Woe on Unrepentant Cities
20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
Rest for the Weary
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
V20-24 definitely indicates that there will be degrees of punishment in hell for the ungodly - as do similar passages such as Matthew 10:15, Luke 12:47-48 and Hebrews 10:29).
My Life Application Bible says....
Because Bethsaida, Korazin, and Capernaum saw Jesus and didn't believe, they would suffer even greater punishment than that of the wicked cities who didn't see Jesus. Similarly, nations and cities with churches on every corner and Bibles in every home will have no excuse on judgment day if they do not repent and believe.
Talk about conviction for our nation! Indifference, in the face of the truth, is worse than Sodom's gross wickedness.
Can you hear the sarcasm in v25 as Jesus refers to the Pharisees as the wise and learned?
In v27 Jesus makes a huge claim of His divinity, first by using "my Father" to refer to God and then to claim intimate divine knowledge between the members of the trinity, and that the task of exercising the divine will of revelation has been committed to Him. If Jesus was any less than God Himself, this would be utter and complete blasphemy.
And then note Jesus' invitation that echoes the first beatitude. From my MacArthur Commentary....
Note that it openly invites all who hear, but it is phrased such that the only ones who will respond are those burdened by their own spiritual bankruptcy and the weight of trying to save themselves by keeping the law. Sinful, rebellious humanity are so stubborn that without a sovereignly-bestowed spiritual awakening, none will acknowledge the depth of their spiritual poverty. That is why, as Jesus says in verse 27, salvation is the sovereign work of God. This truth of divine election in verse 27 coheres with the free offer to all in verses 28-30.
A convicting and wonderful passage!
Tomorrow's scripture focus: Matthew 12:1-14
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