Matthew 11:20

Matthew 11:20

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

a. 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.

b. NIV: Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

c. Amplified Bible: Then He began to censure and reproach the cities in which most of His mighty works had been performed, because they did not repent [and their hearts were not changed].

d. Young’s Literal Translation: Then began he to reproach the cities in which were done most of his mighty works, because they did not reform.

e. A.S. Worrell Translation: Then He began to upbraid the cities in which were done most of His mighty works, because they did not repent.

1. “Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done…”

a. then [5119 * tote] [Strong: from (the neuter of) 3588 and 3753; the when, i.e. at the time that (of the past or future, also in consecution):--that time, then.]

b. began he [756 * archomai] [Strong: middle voice of 757 (through the implication, of precedence); to commence (in order of time):--(rehearse from the) begin(-ning).]

c. to upbraid [3679 * oneidizo] [Strong: to defame, i.e. rail at, chide, taunt:--cast in teeth, (suffer) reproach, revile, upbraid.] [Zodhiates: Generally, it means to rail at, revile, assail with abusive words. It also, at times, means to reproach someone for something, i.e., to upbraid, chide.]

1). Here Jesus railed at the three cities who refused to repent even though they witnessed his mighty works. We can be sure that he was not speaking in a soft calm voice. There were times in the life of Jesus where he got angry at people and those around him knew it. In this instance it was because the cities where most of his mighty works were done, Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, the people refused to repent.    

d. cities [4172 * polis] [Strong: a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size):--city.]

e. where in [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

1). [3739 * hos] [Strong: including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

f. most [4118 * pleistos] [Strong: irregular superlative of 4183; the largest number or very large:--very great, most.]

g. of his [846 * autos] [Strong: from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

h. mighty works [1411 * dunamis] [Strong: force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):--ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.]

i.  were done [1096 * ginomai] [Strong: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.]

2. “…because they repented not:”

a. because [3754 * hoti] [Strong: demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

b. repented [3340 * metanoeo] [Strong: to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction):--repent.]

c. not [3756 * ou] [Strong: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

1). There are three cities Jesus mentions in this passage where he condemns them for their refusing to repent. As I go through the verses mentioning the cities I will try to find verses that apply, particularly Capernaum and Bethsaida. These cities saw great light from Christ Jesus’ ministry.

a). Matthew 4:13-17  And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

4:14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

2). But as the Scripture declares “they repented not.”