29, 30. And all the people that heard--"on hearing (this)." These
are the observations of the Evangelist, not of our Lord.
and the publicans--a striking clause.
justified God, being baptized, &c.--rather, "having been baptized."
The meaning is, They acknowledged the divine wisdom of such a
preparatory ministry as John's, in leading them to Him who now spake to
them (see
Lu 1:16, 17);
whereas the Pharisees and lawyers, true to themselves in refusing the
baptism of John, set at naught also the merciful design of God in the
Saviour Himself, to their own destruction.
JFB.
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