"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."
In Matthew 21, the chief priests and elders fail in their attempt to trick the Lord Jesus into answering a question with a self-incriminating response. In turn, Jesus asks them on whose authority John the Baptist carried out his ministry. Wanting to play it safe, they refuse to confirm or deny that He was a prophet of God.
Jesus then points out a sad truth about their religious hypocrisy, which is practically true for every spiritually pretentious and proud person today. As with the tax collectors and the prostitutes of Jesus’ day, repentance can come quickly for those who lived a life of utter sinfulness yet realize their poor state and turn to God for salvation.
However, for those who think themselves to be spiritual and “nearer to God,” genuine salvation will elude them. Unless they let go of their self-made credentials to turn to God and trust in the finished work of Christ for salvation, they can never enter the kingdom of God.
It is not enough to look the part and do the right things superficially. If one is to be saved, he or she must believe and trust only in the redemptive work of the Savior.
