Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
Parallel translations
- WEB Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent.
- KJV Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
- NKJV Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent:
- NASB Then He began to reprimand the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.
- NLT Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn’t repented of their sins and turned to God.
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 rebukes the towns that witnessed His miracles yet refused to repent. Privilege ignored brings stern accountability.
Overview
Jesus turns to denounce the Galilean cities where most of His mighty works occurred, because they remained impenitent. Miracles were meant to lead to repentance, not mere amazement. The verse warns that exposure to Christ's works without heart-change deepens guilt rather than securing favor.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Luke 10:13–15Woe 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.
- Jer 8:6I 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 Tim 2:25–26He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- Isa 1:2–5Listen, 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.
- Rev 9:20–21Now 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.
- Rev 2:21Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling.
- Matt 21:28–32But 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.’
- Ps 81:11–13But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
- Acts 17:20For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
- Rev 16:11and curse the God of heaven for their pains and sores; yet they did not repent of their deeds.
- Matt 12:41The 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.
- Jas 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- Mic 6:1–5Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.
- Mark 16:14Later, as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
- Mark 9:19“O unbelieving generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to Me.”
- Rev 16:9And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues; yet they did not repent and give Him glory.
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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 11:20 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
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