SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:21
¡Ay de ti, Corazín! ¡Ay de ti, Betsaida! Porque si en Tiro y en Sidn fueran hechas las maravillas que han sido hechas en vosotras, en otro tiempo se hubieran arrepentido en cilicio y en ceniza.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 11:21
Verse 21. Wo unto thee, Chorazin-Bethsaida!] It would be better to translate the word ouai soi, alas for thee, than wo to thee. The former is an exclamation of pity; the latter a denunciation of wrath. It is evident that our Lord used it in the former sense. It is not known precisely where Chorazin was situated; but as Christ joins it in the same censure with Bethsaida, which was in Upper Galilee, beyond the sea, Mark vi. 45, it is likely that Chorazin was in the same quarter. Though the people in these cities were (generally) impenitent, yet there is little doubt that several received the word of life. Indeed, Bethsaida itself furnished not less than three of the twelve apostles, Philip, Andrew, and Peter. See John i. 44. Tyre and Sidon] Were two heathen cities, situated on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, into which it does not appear that Christ ever went, though he was often very nigh to them; see Matthew xv. 21.
They would have repented long ago] palai, formerly, seems here to refer to the time of Ezekiel, who denounced destruction against Tyre and Sidon, Ezekiel 26, 27, and 28. Our Lord, then, intimates that, if Ezekiel had done as many miracles in those cities as himself had in Chorazin and Bethsaida, the inhabitants would have repented in sackcloth and ashes, with the deepest and most genuine sorrow.
A Hindoo who renounces the secular life, and becomes a religious mendicant, often covers himself with a coarse cloth sprinkled over with ashes. This is the sackcloth and ashes which our Lord refers to; and this covering was the outward sign of deep repentance, and forsaking of sin.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 21. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! etc.] Though many of Christs mighty works were done in this place, yet mention is made of it no where else, but here; whether it was a single city, or a country, is not easy to determine: the word yrwj , Chorasin, signifying woody places, Dr. Lightfoot conjectures it might include Cana, in which Christ wrought his first miracle, and a small adjacent country, situated in a wood, and be so called from thence; and Origen reads it, cora zin , the region of Zin: woe unto thee, Bethsaida! This was the city of Andrew and Peter, see Gill John 1:44 ; so that as bad as it was, some persons were called out of it by the grace of God, and to the high office of apostleship; and which makes that grace in such the more distinguishing: 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 .
These words are to be understood in a popular sense, as Grotius observes, and express what was probable, according to an human judgment of things; and the meaning is, that if the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon had had the advantages of Christs ministry, and of seeing his miracles, as the inhabitants of Chorazin and Bethsaida had, it looks very likely, or one would be ready to conclude, especially from many coming out of these parts, to attend on Christs ministry, ( Mark 3:8) and from the conversion of some of them in after times, ( Acts 21:3,4) they would have repented of their sins; at least, in an external way, signified by sackcloth and ashes, which were outward signs of repentance; (see Isaiah 58:5 Jeremiah 6:26). And which, if it had been only performed in such a manner by the inhabitants of Chorazin and Bethsaida, would have saved them from temporal judgments, which their sins now called for. The words are an hyperbolical exaggeration of the wickedness of those cities, like to ( Ezekiel 3:5-7) showing, that they were worse than the Tyrians and Sidonians; an Heathenish and idolatrous people, who lived very profligate and dissolute lives, in all intemperance, luxury, and impiety; and therefore would be punished in a severer way: neither this passage, nor what follows, can be any proof of Gods giving sufficient grace to all men alike, which in some is effectual to conversion, and in others not, but of the contrary; since the men of Tyre and Sidon had not the same means, or the same grace, as the inhabitants of the other cities, if the mighty works done among them are to be called so; or that man has a power to repent of himself, in a spiritual and evangelical way; or that outward means, as doctrines and miracles, are sufficient to produce such a repentance, without efficacious and unfrustrable grace; since only an outward repentance is here supposed, such as that of Ahab, and of the Ninevites.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-24 - Christ reflects on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud concei 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 whic they used to assemble. The cavils of worldly men are often very trifling and show great malice. Something they have to urge agains every one, however excellent and holy. Christ, who was undefiled, an separate from sinners, is here represented as in league with them, an polluted by them. The most unspotted innocence will not always be defence against reproach. Christ knew that the hearts of the Jews wer more bitter and hardened against his miracles and doctrines, than thos of Tyre and Sidon would have been; therefore their condemnation woul be the greater. The Lord exercises his almighty power, yet he punishe none more than they deserve, and never withholds the knowledge of the truth from those who long after it.
Greek Textus Receptus
ουαι 3759 INJ σοι 4671 P-2DS χοραζιν 5523 N-PRI ουαι 3759 INJ σοι 4671 P-2DS {VAR1: βηθσαιδαν 966 N-PRI } {VAR2: βηθσαιδα 966 N-PRI } οτι 3754 CONJ ει 1487 COND εν 1722 PREP τυρω 5184 N-DSF και 2532 CONJ σιδωνι 4605 N-DSF εγενοντο 1096 5633 V-2ADI-3P αι 3588 T-NPF δυναμεις 1411 N-NPF αι 3588 T-NPF γενομεναι 1096 5637 V-2ADP-NPF εν 1722 PREP υμιν 5213 P-2DP παλαι 3819 ADV αν 302 PRT εν 1722 PREP σακκω 4526 N-DSM και 2532 CONJ σποδω 4700 N-DSM μετενοησαν 3340 5656 V-AAI-3P
Robertson's NT Word Studies
11:21 {Chorazin} (corazein). Mentioned only here and in #Lu 10:13. Proof of "the meagreness of our knowledge of Judaism in the time of Christ" (Plummer) and of the many things not told in our Gospels (#Joh 21:25). We know something of beqsaida and more about Capernaum as places of privilege. But (plen, however) neither of these cities repented, changed their conduct. Note condition of the second class, determined as unfulfilled in verses #21 and #23.
