Rebuke of the Unbelieving Cities

Jesus rebukes the unrepentant cities where He performed most of His miracles, stating that if the miracles had been done in gentile cities, they would have repented.

Arc

editing

Matthew 11:20-24

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Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His 1 a miracles were done,

because they did not repent.

ground

“ a Woe to you, Chorazin!

Woe to you, b Bethsaida!

series

For if the 1 miracles had occurred in c Tyre and c Sidon which occurred in you,

they would have repented long ago

in 2 d sackcloth and ashes.

actionmanner

conditional

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

concessive

And you, a Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you?

You will b descend to c Hades;

negativepositive

for if the 1 miracles had occurred in d Sodom which occurred in you,

it would have remained to this day.

Nevertheless I say to you that a it will be more tolerable for the land of b Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

ideaexplanation

Second class conditional contrary to fact: if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you (which they did not), they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes (which they did not).

Second class conditional contrary to fact: if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you (which they did not), it would have remained to this day (which it did not).

Rhetorical question: you Capernaum will not be exalted to heaven.

Concessive: although they did not repent (v21), it will be more tolerable for them (v22). (The same applies in v23 and v24.)

discourse

Phrase

Matthew 11:20-24

Introduction

Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done,

because they did not repent.

Rebuke of Chorazin and Bethsaida

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!

A. Judgment Pronounced

For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you,

B. Reason Given

they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

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

C. Punishment Compared

Rebuke of Capernaum

And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you?

A. Judgement Pronounced

You will descend to Hades;

for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you,

B. Reason Given

it would have remained to this day.

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

C. Punishment Compared

There appear to be levels of punishment in hell, which are tied to the amount of revelation one has received and rejected.

phrasing

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