15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Jesus began to reproach the towns. 

What’s going on here? Jesus is saying that several notoriously sinful cities will fare better on the day of judgment than his local neighbors! His words here seem pretty harsh. We may even cringe when we read them, especially if we tend to associate Jesus with mercy, not rebuke. So how should we understand this passage? Let’s take a deeper look into the context so that we can see what God might want to say to us.

First, remember that it was in these towns that Jesus had performed many “mighty deeds” (Matthew 11:20; see 8:1–9:34). The healings and miracles Jesus worked there were hard-and-fast evidence that he was the Messiah the people had been longing for. So you would expect that if he had shown himself to be the Christ, they would have taken his teachings seriously.

Second, Jesus actually lived in Capernaum and spent a good amount of time in the surrounding towns of Chorazin and Bethsaida (Matthew 4:13). So that means he was speaking to people who knew him well.

Third, the people of these towns had likely heard Jesus’ call to repentance more than once. His message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” was central to his teaching (Matthew 4:17). It was the main purpose behind all his preaching, teaching, and miracles. Still, this was precisely what the people had not done.

That’s why Jesus spoke so sternly. He loved them! He wanted them to come to repentance and escape the devastating consequences of their sin. He kept calling them to believe in him because he didn’t want them to miss out on the gift of salvation and eternal life.

There are plenty of other challenging passages like this one in the Scriptures. But when you encounter them, consider the context. Then try to see them through the lens of love. God loves you and will do anything to get your attention when you stray, even if it means a harsh rebuke. Yet as he welcomed the people who repented, he will do the same for you when you return to him.

“Jesus, help me open my heart to you as I read your word, even the parts that challenge me.”

Isaiah 7:1-9
Psalm 48:2-8
Matthew 11:20-24