughts, having their Hearts touched by the Finger of God, they do Gods work, Which of them did the Will of his Father? They say to him the first. This is plain, for what was the Will of the Father, but that they should do the Work he set them to do? This the latter did not; the Fathers Will was not only that the Son should give him a Cap, and a Knee, and Complement him, but that he should go to work in the Vineyard▪ It is the least part of Gods Will, that Men should give him good Words be a little Complemental, and Ceremonious to[illegible: 1 letter]ard him, but that they should Repent and Believe, and obey his Gospel. This, some Publicans and Harlots did, the Generality of the Pharisees refused. It is an hard thing to convince a Moral, Righteous, Civil man, that he lacks any thing to Salvation; and hence it is that Profane Persons many times repent, believe and are saved, when others perish in their impenitency and unbelief, because they think, they have no need of Repentance, or any further Righteousness, than they are possessed of.

Marginal references: Chap. 3.8.; Luke 3.12, 13.