One indication of Israel's opposition to her King was the antagonism she displayed toward John and Jesus' methods (vv. 2-19). Another was her indifference to Jesus' message. Jesus and His disciples had preached and healed throughout Galilee. However most of the people did not repent. Therefore Jesus pronounced judgment on their cities that had witnessed many mighty miracles. Jesus had the residents of the cities in view when He spoke of the cities.
"Those who really wish to know their Bibles should see that we are in new country from this verse forward. Draw a thick black line between the nineteenth and the twentieth verses. There is a great divide here. Truth flows down to opposite oceans from this point. We are face to face with a new aspect of the work of Christ. The Lord Jesus was henceforth a different Man in His action and in His speech. The One Who was the meek and lowly Jesus was about to exhibit His strong wrath in no uncertain way."475
11:20 The Greek word oneidizeintranslated "reproach"(NASB) and "denounce"(NIV) is a strong word that conveys deep indignation (cf. 5:11; 27:44). Jesus did not denounce these cities because they actively opposed His ministry. He did so because the residents refused to repent in spite of the many miracles that Jesus and His disciples had performed there (cf. 3:2; 4:17). The verb "to be done"(Gr. egenonto) looks at Jesus' Galilean ministry as completed (cf. v. 21).476
11:21-22 Ouaican mean "woe,"a word announcing doom, or "alas,"meaning pity. Both ideas are appropriate here. Chorazin stood about two miles northwest of Capernaum. This Bethsaida was probably the one on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. There was another town with a similar name, Bethsaida Julias, on the northeast shore. Tyre and Sidon lay on the Mediterranean coast to the north. The Old Testament prophets often denounced Tyre and Sidon for their Baal worship. Sackcloth and ashes were common ancient Near Eastern accouterments to mourning.
Jesus' statement reveals that as God He knew what the people of Tyre and Sidon would have done had they received the amount of witness the Jewish cities had enjoyed. It also indicates that the reception of special revelation is a privilege, not a right. Furthermore when God judges, He will take into account the opportunity people have had. There are degrees of punishment in hell as there are degrees of felicity in heaven (v. 41; 23:13; Luke 12:47-48; Rom. 1:20-2:16).477
11:23-24 Capernaum was Jesus' base, and He performed many miracles there (4:13; 8:5-17; 9:2-8, 18-33). It, like wicked Babylon, would suffer eternal damnation (Isa. 14:15). Hades is the place of departed spirits (cf. 5:22). In view of the tower of Babel and the Exile the Jews regarded Babylon as the worst of all cities. Sodom likewise was infamous for its wickedness (cf. 10:15). Jesus probably used the second person singular as a rhetorical device to address these cities. He addressed His audience with the plural "you"(vv. 22, 24).
"Anyone who visits the ruins of Capernaum today and sees the pitiful remains of what was once a beautiful city, can realize the literalness with which this prophecy has been fulfilled. Significantly, Tiberias, not far away, was not condemned and is not in ruins."478
These towns had rejected Jesus and His ministry by their indifference. The citizens followed Him and appreciated His healing ministry, but they did not respond to His message.
"They perhaps took a languid interest in His miracles and teaching; but His beneficence never touched their hearts, and His doctrine produced no change in their lives."479
"This passage vividly illustrates the simple truth that the greater the revelation, the greater the accountability."480
