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 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. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. 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”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-four of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus declared, “it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment” where we read:
But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom
in the day of judgment, than for you.
The verse reads, “But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom ...” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, moreover and” “I say” or “Jesus utters, declares and proclaims”, “unto you” which means “to the multitudes”,“that it shall be more tolerable” which means “it will be more endurable” “for the land” or “for the arable land, country and territory” “of Sodom” which means “belonging to 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”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the multitudes it would be more “endurable” for the city of “Sodom” than for the people who rejected Him and dwell in the city of “Capernaum”.
The verse goes on to say, “... in the day of judgment, than for you.” Matthew added the words, “in the day” which means “in the last day of this present age which is the day Christ will return from heaven, raises the dead, holds the final judgment and perfects his kingdom” “of judgment” or “of trial, contest, subjection and opinion or decision given concerning anything”, “than for you” which means “compared to the people within “Capernaum” who have not received Jesus”. Matthew shared how Jesus told the people within the city of “Capernaum” that it would be more “endurable” “in the day of judgment” for the people of “Sodom” than for them.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we discover how important it is to receive Jesus Christ as “Savior and Lord”. Jesus used “Capernaum” as His home-base for ministry, and He did many miracles among the people there. However, many of them rejected Him, and they were the ones to whom He made this declaration. God loves people, and He wants them to be in a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus. Those who are wise will consider Jesus and be certain of their position with Him before the great day of “judgment” comes. Those who are unwise shall find themselves among those who have rejected God's only way of “salvation”, and “woe” be unto those who face Him in that “judgment day”.
Next time Matthew shares how Jesus declares, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
No comments:
Post a Comment