In Matthew 21.32, Jesus the Messiah does not speak directly about himself, but he speaks about John the Baptist. Here is why this is deeply strategic and revealing:
- An indirect teaching strategy
Jesus the Messiah often uses or indirect references to lead his hearers to think for themselves. By speaking of John, he creates a mirror in which the religious leaders can see their own refusal to believe, without his having to accuse them himself.
- John the Baptist as a test of faith
John was the forerunner of the Messiah, the one who prepared the way. To believe in John was already to prepare oneself to believe in Jesus. By refusing John, the missed the first step. Jesus the Messiah therefore underscores their inconsistency: they rejected the one who proclaimed righteousness, and they persist in their refusal, even after seeing sinners be converted.
- An implicit but powerful accusation
In reality, Jesus the Messiah does speak about himself, but in a veiled manner. By saying that the sinners believed in John, he implies that they also welcomed the message of the kingdom, that is, himself. And by saying that the did not believe, even after seeing the fruits of repentance, he accuses them of hardness of heart, not only toward John, but also toward the Messiah whom he announced.
- Respect for the timing of revelation
Jesus is advancing toward the cross. He knows that the moment of the full revelation of his identity is drawing near, but here he still chooses to let the truth unfold progressively, so that those who have ears to hear may understand.
In summary, Jesus the Messiah does not speak directly about himself in this reply, but he speaks about himself by speaking about John. It is a subtle but powerful way of revealing the truth while confronting his hearers with their own refusal.