In the Fulness of Time/Part 74

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They Repented Not. Matthew 11:20-30

His power Rejected; He rejects the Nation. Matthew 11:20-24

Mt. 11:20 “Then began he to upbraid the cities in which most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.”

A number of commentaries make note of the change in Christ’s approach here. Three words can be pointed out as significant in this regard. First, there is exarto, “he began,” a first aorist form indicating a new beginning; second, the words “to upbraid” or reproach, reveal this new attitude of Jesus regarding three cities upon which He is about to pronounce woes and judgment; and finally, the words “were done” (egeneto), which look back to His Galilean ministry as completed. The longsuffering of Jesus has been sorely tried, especially in these places where He exhibited the most proofs of His messiahship and got the least penitence from the Jewish nation. This is reminiscent of Israel in the Old Testament; “When your fathers put me to the test, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart, and they have not known my ways” (Hebrews 3:9-10).

Mt. 11:21 “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”

Chorazin is never mentioned in connection with any of Christ’s miracles, and Bethsaida appears in Mark 6:45 regarding Christ’s walking on the water; in Mark 8:22 when Jesus healed a blind man; in Luke 9:10-17 when He healed “them that had need of healing” and fed the five thousand. This in itself shows the truth of John 21:25: “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which, if they could be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” We know from Matthew 11:1 that Jesus ministered in “their cities” which undoubtedly included many more than Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum.

Tyre and Sidon were noted for idolatry, specifically Baal worship. Queen Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians (I Kings 16:31), and her evil history is well documented. Yet, Jesus says that Tyre and Sidon should have repented long ago if they had been given the evidence of the mighty works of Christ as was given to Chorazin and Bethsaida.

Mt. 11:22 “But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.”

Connecting 11:22 with 11:21, two doctrines are presented. First is the fact that the omniscience of Christ includes the possible as well as the actual. He knew not only how the two cities of Tyre and Sidon sinned against God but also how they would have repented if they were given the added evidence of Christ’s presence and miraculous works. Second, the doctrine of the differences of severity of punishment in hell, based upon the amount of light received and rejected. Another basis for judgment, as noted in Revelation 20:12-13 will be “according to their works.” From both standpoints then, the punishment will be different for each individual; yet, for all unbelievers it will be eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46).

Mt. 11:23-24 “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to Hades, for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”

Though this pronouncement against Capernaum is similar to, and the judgment is identical with that of Chorazin and Bethsaida, there are some differences in the expression of it. At Capernaum Jesus made His home base and performed many miracles there, including the healing of the centurion’s servant and Peter’s mother-in-law, plus many who were demon possessed and many sick (Matthew 8:5-17). A paralytic, the daughter of Jairus, the woman with the hemorrhage and a dumb man were also healed there (Matthew 9:2-8; 18-33). This may well be the reason for the statement, “Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven;” their privileges were great, but so would be their descent, even unto Hades.

Capernaum is compared with Sodom rather than Sidon. Infamous for immorality, Sodom, Gomorrah and the cities of the plain were destroyed with fire and brimstone (Genesis 19:24-25). While we would be hard-pressed to present a list of more heinous sins, yet the indifference of Capernaum to the Person and Power of the Son of God was greater than the gross immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah! Like Tyre and Sidon, Sodom would find it more tolerable at the Great White Throne judgment than the cities wherein the greatest demonstration of the power of Christ was given. Again, the principle: more light rejected, the greater punishment to be received. And this will become quite evident, “in the fulness of time!”

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