Matthew 11:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus laments over Chorazin and Bethsaida, saying even pagan Tyre and Sidon would have repented at such miracles.
What Does Matthew 11:21 Mean?
Jesus names two Galilean towns, Chorazin and Bethsaida, that had witnessed His works firsthand. He declares that Tyre and Sidon -- ancient coastal cities long regarded as godless -- would have repented "in sackcloth and ashes," the garments and dust of deep sorrow, had they seen the same miracles. The comparison is meant to startle.
"Woe" here is more lament than curse -- the grief of love spurned. The cities that should have been most ready proved hardest of heart, while those thought least likely would have turned. Nearness to God's works is no guarantee of a soft heart; sometimes familiarity dulls what distance might have awakened. The warning is searching: it is possible to have every advantage and still miss the call to repent.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 11:21
What does Matthew 11:21 mean?
Jesus laments over Chorazin and Bethsaida, saying even pagan Tyre and Sidon would have repented at such miracles.