Matthew 11:23-24

Matthew 11:23-24

[23] And  thou,  Capernaum,  which  art exalted  unto  heaven,  to  hell:  for  if  the mighty works,  which  have been done  in  had been done  in  Sodom,  it would have remained  until  this day.  [24] But  I say  That  more tolerable  for the land  of Sodom  in  the day  of judgment,  than 

What does Matthew 11:23-24 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Capernaum was Jesus" base, and He performed many miracles there, half of the10 recorded in this section of the Gospel ( Matthew 4:13; Matthew 8:5-17; Matthew 9:2-8; Matthew 9:18-33). It, like wicked Babylon, would suffer eternal damnation ( Isaiah 14:15). Hades is the place of the dead (cf. Matthew 5:22; Matthew 16:18). In view of the tower of Babel and the Exile the Jews regarded Babylon as the worst of all cities. Sodom likewise was infamous for its wickedness (cf. Matthew 10:15). Jesus probably used the second person singular as a rhetorical device to address these cities. He addressed His audience with the plural "you" ( Matthew 11:22; Matthew 11:24).
"Anyone who visits the ruins of Capernaum today and sees the pitiful remains of what was once a beautiful city, can realize the literalness with which this prophecy has been fulfilled. Significantly, Tiberias, not far away, was not condemned and is not in ruins." [1]
These towns had rejected Jesus and His ministry by their indifference. The citizens followed Him and appreciated His healing ministry, but they did not respond to His message.
"They perhaps took a languid interest in His miracles and teaching; but His beneficence never touched their hearts, and His doctrine produced no change in their lives." [2]
"This passage vividly illustrates the simple truth that the greater the Revelation , the greater the accountability." [3]