Exalted Capernaum Brought Down to Hell - Matthew 11:23

Matthew the apostle shared how Jesus began, “to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto you, Chorazin! woe unto thee, 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. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-three of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus said, “Capernaum, which are exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell” where we read:

And you, Capernaum, which are exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

The verse reads, “And you, Capernaum, which are exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell:” Matthew began with the words, “and you” which means “the people of the city of”, “Capernaum” or “flourishing city of Galilee whose name means village of comfort and is situated on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee or Lake of Gennesaret near the place where the Jordan flows into the lake”, “which are exalted” which means “that is lifted upon high, raised to the very summit of opulence and prosperity, dignity, honor and happiness”“unto heaven” which means “toward the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”, “shall be brought down” or “will be caused to go and be thrust down” “to hell” which means “to the lower regions, the nether world, the realm of the dead and the grave”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the city of “Capernaum” though they were “flourishing” up to the “heavens”, they would be “thrust down” into the lower chamber of “hell”.

The verse continues, “for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.” Matthew added the word, “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “if the mighty works” or “whether the powerful and excellent miracles”, “would have been done” which means “would have happened, came to pass and appeared in history” “in you” or “within the city of Capernaum”, “had been done” which means “would have happened, came to pass and appeared in history” “in Sodom” which means “within the city of Sodom which means burning and was a place in Palestine and was destroyed by the Lord raining fire and brimstone on it” (See Genesis 13 and 19), “it would have remained” or “the city of Sodom would have continued to exist, abide and be kept” “until this day” which means “to the present day in which Jesus was speaking”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the crowd that if the “miracles” He performed in “Capernaum” would have done in the city of “Sodom”, the people there would have repented and the city would still exist to Jesus' present day.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how important it is to recognize that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Jesus' ministry home-base city of “Capernaum” did not receive He or John the Baptist as being from God, and their punishment was to be greater than the ancient city of “Sodom” which was destroyed by fire. God desires to have a loving relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and He sent Jesus into the world that they might know Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”. Those who receive Him shall be saved, but “woe” be to anyone who rejects Jesus as God's Messiah.

Next time Matthew shares how Jesus declared, “it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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