ACC ~ Matthew 11 v20 - 24

OVERVIEW:

At Bethsaida and Capernaum the mute praised the Lord with their voices, the blind saw, the deaf heard, the lame ran about, the dead came alive, yet such great miracles did not produce any enduring disposition to faith (HILARY) or even repentance (JEROME). These cities were found to be not only as bad as other current cities but as bad as any that ever existed (CHRYSOSTOM). Because of those miracles Jesus said that Capernaum had been raised up to heaven, but because of their lack of faith their fall to hell was all the more dramatic. Similar miracles might have happened in Tyre and Sidon, or even in Sodom and Gomorrah, if they had come to repent (THEODORE OF HERACLEA). Jesus spoke harshly so as to use every possible means to reclaim them to repentance (CHRYSOSTOM).

11:20-22 | Woes Pronounced on the Towns

EVEN AFTER MIRACLES THEY DID NOT REPENT

JEROME: Our Savior laments Chorazin and Bethsaida, cities of Galilee, because after such great miracles and acts of goodness they did not repent. Even Tyre and Sidon, cities that surrendered to idolatry and other vices, are preferred to them. Tyre and Sidon are preferred for the reason that although they trampled down the law, still Chorazin and Bethsaida, after they transgressed natural and written law, cared little for the miracles that were performed among them. If we ask where it is written that our Lord performed miracles in Chorazin and Bethsaida, we read above: “And he went around to all the towns and villages, curing every infirmity” and the rest. Thus among the other towns and villages it must be judged that the Lord performed miracles in Chorazin and Bethsaida as well. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.11.22. [1]

[1] CCL 77:84.

11:23 | Mighty Works Done

EXALTED TO HEAVEN?

JEROME: This means one of two things. You will sink to hell for the reason that you most arrogantly opposed my prophecy. Or, although you have received so much privilege in being raised to heaven by my kind generosity, by my miracles and by my acts of goodness, even then you will be battered by a greater punishment because you did not care to believe them. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.11.23. [1]

[1] CCL 77:84.

BROUGHT DOWN TO HADES

THEODORE OF HERACLEA: Many were the miracles Jesus performed in the city of Capernaum. For this reason it was all the more necessary that those who dwelled there should believe. This city was for a time “lifted up unto heaven” on account of the miracles. But on account of the sin and unbelief of its inhabitants, an even more dreadful fall occurred, and they were “brought down to Hades.” Christ was the steward. When the time was right, the Word became incarnate and performed miracles. He chastised Gentiles and Jews proportionately. Tyre and Sidon transgressed only natural law, but the Jews, who disobeyed Christ, transgressed the law of Moses and the prophets. Jesus said this even more sternly when he wished to point out that their wickedness was greater by comparison. For, if not these things, then other things might have happened in Tyre and Sidon, and even in Sodom and Gomorrah, if they had come to repentance. But, as I said, he presents this comparison in order more forcefully to demonstrate their wickedness. FRAGMENT 78. [1]

[1] MKGK 77-78.

11:24 | On the Day of Judgment

THEIR INSENSITIVITY

HILARY: The curse of disobedience is distinguished from the blessing of obedience. It was necessary for the Jews to be admonished. The ill will of their faithlessness is highlighted by the extraordinary grace of his works there. The Jews were censured by the example of the faithful, to whom salvation came entirely from faith. But these cities displayed no change whatever at Jesus’ actions.

At Bethsaida and Capernaum the mute praised the Lord with their voices, the blind saw, the deaf heard, the lame ran about, and the dead came alive, yet astonishment at such great miracles did not produce any disposition for faith. Hearing about the deeds alone ought to have called them to awe and to faith. Yet this unresponsiveness is found not only in the small sins of Tyre and Sidon but also with the great sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. The desire for belief would perhaps have come closer to them if these remarkable acts of virtue had really touched them. ON MATTHEW 11.10. [1]

[1] SC 254:264-66.

DOES THE FAULT LIE IN THE PREACHER?

JEROME: The wise reader may inquire and say, “If Tyre, Sidon and Sodom could repent at the admonishment of our Savior and at his wonderful miracles, they are not to blame because they did not at first believe. But the fault of silence rests in the one who did not want to preach even to those who were likely to repent.”

To this charge the response is easy and clear: We do not fathom the decisions of God. We do not know the secrets of his singular acts of dispensation. … Chorazin and Bethsaida were condemned because they did not want to believe in our Lord even when he was with them in person. Meanwhile Tyre and Sidon were pardoned because they believed the apostles. So do not try to fathom the precise time or place when you may expect the salvation of the believers. It was unexpectedly in Capernaum, a very beautiful town, that unbelieving Jerusalem was condemned. To this city there was an ironic reply in Ezekiel: “Sodom has been vindicated on account of you.” [1] COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.11.23. [2]

[1] Ezek 16:52.

[2] CCL 77:85.

MORE TOLERABLE FOR SODOM

CHRYSOSTOM: It is not for nothing that Jesus mentions Sodom along with the others. He does this to heighten the charge against these cities. This stood as proof of their very great recalcitrance. For they were found to be as bad not only as other cities that currently existed but also as bad as any that ever existed! Thus elsewhere Jesus also makes incriminating comparisons, censuring them by the Ninevites and the queen of the south. In those cases, however, the comparison was with those who did seek to do right, and in these cases with those who had grossly ignored God’s coming. Ezekiel anticipated this intensity of expression when he condemned Jerusalem: “You have justified your sisters in all your sins.” [1] These were cities where Jesus was prone to linger as a favored place. And not even at this does he hold back his speech. He makes their dread even more intense by saying that they would suffer things more grievous than Sodom and Tyre. Jesus alarmed them when he used every possible means to reclaim them to repentance. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 37.4. [2]

[1] Ezek 16:51.

[2] PG 57:424-25; NPNF 1 10:247**.