Woe to thee, Corozain! Woe to thee, Bethsaida! For if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the mighty works that have been wrought in you, they would have done penance long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
ουαι σοι χοραζιν ουαι σοι βηθσαιδα οτι ει εν τυρω και σιδωνι εγενοντο αι δυναμεις αι γενομεναι εν υμιν παλαι αν εν σακκω και σποδω καθημεναι μετενοησαν
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Tyre and Sidon were cities inhabited by Gentiles, whereas Bethsaida and Chorazin were Jewish communities. Therefore, He remarks that on the day of judgment, the Gentiles will experience greater joy than those who witnessed the miracles yet did not have faith; for had they witnessed them, they surely would have believed.
Matthew recounts that Jesus began to denounce the towns where His miracles were most evident, lamenting their lack of repentance. He proclaims that “the land of Sodom will be more bearable on the day of judgment than you.” Luke echoes these sentiments, but he continues the Lord's discourse in a way that appears to reflect His exact words. This serves as compelling evidence that Luke conveys the teaching precisely as it was delivered by Christ. In contrast, Matthew structured his account according to his recollections. If we interpret Matthew’s introduction, “Then He began to reproach the cities,” as indicating a specific moment rather than a longer period, it suggests that these rebukes might have been articulated more than once.
Indeed, even within the same Gospel, we encounter instances where the Lord expresses similar concepts on separate occasions; for instance, His directive about carrying a purse appears twice in Luke. Thus, it is not astonishing that the Lord's teachings, when repeated under varying circumstances, are recorded by each Gospel writer in their own respective contexts, resulting in differences in order while remaining faithful to the essence of the messages delivered.
The Lord instructs us that greater accountability will rest on those who reject the gospel compared to those who seek to diminish the law. If Tyre and Sidon had witnessed such divine acts, they would not have turned away from the opportunity for repentance. Earthly wealth and indulgence cannot measure up to the gracious gift of heaven; nonetheless, the Lord does not withhold healing from anyone, as the chance for repentance is open to all.
Examine the twentieth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew: ‘Then He began to rebuke the towns where His miracles were most evident, for they did not turn from their ways’ (Matthew 11:20). This sentiment is also expressed there.
The Lord, filled with deep sorrow, declared a curse upon the obstinate towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum—exalted by His presence and works. Despite the numerous miracles He performed and His repeated teachings, He found only a handful of genuine, wise disciples among them. A greater judgment looms over you than that which struck Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom.
At the end of His teaching to the 70 disciples on how to conduct themselves during the proclamation of the Gospel, the Lord affirmed their authority with a grave warning concerning the dire consequences awaiting those who would dismiss their message: ‘I tell you that it will be more tolerable for Sodom in that day than for that city’ (Luke 10:12). Sodom and the neighboring towns, which similarly indulged in various excessive desires, had already faced the judgment of destruction by fire. However, this is merely a forewarning of the punishment of everlasting fire (Jude 1:7). In that day, the final judgment of God is reserved for them. A stringent reckoning is anticipated for the wicked residents of these cities.
Yet, even more severe sufferings are in store for those who reject the apostolic message, as even the people of Sodom would have turned from their sins had they witnessed the numerous miracles performed by Christ and His apostles (Matthew 11:23).
The Lord then pronounced woes upon the towns where His miracles were most prominently displayed but where there was no repentance: Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum. Capernaum is notably the city where the Lord resided after departing from Nazareth (Matthew 4:13) and where many of Christ's works took place. The precise locations of Chorazin and Bethsaida are less established, with Chorazin mentioned solely in this context. Given that Christ primarily ministered on the western side of the Sea of Galilee, it is reasonable to assume that Chorazin was one of the nearby towns to Capernaum. Similarly, Bethsaida mentioned here is likely the Bethsaida located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, the hometown of the apostles Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 4:44).
Chorazin and Bethsaida are contrasted with Tyre and Sidon, not only because they were Gentile cities (Phoenician, situated on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean), but also due to the perception that the affluent and commercially driven inhabitants of these cities might be less attuned to spiritual matters. ‘And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, thou shalt be brought down to Hades.’ Capernaum was a significant trade center, more prominent than its surrounding towns by the Sea of Galilee. Nevertheless, as the residency of Christ made it a vital hub for a significant religious movement sparked by His ministry, it would later face humiliation; during the Jewish War, it was utterly ravaged and destroyed, much like its neighboring towns.
In instructing the seventy to dismiss the dust from their feet when encountering towns that reject their message, Jesus emphasized: ‘As you depart, humbly inform those who do not welcome you, ‘Understand that the kingdom of God has drawn near to you.’ Avoid rebuking them or harboring anger; rather, caution them that through repentance, they may find salvation, for the kingdom of God is accessible to them. However, should they remain unyielding, the people of Sodom will fare better on the day of judgment than they will.
At this point, it became clear that in the locations where the Savior had primarily taught and performed miracles, the inhabitants often lacked genuine faith in the promised Messiah. They seemed reluctant to abandon their mistaken expectation of a mighty conqueror. Their focus was less on the heavenly kingdom and more on seeking retribution against their Roman oppressors, while nurturing a proud vision of a time when Rome would submit to the anticipated Messiah. Consequently, the Savior issued a stern admonition (Matt. 11:20-24). He began to admonish the cities where His miracles were most evident, as they had failed to repent. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!
For if the miracles performed in you had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will fare better on the day of judgment than you. And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades, for if the miracles performed in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless, I declare to you that the land of Sodom will be treated more favorably on the day of judgment than you." In these declarations, Christ functioned not merely as a prophet but also as a Judge, delivering a verdict that would indeed be realized in all its severity. Today, these cities stand in ruins, with little trace left of their existence, and the exact locations of many remain uncertain or contested.
“Woe to you, Chorazin,” and similar expressions were proclaimed by the Lord following His message to the crowd in relation to John the Baptist, as recorded in Matthew 11:21-23. Refer to the commentary on these verses for further insight.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 27 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS