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A Severe Rebuke

Text: Matthew 11 : 20 - 30

We imagine that when the multitudes heard the wisdom of Jesus and saw the mighty miracles He performed, that there would automatically be faith in Him. Such was not the case, in reality! Let us note carefully this severe rebuke Jesus delivered to the multitudes.

“Then He began to rebuke the cities in which
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 which were done in you had
been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would
have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”
Matthew 11:20-21

1. No Repentance

The mighty miracles Jesus performed had obviously not been understood by the multitudes. They must have thought of Jesus as nothing more than a Miracle Worker. They availed themselves to the compassion that was poured out in such effusion! The dynamic power healed all who were sick and demon possessed!

The multitudes merely gasped in amazement at the power of Jesus. However, no repentance was evoked. Standing in the Presence of Jesus alone should have caused people to feel repentant about the many sins in their lives! But no, there was no repentance shown!

2. Woe! Woe!

The words of Jesus were reminiscent of the ancient prophets of Israel. Perhaps Jesus used this familiar approach to remind the people that He was like the prophets of old – only much greater. Let us look at some examples of how the prophets preached in days gone by.

“Woe to those who devise iniquity,
And work out evil on their beds!
At morning light they practise it,
Because it is in the power of their hand.”
Micah 2:1

“Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted,
To the oppressing city!
She has not obeyed His voice,
She has not received correction;
She has not trusted in the Lord.
She has not drawn near to her God.”
Zephaniah 3:1-2

3. Reference to Tyre and Sidon

Jesus’ reference to Tyre and Sidon is fascinating. What did He seek to communicate to the multitudes by making this reference to these two cities? There is great depth of meaning in this text.

a) Tyre and Sidon geographically

These two Gentile cities were located in Phoenicia. They were famous for their shipping trade.

b) Tyre (and Sidon) in traditional symbolism

This is the more important of the two references. A number of prophets preached against Tyre (Sidon is usually associated because of the close proximity between the two cities).

i) Isaiah preached against Tyre in his time (Cf. Isaiah 23:1-4)

ii) Ezekiel devoted a whole chapter against Tyre and Sidon (Ezekiel 28)

iii) Amos almost delivered a word of rebuke against Tyre (Amos 1:9-10)

4. The Sins of Tyre and Sidon

What were some of the sins of Tyre and Sidon that they received such severe rebukes from the prophets of God?

a) The Sin of Pride

Ezekiel preached a powerful message against Tyre because of the huge sin of pride the city had.

“Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre.
‘Thus says the Lord God:
“Because your heart is lifted up
And you say, ‘I am a god,
I sit in the seat of gods, in the
midst of the seas;’
Yet you are a man, and not a god,
Though you set your heart as the
heart of a god…” ‘ ”
Ezekiel 28:2

b) The Sin of Cruelty

Amos delivered a powerful rebuke against Tyre for its part against the nation of Edom.

“For three transgressions of Tyre,and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment,
Because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom,
And did not remember the covenant of brotherhood.”
Amos 1:9

Was Israel any better than these ancient Gentile cities? Jesus thought not!