Mateus 21

Mateus 21

Morgan - … And Harlots - From This Verse Eva J. Alexander was born to believing parents in Chennai, India, and born again at age 12 during a Billy Graham meeting. In 1963, she married R. D. Alexander, and the two took positions with the Indian government. Eva’s job exposed her to the plight of women in her country, and she began speaking out about their status and suffering. For awhile, she became so socially active that her spiritual life suffered. Politics became more important than religion. But the Lord sent a serious illness that brought her to her knees. “God, if you’re real,” she prayed, hovering near death in the hospital, “do not allow me to die. I will serve you.” Returning home, Eva began reading her Bible again and two words in Matthew 21:31 tore through her mind like torpedoes—and harlots. Jesus wanted to bring harlots into His kingdom. A week later, a nearby pastor told her of a prostitute who had run away from the brothels, and he asked Eva to provide a room for her. “I can’t,” said Eva. “You keep her.” Eva had a husband and four children at home, including two teenage sons. But the Lord again brought Matthew 21:31 to mind, and Eva relented. Her family was aghast: “What is this? You’re turning our house into a brothel!” But their attitudes soon changed, and they accepted this ministry as coming from God. Other girls began showing up, and the Alexander home became a rehabilitation center. Police officers and prisons referred troubled women to Eva, and today up to 15 women live in the Alexander home at any one time. The Alexanders provide medical treatment, job training, and a strong gospel witness. Eva has started a home for the children of prostitutes where 60 children, age 12 months to 13 years, find refuge. Her husband and children joined her work, and, spurred on by Matthew 21:31, they are bringing many harlots into the Kingdom. * Today’s Suggested Reading Matthew 21:28–32 Jesus said unto them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.” Matthew 21:31 Matthew 21:32 “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. KJV Matthew 21:32 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. BGT Matthew 21:32 ἦλθεν γὰρ Ἰωάννης πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν ὁδῷ δικαιοσύνης, καὶ οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε αὐτῷ, οἱ δὲ τελῶναι καὶ αἱ πόρναι ἐπίστευσαν αὐτῷ· ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰδόντες οὐδὲ μετεμελήθητε ὕστερον τοῦ πιστεῦσαι αὐτῷ. NET Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him. CSB Matthew 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn't believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn't even change your minds then and believe him. ESV Matthew 21:32 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. NIV Matthew 21:32 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. NLT Matthew 21:32 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. NRS Matthew 21:32 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 after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. NJB Matthew 21:32 For John came to you, showing the way of uprightness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him. NAB Matthew 21:32 When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him. YLT Matthew 21:32 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. MIT Matthew 21:32 For John came to you championing the way of righteousness, but you did not trust him. On the other hand, tax-takers and prostitutes did believe him. Although you scrutinized him, you afterward did not have a change of heart to place confidence in him. came: Mt 3:1-8 Isa 35:8 Jer 6:16 Lu 3:8-13 2Pe 2:21 did not believe: Mt 21:25 11:18 Lu 7:29,30 Joh 5:33-36 Ac 13:25-29 tax collectors and prostitutes: Lu 7:37-50 Feel remorse: Ps 81:11,12 Zec 7:11,12 Joh 5:37-40 2Ti 2:25 Heb 3:12 6:6-8 Rev 2:21 THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THE MESSAGE OR THE TRANSFORMED LIVES For John came to you in the way (hodos) of righteousness (dikaiosune) and you did not believe pisteuo - aorist tense - active voice = decision of one's will, volitional choice) him - This is the answer the religious leaders refused to answer when Jesus posed His question to them in Mt 21:24-25+ - "The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men?” Clearly John's message was from Heaven for he taught the way of righteousness and they refused to believe his message. John preached a righteous message and lived a righteous life. Luke writes "When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God’s justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected (atheteo - aorist tense - active voice = decision of one's will, volitional choice) God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John. (Luke 7:29-30+) but - A dramatic term of contrast. Religious leaders rejected John's message but irreligious (so to speak) people received his message! The tax collectors (telones) and prostitutes (porne) did believe (pisteuo - aorist tense) him - Jesus explains how these hated groups would be granted entrance into the Kingdom of God. It was by their belief in John's message to repent and bring forth fruit in their lives that would demonstrate their repentance was genuine. And you, seeing (perceiving) this - MIT says "Although you scrutinized him!" The religious leaders had no excuse. They saw the misfits repent and believe. They saw living proof of the life giving Gospel and still refused to believe! They had absolutely no excuse! Matthew himself is a prime example of a hated tax collector whose life was radically transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ! But again these hypocrites broke the truism that seeing is believing, for it was not so with them! They saw and rejected what their eyes beheld! A hard heart is an amazing thing! Did not even feel remorse (metamelomai - aorist tense, passive voice) afterward so as to believe (pisteuo - aorist tense) him - Here is crushing, condemning blow to these religious fakers. Jesus says they did not have remorse like the second son in the parable and like the tax collectors and prostitutes. The tragic result was they did not believe John's message of repentance and bring forth fruit in keeping with that repentance. In short they were spiritually dead, lost in time and in eternity (unless some later repented). John