Matthew 11:20
◄  Matthew 11:20  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Then Jesus began to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn't repented of their sins and turned to God.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Then He proceeded to denounce the towns where most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent:

International Standard Version (©2012)
Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had taken place, because they didn't repent.

NET Bible (©2006)
Then Jesus began to criticize openly the cities in which he had done many of his miracles, because they did not repent.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
Then Yeshua began to reproach those cities in which his many mighty works had occurred, and they did not repent.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Then Jesus denounced the cities where he had worked most of his miracles because they had not changed the way they thought and acted.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Then began he to upbraid the cities in which most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

American King James Version
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:

American Standard Version
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for that they had not done penance.

Darby Bible Translation
Then began he to reproach the cities in which most of his works of power had taken place, because they had not repented.

English Revised Version
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then he began to upbraid the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they repented not.

Weymouth New Testament
Then began He to upbraid the towns where most of His mighty works had been done--because they had not repented.

World English Bible
Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn't repent.

Young's Literal Translation
Then began he to reproach the cities in which were done most of his mighty works, because they did not reform.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:16-24 Christ reflects on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud conceit of themselves. He likens their behaviour to children's play, who being out of temper without reason, quarrel with all the attempts of their fellows to please them, or to get them to join in the plays for which they used to assemble. The cavils of worldly men are often very trifling and show great malice. Something they have to urge against every one, however excellent and holy. Christ, who was undefiled, and separate from sinners, is here represented as in league with them, and polluted by them. The most unspotted innocence will not always be a defence against reproach. Christ knew that the hearts of the Jews were more bitter and hardened against his miracles and doctrines, than those of Tyre and Sidon would have been; therefore their condemnation would be the greater. The Lord exercises his almighty power, yet he punishes none more than they deserve, and never withholds the knowledge of the truth from those who long after it.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 20-24. - Woe on those who reject him. The parallel passage, Luke 10:12-15, comes almost at the close of the commission to the seventy. It is represented in the commission reported by St. Matthew by Matthew 10:15 alone, which is almost verbally identical with ver. 24. It is possible that St. Matthew or the author of the source used by him did not care to interrupt the subject of ch. 10. by inserting more of these verses there, even though that place more nearly represented their original position. Observe that here they are connected with the rejection of John and of our Lord; in Luke, with the rejection of his disciples and of himself in them. Verse 20. - In Matthew only. It seems to be a kind of introduction, like ver. 7a, perhaps marking vers. 20-24 as a fresh section in the discourses. It serves more particularly as an explanation why our Lord especially mentioned these cities. Then began he to upbraid (Matthew 5:11, note; comp. also Mark 16:14) the cities wherein most of his mighty works (Matthew 7:22, note) were done, because they repented not. "Quilibet auditor Nov. Test. est nut multo beetler (ver. 11) ant multo miserior antiquis" (Bengel).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then began he to upbraid the cities,.... When he had sent forth his disciples to preach, and had been in these several cities hereafter mentioned himself, and had taught and preached in them, and confirmed his doctrine by many wonderful works; when he had observed how ill they had used both John and himself, representing the one as having a devil, and the other as a licentious person; when they could not be pleased with the ministry of the one, nor of the other, he very seasonably and righteously began to reproach them with their ungenerous treatment of him, their ingratitude to him, their unbelief in him, the hardness and impenitence of their hearts; which could not be moved to repent of their evil ways, and believe in him, and acknowledge him as the Messiah, by all the instructions he gave them, and miracles he wrought among them: for the cities he has a view to, were such,

wherein most of his mighty works were done; the most for number, and the greatest in their kind; as particularly at Capernaum; where he cured the centurion's servant, recovered Peter's wife's mother from a fever, healed the man sick of a palsy, raised Jairus's daughter from the dead, made whole the woman that had a bloody issue, opened the eyes of two blind men, and cast out a devil from a dumb man, possessed with one: all these, and more, he did in this one city, and therefore he might justly upbraid them,

because they repented not: not because they did not commend him, and speak well of his works, for he sought not his own glory, but their good: all he did was, in order to bring men to repentance of their sins, and faith in himself, that they might be saved.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Mt 11:20-30. Outburst of Feeling Suggested to the Mind of Jesus by the Result of His Labors in Galilee.

The connection of this with what goes before it and the similarity of its tone make it evident, we think, that it was delivered on the same occasion, and that it is but a new and more comprehensive series of reflections in the same strain.

20. Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not.

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Woe to the Unrepentant
20Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: 21Woe 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. 22But I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. …

Luke 10:13 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
2 Corinthians 12:21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.