Matthew
11:23
And thou, Capernaum, which art
exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works,
which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained
until this day.
a. NLT: “And you people of Capernaum,
will you be honored in heaven? No, you will go down to the place of the
dead.For if the miracles I did for you had been done in wicked Sodom, it would
still be here today.
b. NIV: And you, Capernaum, will you
be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.fn For if the
miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have
remained to this day.
c. Amplified Bible: Woe to you,
Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been
done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and
ashes [and their hearts would have been changed].
d. A.S. Worrell Translation: “And you,
Capernaum, shall you be exalted to Heaven? You shall go down to Hades; because,
if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would
have remained until this day.
1. “And thou, Capernaum, which
art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell…”
a. Capernaum [2584 * Kapernaoum]
[Strong: Capernaum (i.e. Caphanachum), a
place in Palestine:--Capernaum.]
b. exalted [5312 * hupsoo] [Strong: to
elevate (literally or figuratively):--exalt, lift up.]
c. heaven [3772 * ouranos]
[Strong: perhaps from the same as 3735
(through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of
God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel
(Christianity):--air, heaven(-ly), sky.]
d. brought down [2601 * katabibazo;
kata-down; bibazo-to cause or make come down] [Strong: to cause to go down,
i.e. precipitate:--bring (thrust) down.]
e. hell [86 * hades] [Strong: properly,
unseen, i.e. "Hades" or the place (state) of departed souls:--grave,
hell.]
1). The image of a geographical area
being brought down to hell is seen also in the Old Testament.
a). Ezekiel 32:17-32 It came to pass
also in the twelfth year, in the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of
the Lord came unto me, saying,
32:18 Son of man, wail for the
multitude of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and the daughters of the
famous nations, unto the nether parts of the earth, with them that go down into
the pit.
32:19 Whom dost thou pass in beauty?
go down, and be thou laid with the uncircumcised.
32:20 They shall fall in the midst of
them that are slain by the sword: she is delivered to the sword: draw her and
all her multitudes.
32:21 The strong among the mighty
shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are
gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
32:22 Asshur is there and all her
company: his graves are about him: all of them slain, fallen by the sword:
32:23 Whose graves are set in the
sides of the pit, and her company is round about her grave: all of them slain,
fallen by the sword, which caused terror in the land of the living.
32:24 There is Elam and all her
multitude round about her grave, all of them slain, fallen by the sword, which
are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which caused
their terror in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with
them that go down to the pit.
32:25 They have set her a bed in the
midst of the slain with all her multitude: her graves are round about him: all
of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword: though their terror was caused in
the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame with them that go down
to the pit: he is put in the midst of them that be slain.
32:26 There is Meshech, Tubal, and all
her multitude: her graves are round about him: all of them uncircumcised, slain
by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living.
32:27 And they shall not lie with the
mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with
their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but
their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the
mighty in the land of the living.
32:28 Yea, thou shalt be broken in the
midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the
sword.
32:29 There is Edom, her kings, and
all her princes, which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the
sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with them that go down to the
pit.
32:30 There be the princes of the
north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain;
with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and they lie uncircumcised
with them that be slain by the sword, and bear their shame with them that go
down to the pit.
32:31 Pharaoh shall see them, and
shall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh and all his army slain
by the sword, saith the Lord God.
32:32 For I have caused my terror in
the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised
with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude,
saith the Lord God.
2. “…for if the mighty works,
which have been done in thee…”
a. 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.]
1). The same Greek word translated
“mighty works” in Matthew 11:23 is translated “power” in Acts when it tells how
believers would be empowered by God shall be baptized in the Holy Ghost.
a). Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive
power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the
uttermost part of the earth.
2). And of course everything that Jesus
did, all the miracles he worked were accomplished thorough the power of the
Holy Ghost.
a). Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus
of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and
healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
3) Though there were no doubt others
the following are: the healing of the Centurion’s servant, the casting out of
the devil in the synagogue, the healing of the multitude in the evening after
the Sabbath, and the healing of the man sick of the palsy let down through the
roof, of which multitudes witnessed and glorified God.
a). Matthew 8:5-13 And when Jesus was
entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth
at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will
come and heal him.
8:8 The centurion answered and said,
Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the
word only, and my servant shall be healed.
8:9 For I am a man under authority,
having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to
another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
8:10 When Jesus heard it, he
marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not
found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
8:11 And I say unto you, That many
shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac,
and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
8:12 But the children of the kingdom
shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.
8:13 And Jesus said unto the
centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And
his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
b). Mark 1:21-28 And they went into
Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue,
and taught.
1:22 And they were astonished at his
doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
1:23 And there was in their synagogue
a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have
we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know
thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
1:25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying,
Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
1:26 And when the unclean spirit had
torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
1:27 And they were all amazed,
insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this?
what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean
spirits, and they do obey him.
1:28 And immediately his fame spread
abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
c). Matthew 8:16, 17 When the even was
come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast
out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
8:17 That it might be fulfilled which
was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and
bare our sicknesses.
d). Matthew 9:1-8 And he entered into
a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a
man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto
the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
9:3 And, behold, certain of the
scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts
said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy
sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
9:6 ut that ye may know that the Son
of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the
palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
9:7 And he arose, and departed to his
house.
9:8 But when the multitudes saw it,
they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
3. “…for if the mighty works,
which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained
until this day.”
a. Above in Matthew 11:22 we looked at
the spiritual principle regarding greater light. More revelation requires more
responsibility of proper response and if rejected more severe judgment. In the
text Matthew 11:23 Jesus said that if the mighty works which had been done in
Capernaum, mighty works that included multitudes of healings, devils cast out and
others highlighted above that something powerful would have happened. They
would have repented and remained unto this day. In following the reasoning in
the principle of greater light we need to look at the light given to Sodom as
opposed to the light given to Capernaum. Sodom was destroyed 451 years after
the flood of Noah. We can arrive at that figure by looking at the following
timeline and information.
1). Genesis 11:10-26 These are the
generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two
years after the flood: (2 years)
11:11 And Shem lived after he begat
Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:12 And Arphaxad lived five hundred
and thirty years, and begat Salah: (35 years).
11:13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat
Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:14
And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:
(30 years)
11:15 And Salah lived after he begat
Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:16 And Eber lived four and thirty
years, and begat Peleg: (34 years)
11:17 And Eber lived after he begat
Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and
begat Reu: (30 years)
11:19 And Peleg lived after he begat
Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:20 And Reu lived two and thirty
years, and begat Serug: (32 years)
11:21 And Reu lived after he begat
Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:22 And Serug lived thirty years, and
begat Nahor: (30 years)
11:23 And Serug lived after he begat
Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty
years, and begat Terah: (29 years)
11:25 And Nahor lived after he begat
Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.
11:26 And Terah lived seventy years,
and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran. (70
years)
2). When the math adding up the years
between the patriarchs just in this passage, it appears that Abram was born 292
years after the flood, but that s not really the case. Another chronological
fact has to be included to arrive at the proper dates. Abram was 75 years old when he came into Canaan.
a). Genesis 12:4 So Abram departed, as
the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and
five years old when he departed out of Haran.
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