Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. “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 in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Chorazin - "Chorazin was about 2.5 mil (four km) N of Capernaum." (Ryrie)
Bethsaida - "Bethsaida was at the northern end of the Sea of Galilee." (Ryrie)
Tyre and Sidon - "Tyre and Sidon were pagan cities in Phoenicia." (Ryrie)
Capernaum - "We have already seen that in the prophecy quoted there, interpreted from the Jewish standpoint, when they spoke of 'the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,' their terms were those of reproach, because that whole district, more than any other, had become influenced by Gentile thinking. But when the King began His work, this public ministry of the Kingdom, 'He came and dwelt in Capernaum.' That is always His method. If there is a district neglected, abandoned, forsakes, there He comes and dwells. So we know of Capernaum that it was the adopted home of Jesus for a long period, during His public ministry, the center from which He went forth upon His way ... But now we see Jesus looking out upon the cities where most of His mighty works had been done, and we hear Him beginning to upbraid. What was the cause of His upbraiding? 'Because they repented not.' ... 'Repent'—that is, Change your mind, for whenever a man changes his conception, his thinking is change, and his conduct." (Morgan)
you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding - "The Pharisees considered themselves to be wise and learned because they were students of the Scriptures. They deemed themselves to be rightly related to God. They rejected Christ's words to them. Christ said the Father had revealed the truths that He had preached to those, who like little children, accepted His word and put their faith in Him (Matt 11:25). No man can know the Father except through the Son. Christ had come to reveal the Father (John 1:18). If men will not accept His revelation, there can be no knowledge of the Father. So Jesus declared, 'No one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to real him' (Matt 11:27). It is evident that Jesus would reveal the Father to any who accepted His word." (Pentecost)
vss 28-30 - "This great invitation, extended to all, is threefold: (1) to come and receive salvation; (2) to learn in discipleship; and (3) to serve in yoke with the Lord." (Ryrie)
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. - "In contrast to the burdensome yoke of the Pharisees, those who took Christ's yoke and learned of Him would find that submission to Him was easy and that the burden He imposed was light. This was true because of the nature of the One to whom they were joining themselves and of whom they were learning, for He was gentle and humble, or submissive. And He who experienced peace from trusting God imparted that peace to those who trusted Him." (Pentecost)
No comments:
Post a Comment