Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!
Parallel translations
- WEB Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
- KJV Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
- BSB Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
- NASB Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.
- NLT I tell you the truth, the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah will be better off than such a town on the judgment day.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus warns that judgment will fall harder on towns that reject the gospel than on Sodom and Gomorrah. Greater light brings greater accountability.
Overview
Sodom and Gomorrah were bywords for wickedness and divine judgment (Gen. 19). Yet Jesus says rejecting His messengers, with their clearer revelation, is even more culpable. The principle that responsibility increases with light pervades His teaching and points to the surpassing privilege, and peril, of hearing the gospel of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- 2 Pet 2:6and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly;
- John 15:22–24If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
- 1 Jn 4:17In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world.
- Matt 11:22–24But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.
- Luke 10:11–12‘Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that God’s Kingdom has come near to you.’
- Ezek 16:48–56As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “Sodom your sister has not done, she nor her daughters, as you have done, you and your daughters.
- 2 Pet 3:7But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
- Mark 6:11Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”
- 2 Pet 2:9the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment;
- Matt 12:36I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
- Matt 5:18For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
- Matt 24:34–35Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 10:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.