PODCAST: A Fickle, Finicky, and Foolish-Acting Generation, Part 11 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 960 since Jan. 20, 2017 / Day 1,254 since Jan. 1, 2016 with Daniel Whyte III)

Daniel Whyte III
Daniel Whyte III

TEXT: Matthew 11:20-24







Robert Jeffress said, “The love of God has no meaning whatsoever unless you understand the judgment of God that all of us deserve.”

Pioneers were making their way across one of the central states to a distant place that had been opened up for homesteading. They traveled in covered wagons, and progress was slow. One day they were horrified to see a long line of smoke in the west, and soon the dried grass was burning fiercely and coming toward them rapidly. They had crossed a river the day before but it would be impossible to go back to that before the flames would be upon them. Only one man only seemed to have understanding as to what could be done. He gave the command to set fire to the grass behind them. Then when a space was burned over, the whole company moved back upon it. As the flames roared on toward them from the west, a little girl cried out in terror, “Are you sure we shall not all be burned up?” The leader replied, “My child, the flames cannot reach us here, for we are standing where the fire has been!” What a picture of the believer, who is safe in Christ! The fires of God’s judgment burned themselves out on Him, and all who are in Christ are safe forever, for they are now standing where the fire has been.

In our last message we saw how Jesus denounces those who do not repent. Now we see how Jesus mourns for those who do not repent.

Jesus says in verse 21: “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida!”

Ray Fowler said: Chorazin and Bethsaida were two Galilean towns that were close to Capernaum, which is where Jesus set up his ministry headquarters. Bethsaida was the hometown of three of Jesus’ disciples: Peter, Andrew. and Philip. Jesus restored a blind man’s sight at a place just outside the ancient village of Bethsaida. The miraculous feeding of the five thousand also happened near Bethsaida.

Korazin is only mentioned in the Bible here and in the parallel passage in Luke, but it is also mentioned in the Talmud. Archaeologists have suggested two possible locations for this city, while theologian John Lightfoot has suggested that Chorazin was an area near Cana of Galilee.

The Bible does not mention Jesus visiting Chorazin anywhere else, but we are also told that this was one of the cities whereJesus performed most of his miracles. It only goes to show how much the gospels leave out of Jesus’ three-year ministry. As John says at the end of his gospel, “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)

So here are two of the towns where Jesus performed most of his miracles, and Jesus pronounces a “woe” upon both of them. The word is not only a verdict of doom, but it is also a cry of mourning. Jack Wellman said, “The word “woe” is often used to express grief, regret, misfortune or grievous distress stated from such a great affliction of some sort or being in such trouble that an escape out of it seems impossible. Sometimes, a woe is almost beyond description and words fail us so a “woe” may be the only thing we can say to express our feelings, very much like when we groan. The biblical definition is even more “woeful.” The word “woe” in the Greek is “ouai” and is more than just an expression of a feeling. Woe is a judgment as we read in the Book of Revelation. It means “alas” or almost like “oh no!” When the word woe is used, it is quite possibly signifying impending doom, condemnation and/or the wrath of God. Jesus used the word woe more than anyone else in the Bible.”

As one preacher put it, there is a wail in the woe. So not only does Jesus condemn and pronounce judgment upon those who do not repent, but he also mourns for them because of the judgment that is coming.














