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.
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness - that is, 'calling you to repentance;' as Noah is called "a preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5), when like the Baptist he warned the old world to "flee from the wrath to come."
And ye believed him not. "They did not reject him;" nay, they "were willing for a season to rejoice in his light" (John 5:35): but they would not receive his testimony to Jesus.
But the publicans and the harlots believed him. Of the publicans this is twice expressly recorded, Luke 3:12; Luke 7:29. Of the harlots, then, the same may be taken for granted, though the fact is not expressly recorded. These outcasts gladly believed the testimony of John to the coming Saviour, and so hastened to Jesus when He came. See Luke 7:37; Luke 15:1, etc.
And ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. Instead of being "provoked to jealousy" by their example, ye have seen them flocking to the Saviour and getting to heaven, unmoved.