Matthew 7:20-24, Woe to Unrepentant Cities

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.”

Comments

Meek and mild are not terms that describe Jesus’ prophetic preaching. “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel,” are Jesus’ first words and message at the beginning of Mark. Jesus preached for people to repent, and the people did not in Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile towns known for their paganism and their rejection of God. Ironically, Jesus praised them, along with Sodom, as being more godly than the towns of Northern Israel.

Prayer

Holy Spirit of God, enable us to repent of our sins each and every day, knowing that Jesus is always more ready to forgive than we are to ask for forgiveness. Keep us living in the kingdom of God with Jesus as our king and loving God and neighbor as our way of life.