20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”
Section Overview and Outline
V.B. Jesus Rebukes and Invites His Generation (11:20–30)
1. Jesus Warns Impenitent Cities of Israel (11:20–24)
In Matthew 11:20–24, Jesus denounces the cities that witness his mighty deeds but do not repent. The passage names three cities that resist his ministry: Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. The teaching includes a warning, a remark on their culpability, and a note on the consequences. The form of each segment is fairly similar.
First, each city is named and warned: “Woe to you.” A conditional sentence follows. The protasis begins, “For if the mighty works done in you had been done in” Tyre, Sidon, or Sodom, then, the apodosis concludes, they “would have repented” (v. 21) or “would have remained until this day” (v. 23). As a consequence, it will be easier for those Gentile cities “on the day of judgment” than the unbelieving cities of Israel (vv. 22–24).
Response
The warnings to Israel’s cities invite several responses. First, the passage summons all readers to respond to the revelation entrusted to them, to repent, believe, and follow Jesus. Second, God is the judge of mankind and is qualified for the task. He knows the words, deeds, and hearts of men. He knows all that is and all that could be, even what would have happened in Gentile lands had Jesus ministered there. Third, he gives more light to some than others and judges all people accordingly. There are degrees of joy in heaven and degrees of anguish in hell (Matt. 12:41; 23:14 ESV mg.). Fourth, while the previous point indicates individual responsibility, references to cities remind Western individualists that the Lord appraises societies as well as individuals. Fifth, those who possess the most knowledge can be most resistant to God’s revelation. Nonetheless, Jesus continues to address the hardhearted, since it is impossible to tell how people will respond to the Word or how the Spirit will move. Therefore the faithful herald continues to announce the kingdom.