The sin of pride deceives people into thinking they are mightier than they actually are. In Matthew 11:20–24, three cities—Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum—received a deadly pronouncement of judgment because they did not repent despite seeing the mighty works of Jesus the Messiah. What could lead people to reject Jesus even after seeing Him work not one but many miracles? Pride. It was their self-exalting disposition that caused them to view themselves as greater than Jesus. Let’s look at the dangers of pride in this sad story.
Woe to the Unrepentant Cities
In chapter 11 of his Gospel, Matthew wrote of Jesus,
Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: “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. But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 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. But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you (vv. 20–24).
Although the New Testament authors do not provide the details of the miracles Jesus did in Chorazin, some are recorded in Bethsaida (Mark 8:22–26; Luke 9:1). Capernaum, however, was a major location for Jesus’ synagogue preaching and miracles (Matthew 4:13; Mark 1:21).
Jesus contrasted these cities’ refusal to repent with the rebellious Tyre and Sidon and Sodom of the Old Testament. He explained that these wicked cities would have repented if they had seen Him perform miracles. Jesus’ reference to Tyre and Sidon is significant because the prophets had pronounced judgment on them (Isaiah 23; Ezekiel 28:2–24; Amos 1:9–10), magnifying the seriousness of this judgment.
Immediately, we see a contrast between Jesus’ mighty works and the refusal of these cities to repent. In the Bible, the word repent refers to turning away from one’s sins and turning back to God. Despite seeing the power of God work before their very own eyes, the people of these cities were unmoved.
Jesus’ reference to sackcloth and ashes exposes the prideful hearts of the people of Bethsaida and Chorazin, which explains their unwillingness to repent. Both cities saw “the mighty works” of Jesus and were not impressed with what He performed.
Bethsaida and Chorazin were unwilling to humble themselves in contrast with Tyre and Sidon, who would have repented “in sackcloth and ashes” (Matthew 11:21). To repent with sackcloth and ashes was a public demonstration of one’s sorrow for his or her sins. Not only would the residents of Tyre and Sidon have had a genuine heart change, but they would have expressed their humility for all to see.
Jesus’ reference to sackcloth and ashes exposes the prideful hearts of the people of Bethsaida and Chorazin, which explains their unwillingness to repent. Both cities saw “the mighty works” of Jesus and were not impressed with what He performed. They were more impressed with their own abilities.
The Consequences of Rejecting Repentance
Rejecting Christ after seeing Him work miracles takes an incredible amount of pride. To refuse the great works of God requires a greater view of oneself than of Him. Jesus’ pronouncement of woe on Capernaum in verse 23 brought their pride front and center, alluding to the satanic pride of Lucifer (Isaiah 14:13–15). All three cities rejected Jesus despite witnessing His mighty works, resulting in a judgment more severe than that of Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom on “the day of judgment” (Matthew 11:22, 24).
This day of judgment refers to the Great White Throne judgement seat in which all unbelievers will be thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternity (Revelation 20:11–15). While all unbelievers will experience the torment of eternal hell, we learn here that these cities will experience an even greater level of judgment. While we do not know the specifics of the levels of judgment, Dr. William Varner explains in Matthew’s Messiah : His Jewish Life and Ministry, “The additional ‘books’ opened on that future day will undoubtedly reveal the degrees of punishment for those who had greater light and still chose the darkness.”
Fighting the Plague of Pride
What can the church learn from the devastating examples of these prideful and unrepentant cities? We should first realize that the context of this judgment is on people who took comfort in their religion and good works. This compels me to examine my life for areas where I may be justifying my sin or concealing it in the name of ministry. As believers in Jesus, we should continually examine our lives for sins we need to repent of, lest we find ourselves to be like the people of Bethsaida, Chorazin, or Capernaum, who were callous to the mighty works of God. Although we do not see the same miraculous works of Jesus today such as raising people from the dead, whenever we interact with fellow followers of Jesus, we encounter lives changed by the mighty work of Christ (Ephesians 1:6–7).
As believers in Jesus, we should continually examine our lives for sins we need to repent of, lest we find ourselves to be like the people of Bethsaida, Chorazin, or Capernaum, who were callous to the mighty works of God.
This passage presents a crucial warning for the current state of evangelicalism in America. I am deeply concerned by the growing public display of pride among those who claim to be Christians. I was shocked to hear one popular public Christian figure express with vivid smugness on his podcast that God has rejected the Jewish people and that Christians instead are God’s true Chosen People. To be clear, not all proponents of this Replacement Theology, or Supersessionism, act so pridefully. A good friend of mine, a pastor who holds to a form of Supersessionism, is humble and instructs his flock to care for the well-being of the Jewish people and for their souls. However, I have encountered many more Christian proponents of Replacement Theology who look down on Jewish people while lifting up their own egos.
One day, all Israel will look to Jesus the Messiah whom they pierced, who will pour out on them the Holy Spirit, resulting in their repentance (Zechariah 12:10; Revelation 1:7). Israel will then be exalted over the nations in Christ’s Millennial Kingdom (Isaiah 2:2–4). Israel’s future exaltation should not result in the church’s arrogant attitude (Romans 11:18–21). Rather, Christ’s church ought to be humble, focus on the wonderful spiritual blessings we believers have in Jesus (Ephesians 1:2), and appreciate that Israel’s future place in God’s redemptive plan has Christ at the center.
We must not be proud, for with great pride comes great judgment.
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