Matthew 11:20-24--Woe to Unrepentant Cities

Matthew 11:20-24 English Standard Version (ESV)
LISTEN:  https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/Matt.11.20-Matt.11.24
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.”

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Jesus is just a short way into His three-year mission on earth, and although he's focused most of His efforts on the "Evangelical Triangle" of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, they have all rejected Him.  Jesus seems to say that His words and works would have been better received in the Gentile areas of Tyre and Sidon (wicked areas....so wicked that in one place in the Old Testament, Satan is called the king of Tyre).  And I believe we have already discussed Sodom in our journey through the epistles....a city so wicked that God judged them with fire and brimstone as a sign of the coming judgment for all who would follow in their footsteps and utterly destroyed them.

While Jesus is prophesying judgement on these cities, He is still calling them to repentance saying that He desires for them to repent in sackcloth and ashes like the pagans would have done.  He doesn't want to see them sent to the place of judgement (Hades).  God's warning of a coming judgment is always an act of God's grace in hopes that they will repent and the judgment can be withheld, but when judgment comes it will be swift and sure and there will be no escaping it.

Jesus may have been talking to these unbelieving cities in His day, but we will see in the book of the Revelation that He has a similar message for those "churches" that are really unbelieving and the book of the Revelation is a warning and a call to repentance to all those who live their lives in rebellion to God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  It is not too late right now to repent and believe and avoid the coming judgment.  The ending is clear for those who fail to repent and make Jesus both Lord and Savior.  If you are reading this today and have never made that decision, today is the day of salvation for you.--it may be your one and only chance.

If you want to talk to someone about this---the most important decision you could ever make--you can visit https://chataboutjesus.com/ and talk with someone via text, online chat, or phone call, or you can contact me directly and I'll be happy to talk to you.