Knowing The Word in Luke 10:13-16, Woe to Unrepentant Cities

We know little of the extent of Jesus’ ministry and all that he did. Chorazin and Bethsaida are not mentioned outside of this passage, but apparently Jesus did miraculous work there that would have inspired great faith in Tyre and Sidon. These two cities were on the coast north of Galilee and were commercial centers in the Phoenician empire. Prophecies against them revel their history of sin, yet even they will fare better than those who reject the Son of God. Jesus lists the places where he has already been rejected, including his home base of Capernaum that today is a deserted site, bearing silent witness to this prophecy. Today’s verses conclude with Jesus expressing the deep and intimate inter-connectedness between the Father and Son and the Son and his disciples.

13 “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 have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.

16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Prayer:

Come, Lord, work upon us, set us on fire and clasp us close, be fragrant to us, draw us to your love, let us run to you.

Augustine, 354-430