THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 11:20-30
Unrepenting Cities, Come to Me
The Unrepenting Cities
Matthew 11:20. Then He began to reprimand the cities in which most of His (works of power and) miracles were done, because they did not repent. Verse 21. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the (works of power and) miracles that occurred in you had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in (symbols of mourning), sackcloth and ashes. Verse 22. Nevertheless, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. Verse 23. And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades! For if the (works of power and) miracles that occurred in you had occurred in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Verse 24. Nevertheless, I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment, than for you.”
(Commentary Break: These words of Jesus are spoken, both to those in that day and are prophetically spoken to everyone of all the ages since that day.
Jesus is patient and loving beyond our comprehension. He is the embodiment of love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness and self-control.
But there is a time coming when the faithful will be rewarded and the faithless will be judged. And Jesus words should be taken with all the seriousness and gravity as one would expect from God’s judgments.
Jesus is warning the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, Tyre, Sidon and Capernaum of God’s coming judgment for their unbelief, their sins and their worship of false gods despite the fact that they had seen and experienced the acts of Jesus in their midst. This warning is extended to each and every person, city, state and nation who falls in the category of the unbelieving ways of Chorazin, Bethsaida, Tyre, Sidon and Capernaum. BE AWARE and BEWARE!
These coming judgments are pictured as seven seals opened, seven trumpets blown, and seven bowls poured out. God’s judgment against the wicked will leave no doubt as to His wrath against sin. (Besides punishing sin, these judgments will have the effect of bringing the nation of Israel to repentance.) (End Commentary Break).
Come to Me
Verse 25. At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants. Verse 26. Yes, Father, for this way was well pleasing in Your sight.
Verse 27. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son determines to reveal Him.
Verse 28. “Come to Me, all who are (exhausted), weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Verse 29. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND A RESTING PLACE FOR YOUR SOULS. Verse 30. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”
(Commentary Break): We see, in the earlier verses of this chapter eleven, that Jesus has given tribute to John for his faithful and obedient work, and He answers John’s questions about Him (Jesus) being the anticipated Messiah.
Jesus then gives John’s disciples evidence of His own divinity, and warns the gathering crowds (and all future potential followers) of the dangers of misunderstanding His intentions and the consequences of unbelief. He continues by warning of the coming “day of judgment”.
Please do not miss the significance of the context of these remarks. The tribulation period, the days of distress is beginning – and as we will see, the various seal judgments will begin to overlap and intensify. Then, with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal, the final 7 years of the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord will begin. (Also known as Daniel’s 70th week or the Great Tribulation period.)
Jesus, now praying to His Father, is thanking Him for hiding the great oracles of God and the prophetic truth about His (Jesus’) identity; about His plan and purpose and the fate of the heavens and the earth.
The ‘wise and understanding’, those from whom these things are hidden, are the teachers and leaders of Israel (Jews) such as the Sanhedrin, the scribes and the Pharisees. These are the ones who have seated themselves ‘in the chair of Moses’. They tell you what to do according to scriptures but do not comply, themselves. These are the ones who tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger. And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people. (see Matthew 23).
Notice that the spirit of these who consider themselves as ‘the wise and understanding’ as still among us today. Still exalting themselves, still dressing in their robes, ‘broadening their phylacteries’ calling themselves Rabbi, teacher, Father and leader. Jesus issues eight woes to those who believe and act like them. Be warned, all who hear these words!
Jesus then thanks His Father that He has revealed these things to ‘to little children’, meaning ‘like a simple person, even an immature Christian’. Someone who believes and follows Jesus with a simple, abiding faith and obedience. One who is not encumbered by traditions, customs, rituals and the teaching of men.
Jesus now makes the most astounding of all claims to His Divinity, Sovereignty and His Authority: All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
Jesus continues by telling us that those who come to Him, will find that His authority and sovereignty will bring them rest for their souls: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
It is those who are humble in heart, those who submit themselves wholly to Jesus, His ways and His teachings, who find rest. (End Commentary Break).
And, as odd as it may seem, it is these same gentle sheep of the Great Shepherd who gird themselves with the full armor of God, having become strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might, be able to resist the evil in that day, extinguishing the flaming arrows of the evil one. And with every prayer as an ambassador of Christ, making known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.
Please don’t make the mistake of reading these words and believing they were spoken only to and for the Jews present at that time – or you miss the entire point of what Jesus is saying. These words were spoken to the Jews at that time AND for you and me in our time. Also, please remember specifically, the words of Jesus are never random. His Words are always creative, causative, prophetic, and instructional, and are spoken to and for all people of all the ages.
We must grasp the reality, the immediacy and urgency of this fulfillment of prophecies in, as explained by Jesus in these last days – which are evidenced by the coming of John and of Jesus.
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
PREVIOUS: THE BOOK OF MATTHEW – Chapter 11:1-19, John’s Questions, Jesus’ Tribute to John.
(Please bookmark this page or subscribe for future episodes).
Discover more from Whitestone Fellowship
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
