Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
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.
- BSB Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
- 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 unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
- Jer 8:6I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
- 2 Tim 2:25–26In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
- Isa 1:2–5Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
- Rev 9:20–21And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
- Rev 2:21And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
- Matt 21:28–32But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
- Ps 81:11–13But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
- Acts 17:20For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
- Rev 16:11And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
- Matt 12:41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
- Jas 1:5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
- Mic 6:1–5Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
- Mark 16:14Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
- Mark 9:19He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
- Rev 16:9And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to 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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