Matthew 11:20-24 Cities Reproached

20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, 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. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you." NKJV

Facts Revealed:

V It is a serious thing to hear, or have access to, the Gospel of the Kingdom and to reject it. [Matthew 10:5-15, 11:20-24, Mark 6:7-13, Luke 10:1-12, 13-16]

V This becomes one of the factors considered at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

² When He will separate the ones to inherit the Kingdom from those purged out and cast into punishment. [Matthew 7:13-23, 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50, 22:1-14, 24:45-51, 25:14-30, 31-46, Luke 12:35-48, 13:23-30, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Thessalonians 1:3-10, 2 Timothy 4:1, Jude 1:14-15]

² This agrees with the prophecies of the Old Testament. [Malachi 3:1-5, 18, 4:1, Isaiah 1:24-31, 29:20-21, 33:14, 59:1-21, 66:14b-16, Ezekiel 20:33-38, Daniel 7:26, Joel 3:12-14, Zechariah 12:1-14]

V Cities in the New Testament who were exposed to the Gospel of the Kingdom will be compared on the Day of Judgment, with Cities destroyed by God in the Old testament.

² God knows the heart of the individual people of old, and how they would have reacted if given a chance to hear the Gospel of the Kingdom.

V Today, with Churches everywhere, it is amazing that so many refuse to take advantage of the opportunity to hear the Gospel of the Kingdom available in their area, by pulpit ministries, radio, television, and the internet. Their eternal life is at stake.

V This teaching also indicates that there are varying degrees of torment in Hell and the Lake of Fire.