²⁰Then He began to rebuke the cities in which 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 which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²²But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. ²³And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. ²⁴But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

Jesus continued a discourse on negative volition towards the evidence for His ministry from the previous section (11:2-19).

11:20

Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:

Jesus rebuked cities that went negative in volition towards His message and miracles. These were cities where He performed most of His miracles, thus they were more culpable to truth. He exposed three Galilee lakeside cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum to mighty works. The word “repent” here carries the idea of a radical change of mind about the authenticity of Christ’s miracles.

11:21

“Woe [direct judgment] to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!

Jesus pronounced a doom on the Jewish cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida. Chorazin was located two miles northwest of Capernaum. Bethsaida was three miles southeast of Chorazin.

For if the mighty works [miracles] which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Tyre and Sidon (located on the coastline of the Mediterranean) fell under God’s judgment yet, if they had seen the miracles of Jesus, they would have repented.

11:22

But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.

The words “more tolerable” indicate degrees of judgment in hell. The overriding issue that sends people to hell is rejection of Jesus.

11:23

And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Now Jesus singled out the city of Capernaum (30,000 people) for special treatment. Jesus lived in Capernaum as His home town and headquarters during his entire public ministry (9:1). This city had momentous exposure to Jesus.

11:24

But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”

The three Galilean cities had great light because of Jesus’ ministry and miracles. Sodom was a city full of homosexuality, but even that city would have had greater positive volition than Capernaum—despite Capernaum’s privilege of Jesus’ protracted presence there.

PRINCIPLE:

Great light brings great responsibility.

APPLICATION:

Great disclosure to Jesus does not mean automatic embracing of Him as Savior. There are people indifferent to an enormous exposure to Christ. They don’t hate Jesus or necessarily speak badly about him, they just disregard him.