Matthew 11:20–24
20Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. 21“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22“Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23“And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24“Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”
Focused Thinking:
Notice how tragic the statement is in verse 20, “Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.
“The cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.”
These people saw and experienced Jesus in the person and didn’t repent.
These people saw and experienced the miracles of Jesus and didn’t repent.
These people saw and experienced people being healed and didn’t repent.
What is occurring in the hearts of people to experience miracles and still be unrepentant?
Jesus’ words were validated by His miracles.
Jesus’ words were vindicated by His deeds.
Jesus’ words were proved by His deeds.
The people in these cities should have repented and believed; many were healed but few repented.
Instead they rejected Jesus, the Messiah.
The people of Chorazin and Bethsaida (Both cities were in Galilee) had seen Jesus first hand; yet they stubbornly refused to repent and believe.
Tyre and Sidon were ancient Phoenician cities with a longstanding reputation for wickedness (Isa 23; Ezk 27–28; Amos 1:9–10).
God destroyed each city for its opposition to his people and for its wickedness as a center of Baal worship.
Destruction for Sidon came at the hands of the Assyrians in 67 b.c.
Destruction for Tyre came at the hands of Alexander the Great who had built a causeway out to the island fortress and had destroyed it in 332 b.c.
What did Jesus say those wicked cities would have done if he had performed the same miracles there?
“They would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”
“Sackcloth and ashes” were symbols of humiliation, grief for sin, and repentance.
Sackcloth was a cheap cloth made of camel or cattle hair, worn under or in place of garments during times of grief.
For extreme grief, a person might also wear ashes on his or her head, or sit and wallow in ashes.
What would be the fate of the unrepentant cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida?
They would suffer even greater punishment than the wicked cities who did not see Him.
They had less opportunity to believe; therefore, they would be accountable for less.
Personal Application:
What does this say about America?
What does this say about Memphis?
What does this say about the most churched city in America?
Memphis is the most churched city in America and only 18% of Memphians go to the church.
What does it mean when the cities in America have more dead churches in them than alive churches?
What is our future when the cities in America have more declining churches in them than growing churches?
The CHURCH must repent before the COUNTRY will repent.
The church can’t pray for the country to repent.
The church must repent for the church and for the country.
The country is in the condition it is in because the church hasn’t been the church.
- Sinners are the problem.
- Darkness isn’t the problem.
- The world isn’t the problem.
- The absence of salt and light is the problem.
Focused Thinking:
23“And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24“Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”
Jesus singled out the city of Capernaum for special denunciation because He had made his home in that city (Matt 4:12–13) and had performed countless miracles there (Matt 8:5–17; 9:2–8; 18–33; Mark 1:23–28).
Instead of heaven, it would experience Hades (Isa 14:13–15).
The word “Hades” is used in the Septuagint (Greek version of the Hebrew Old Testament) for “Sheol,” which is the Old Testament word for the grave, the abode of the dead. Here Jesus used it in a general sense for God’s judgment.
Jesus compares Capernaum with Sodom.
God had destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their extreme wickedness (Gen 18–19).
Jesus implied that the city would have repented of its sin and therefore would not have been destroyed by God.
Personal Application:
How disastrous is it when those closest to the truth turn away?
How disastrous is it when those closest to the truth harden their heart?
What has to happen to wake up the church in America?
I need to pray about this more.
I need to talk with other leaders and pastors about this?
2 Chronicles 7:14
“and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Humble themselves
Pray
Seek My Face
Turn from their wicked ways
THEN…
I will hear from heaven,
I will forgive their sin,
I will heal their land.
We must understand the truths of this verse in the context of today.
I must do a series on true revival and spiritual awakening.
I must do a series on end times and world events.
Interactive Prayer: Prayed offline
I’m sorry this is the first one I have read since your book. I don’t think I will miss another one. This scripture alone should wake people up. I found so much more peace trying to reach people for Christ when He Himself had this kind of results. But as Jesus preached and taught the word and lived it with the signs and miracels following Him, the people were added. And if you look at Highpoints grow that is what He is doing!!!! Some will fall away but as the word gets out those who are hungry and God is calling will find Highpoint. I believe and have seen, they will share their testimony and people will see the real Christ in them and us, it will be that we will need a third service. I too will get on my face today and see if there is anything that is holding me back from being the salt of the earth and the light in the darkness. I commissioned a lady this morning to do just this, now I feel this strong commission has come persoanlly to me, and I will do the same. I know by this it is the calling of the Holy Spirit today reminding us to be very mindful and purposeful to sharen this quality in our life. Thank you so much..