Woe to Unrepentant Cities
Matthew 11:20-24
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Matt.11.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τοτε: ADV
- ηρξατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- ονειδιζειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- πολεις: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- εν: PREP
- αις: PRON,dat,pl,f
- εγενοντο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- πλεισται: ADJ,nom,pl,f
- δυναμεις: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- μετενοησαν·: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Luke 10:13-15 (verbal): Very close parallel in Luke: Jesus pronounces woes on Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum for failing to repent despite mighty works; shares language and reason (lack of repentance) with Matthew 11:20.
- Matthew 11:21-24 (structural): Immediate continuation in Matthew: Jesus specifies the cities (Corazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum), compares them unfavorably with Tyre, Sidon and Sodom, and repeats the judgment theme—structurally completes the denunciation begun in v.20.
- Jonah 3:5-10 (thematic): Contrasting Old Testament example: Nineveh repents at Jonah’s warning, illustrating the expected response to prophetic warning/works; highlights the culpability of Jesus’ cities for failing to repent despite greater revelation.
- Amos 4:6-11 (thematic): OT prophetic motif: God sends disasters and signs (plagues, famine, exile) yet people do not return—parallels Matthew’s theme that signs/mighty works without repentance provoke divine condemnation.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.
- Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.
Matt.11.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ουαι: INTJ
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- Χοραζιν·ουαι: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- Βηθσαιδα·οτι: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- εν: PREP
- Τυρω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- Σιδωνι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- εγενοντο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,pl
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- δυναμεις: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- γενομεναι: PART,aor,pass,nom,pl,f
- εν: PREP
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- παλαι: ADV
- αν: PART
- εν: PREP
- σακκω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- σποδω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- μετενοησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
Parallels
- Luke 10:13-15 (verbal): Near-verbatim Synoptic parallel: Jesus pronounces woes on Chorazin/Bethsaida (and Capernaum), and compares their fate unfavorably with Tyre and Sidon if they had repented.
- Matt.11:22 (structural): Immediate pericope companion verse: continues the same denunciation (addresses Capernaum) and makes the comparative judgment that Tyre and Sidon would have fared better.
- Matt.10:15 (thematic): Earlier Matthean saying using comparative judgment language (Sodom) to illustrate degrees of culpability and coming condemnation, parallel in function to the Tyre/Sidon comparison.
- Jonah 3:5-9 (verbal): Nineveh’s repentance in 'sackcloth and ashes' provides the exemplum Jesus invokes — towns that faced signs would have repented in sackcloth and ashes, unlike Chorazin/Bethsaida.
Alternative generated candidates
- Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes.
- Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Matt.11.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πλην: CONJ
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- Τυρω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- Σιδωνι: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ανεκτοτερον: ADJ,nom,sg,neut,comp
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- κρισεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
Parallels
- Luke 10:13-15 (verbal): Parallel account of Jesus' woe on Chorazin and Bethsaida and the declaration that Tyre and Sidon would have repented — uses the same judgment-contrast and similar wording about Tyre and Sidon.
- Matt.11:21 (structural): Immediate context in the same discourse pronouncing woe on Chorazin and Bethsaida; sets up the contrast with Tyre and Sidon in v.22.
- Matt.11:24 (verbal): Same Matthean discourse using the parallel formula: it will be more tolerable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you — a recurrent comparative judgment motif.
- Matt.10:15 (verbal): Earlier Matthean saying: 'more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment' — the same comparative-judgment formula applied to cities that reject the message.
- Luke 12:48 (thematic): Develops the principle behind the saying: greater revelation/responsibility brings greater accountability and therefore severer judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
- But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
Matt.11.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- Καφαρναουμ: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μη: PART
- εως: PREP
- ουρανου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- υψωθηση: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- εως: PREP
- αδου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- καταβηση·οτι: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- εν: PREP
- Σοδομοις: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- εγενηθησαν: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,pl
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- δυναμεις: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- γενομεναι: VERB,aor,pass,part,nom,pl,f
- εν: PREP
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
- εμεινεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- αν: PART
- μεχρι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σημερον: ADV
Parallels
- Luke 10:15 (verbal): Direct parallel in Luke's account: the rebuke of Capernaum uses nearly the same language about being 'exalted to heaven' and 'going down to Hades.'
- Matt.10:15 (verbal): Earlier Matthean saying uses the Sodom-comparison ('more tolerable for Sodom') when warning towns that reject the kingdom—same comparative logic about judgment.
- Isaiah 14:13-15 (allusion): Ancient Near Eastern motif of hubris and downfall: 'I will ascend to heaven' followed by being brought down to Sheol—parallels the language of exaltation then descent into Hades.
- 2 Peter 2:6 (thematic): Uses Sodom's destruction as an example of divine judgment; echoes Jesus' claim that Sodom would have 'remained' if shown the same works, underlining Sodom as the paradigm of inescapable judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you, Capernaum—who are exalted to heaven—will be brought down to Hades. For if the works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
- And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Matt.11.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πλην: PREP
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,2
- οτι: CONJ
- γη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- Σοδομων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- ανεκτοτερον: ADJ,nom,sg,neut,comp
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- κρισεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- σοι: PRON,dat,sg,2
Parallels
- Luke 10:12 (verbal): Nearly identical warning: Jesus says it will be more tolerable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for the unrepentant city—same comparative phrasing and context.
- Matt.10:15 (verbal): Earlier use of the same formula when sending the twelve: 'more tolerable for Sodom on the day of judgment' for towns that reject the disciples—same judicial comparison.
- Matt.11:22 (verbal): Close parallel in the same chapter: Jesus uses the same construction comparing Tyre and Sidon to the unrepentant towns—same theme of greater condemnation for those witnessing greater revelation.
- Genesis 19:24–25 (thematic): The historical account of Sodom’s destruction underlies Jesus’ comparison—Sodom serves as the archetypal example of divine judgment in Jewish tradition.
- 2 Peter 2:6 (allusion): New Testament reference to Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of punishment for the ungodly, echoing the use of Sodom as a paradigmatic case of judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- Yet I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.
- But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.
Then he began to reproach the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.