Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, 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:
- BSB Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, 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 10:13–15“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
- Jer 8:6I listened and heard, but they didn’t say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Everyone turns to his course, as a horse that rushes headlong in the battle.
- 2 Tim 2:25–26in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,
- Isa 1:2–5Hear, heavens, and listen, earth; for Yahweh has spoken: “I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
- Rev 9:20–21The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can’t see, hear, or walk.
- Rev 2:21I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.
- Matt 21:28–32But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’
- Ps 81:11–13But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me.
- Acts 17:20For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.”
- Rev 16:11and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. They didn’t repent of their works.
- Matt 12:41The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.
- Jas 1:5But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
- Mic 6:1–5Listen now to what Yahweh says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.
- Mark 16:14Afterward he was revealed to the eleven themselves as they sat at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they didn’t believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
- Mark 9:19He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.”
- Rev 16:9People were scorched with great heat, and people blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues. They didn’t 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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