Woe To You

Scripture:  Matthew 11:20-24 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God. 21 “What sorrow awaits you, Korazin and Bethsaida! For if the miracles I did in you had been done in wicked Tyre and Sidon, their people would have repented of their sins long ago, clothing themselves in burlap and throwing ashes on their heads to show their remorse. 22 I tell you, Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you. 23 “And you people of Capernaum, will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would still be here today. 24 I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you.” (Matthew 11:20–24 NLT)

The ancient cities of Tyre and Sidon, part of the Syro-Phoenician empire, had experienced God’s judgement centuries before. The Old Covenant prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel had spoken against them for their wickedness, their greed, and their rejection of God. Sodom experienced judgment from God for its wickedness, its selfishness, its lack of hospitality to strangers, and its harsh treatment of the poor. Again the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel had all spoken of the judgment of Sodom and warned Israel and Judah to repent or expect the same.

Jesus said that if these wicked cities had the benefit of hearing the Good News of God’s Kingdom and had seen the miracles of healing and compassion Jesus did in nearby Bethsaida, Korazin, and his adopted home town Capernaum, they would have repented and eagerly sought God’s forgiveness and turned to the ways of God’s Kingdom.

Here’s what this says to me: To whom much is given, of them, much will be required. We have access to so much truth, the light shines so brightly for us. We are responsible as stewards for the light we have! We’ve been entrusted with the message of God’s Kingdom and the resources to open the way to God for people in our own nations and in all parts of the world in our generation. I want to be part of a church, a body of believers, a community of faith that responds whole-heartedly to all of God’s truth and passionately shares what we have with all we can reach!

Prayer:

Father, I pray for myself and my friends that we will open our hearts to all you have for us to hear and obey. And may we generously, liberally, abundantly share what we’ve been given with those who need what we have!