The transition word For is important here. Jesus explains why the tax collectors and prostitutes are more likely to enter God’s rule than the chief priests and elders. In some languages it is even necessary to translate it as “I say this because John….”

Note that Good News Translation makes clear that John refers to “John the Baptist.”

Came to you can give the impression that John the Baptist went directly to the chief priests and elders, but “came to you people” or “came to you all, the people of Israel” reflects the meaning more accurately.

In the way of righteousness is translated “showing you the right path to take” by Good News Translation; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch is similar. For a detailed discussion of righteousness, see comments at 3.15. It is possible to understand the phrase as a qualifier of John the Baptist himself, as do Jerusalem Bible (“For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness”) and Phillips (“For John came to you as a truly good man”). However, most scholars take this as a reference to his message: “to show you the right way to live” (New English Bible), “to show you the right way” (Luther 1984), and “and showed you how to live as God wants you to live” (Barclay; similarly INCL).

And you did not believe him may also be translated “and you would not believe his message” or “… what he said.”

Believed him contrasts the response of the tax collectors and prostitutes to that of the chief priests and the elders.

Even when you saw it refers to the belief of the tax collectors and prostitutes. It may then be translated “that the tax collectors and prostitutes had accepted his message” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

Afterward repent repeats the adverb and verb of verse 29. As there, “change your minds” is a possible translation. Thereby a dramatic contrast is drawn between the repentant attitude of the first son and the refusal of this group to change their minds.

And believe him may be translated “and believe his message”; Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch focuses upon the effect of accepting his message: “Not once … did you hearken to him and change your lives.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .