Mat 11:21-24 | PNT | STEP | Woe to thee, Chorazin ! Chorazin has long been extinct, and its site is not certainly known. It is named only here and in . Situated about two miles from the ruins of Tell-Hum, thought to be Capernaum, there are ruins now called Kerazeh, including a synagogue, columns and walls of buildings, supposed to mark the site of Chorazin. Woe to thee, Bethsaida ! The word means "House of fish", and the name would imply that it was a fishing town, and it was the home of the fishermen, Peter, Andrew and Philip ( ). Its locality is in dispute. It was probably situated on both sides of the Jordan, where it emptied into the Sea of Galilee. The ruins of a city lie there, mostly on the east side of the river. For if the mighty works . . . had been done in Tyre and Sidon . These were rich Phoenician trading cities on the east shore of the Mediterranean. Tyre was long the chief commercial city of the world; it still exists as a wretched town. In sackcloth and ashes . The symbols of mourning and repentance. See on the repentance of Nineveh. Sackcloth was a kind of coarse cloth, woven of camel's hair.

Matthew 11:21-24

Woe to thee, Chorazin! Chorazin has long been extinct, and its site is not certainly known. It is named only here and in Lu 10:13. Situated about two miles from the ruins of Tell-Hum, thought to be Capernaum, there are ruins now called Kerazeh, including a synagogue, columns and walls of buildings, supposed to mark the site of Chorazin.

Woe to thee, Bethsaida! The word means "House of fish", and the name would imply that it was a fishing town, and it was the home of the fishermen, Peter, Andrew and Philip (Joh 1:44). Its locality is in dispute. It was probably situated on both sides of the Jordan, where it emptied into the Sea of Galilee. The ruins of a city lie there, mostly on the east side of the river.

For if the mighty works . . . had been done in Tyre and Sidon. These were rich Phoenician trading cities on the east shore of the Mediterranean. Tyre was long the chief commercial city of the world; it still exists as a wretched town.

In sackcloth and ashes. The symbols of mourning and repentance. See Jon 3:5 on the repentance of Nineveh. Sackcloth was a kind of coarse cloth, woven of camel's hair. It shall be more tolerable, etc. These solemn words teach: (1) That there will be a day of judgment for all cities, nations and men. (2) That men will be judged according to their opportunities; that those who have had and neglected opportunities will be held most guilty. (3) That there will be different degrees of future punishment, according to guilt and opportunities; that those whose opportunities have been greatest will receive the greater punishment, if these are neglected. Every man will be judged and punished according to his opportunities and works. The idea of a hell of the same severity for all the unsaved is nowhere taught by Christ. And thou, Capernaum. Capernaum was at that time a city of 30,000 inhabitants. Its site also is disputed. Most locate it on the lake shore, at the ruins called Tell-Hum, but others locate it about three miles north of the ruins of Tell-Hum. It enjoyed signal advantages as being the Galilean home of Christ, who taught in its streets, houses and synagogue, and worked many miracles there.

Art exalted to heaven. By the privilege of having Christ as an inhabitant.

Shalt be brought down to hell. Not hell, but "hades", the unseen. Capernaum shall disappear from human view. Within less than forty years Capernaum was destroyed by the Romans, and for many centuries has not had an existence.

Would have remained until this day. Note the inference: (1) Sodom was destroyed for its sins. (2) Had it not been sinful it would have "remained". (3) Therefore it is sins that destroy cities and nations. Jerusalem, Babylon, Sodom, Capernaum, and other extinct ancient cities have perished on account of their sins. (4) Modern cities which scoff at God and revel in iniquity will "be brought down to hades" also. Permanent temporal prosperity depends on righteousness. More tolerable for Sodom in the day of judgment. Because it had poor opportunities. Sodom had fallen two thousand years before Christ, and had been extinct ever since, yet the Lord speaks of a "future" day of judgment for both Sodom and Capernaum. Therefore, (1) There is a judgment after death. (2) Temporal punishment for wickedness does not satisfy eternal justice. The Sodomites were held to a future judgment. (3) The inhabitants of Sodom had not been annihilated, but were alive, waiting for the judgment.