Bible Strands
Matthew 11:20
Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the unrepentant cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum immediately after describing how the world rejected His ministry and vindicated wisdom. He delivers this warning following the report from John the Baptist’s disciples and the preceding commentary on divine wisdom.
The words — The Greek verb ὀνειδίζειν (oneidizein) literally means to reproach or denounce, indicating a sharp verbal rebuke rather than a mere suggestion. It follows ἤρξατο (ērxato), meaning He began, marking the start of a formal pronouncement against specific locations.
The thread — This theme of divine denunciation for unrepentance appears in Luke 10:13, which records the identical warning to Chorazin and Bethsaida. It echoes Jeremiah 8:6, where God notes that no one repents of wickedness, and aligns with 2 Timothy 2:25, which instructs gentle reproof to lead others to repentance.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that witnessed miracles do not guarantee spiritual response. It requires the reader to examine whether external religious experiences are producing actual repentance or merely providing grounds for judgment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
Cross-references
- Luke 10:13 Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
- Jeremiah 8:6 I have listened and heard; they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle.
- 2 Timothy 2:25 He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- Isaiah 1:2 Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.
- Revelation 9:20 Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.
- Revelation 2:21 Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
- Psalms 81:11 But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
- Matthew 21:28 But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
- Micah 6:1 Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.
- Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.