Luke 10:13

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Woe {G3759} unto thee {G4671}, Chorazin {G5523}! woe {G3759} unto thee {G4671}, Bethsaida {G966}! for {G3754} if {G1487} the mighty works {G1411} had been done {G1096} in {G1722} Tyre {G5184} and {G2532} Sidon {G4605}, which {G3588} have been done {G1096} in {G1722} you {G5213}, they had {G3340} a great while ago {G3819} repented {G3340}, sitting {G2521} in {G302}{G1722} sackcloth {G4526} and {G2532} ashes {G4700}.

“Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Beit-Tzaidah! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tzor and Tzidon, they would long ago have put on sackcloth and ashes as evidence that they had changed their ways.

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.

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Commentary on Luke 10:13 (KJV)

Luke 10:13 records a powerful denunciation by Jesus against two Galilean cities, Chorazin and Bethsaida, for their unbelief despite witnessing His extraordinary miracles. This verse is part of a larger discourse where Jesus laments the spiritual blindness of those who reject His message and works.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' instructions to the seventy disciples whom He sent out to proclaim the Kingdom of God. He had just warned them that towns rejecting their message would face a harsher judgment than Sodom (Luke 10:10-12). Jesus then turns His attention to specific cities in Galilee where He had spent significant time and performed numerous mighty works (Greek: dynameis, meaning 'powers' or 'miracles'). Chorazin and Bethsaida were located near Capernaum, a central hub of Jesus' Galilean ministry. Despite being exposed to unparalleled divine revelation through Jesus' teaching and miraculous healings, these cities remained largely unrepentant. In stark contrast, Jesus mentions Tyre and Sidon, ancient Phoenician cities known for their historical wickedness and idolatry, suggesting that even they would have repented if given the same opportunities.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Accountability: Jesus pronounces "woe" (Greek: Ouai), a solemn expression of sorrow, lament, and impending judgment, against these cities. This highlights God's righteous judgment against those who reject His truth.
  • Unbelief and Unrepentance: Despite witnessing undeniable evidence of God's power and presence through Jesus' ministry, the inhabitants of Chorazin and Bethsaida refused to change their hearts and minds. Their lack of repentance was a profound failure to respond to divine grace.
  • Greater Responsibility with Greater Light: The comparison with Tyre and Sidon underscores the principle that greater spiritual privilege brings greater accountability. Those who have been exposed to more truth and divine activity are held to a higher standard than those who have not. This principle is echoed elsewhere in Scripture, emphasizing that to whom much is given, much will be required.
  • Missed Opportunity: These cities missed a unique opportunity to embrace the Messiah and participate in the Kingdom of God, leading to severe consequences.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Woe unto thee" (Greek: Ouai): This is a powerful exclamation, not merely a curse, but a lamentation or prophetic denunciation. It conveys deep sorrow over their spiritual condition and the inevitable judgment they face.
  • "Mighty works" (Greek: dynameis): This term refers to acts of power, miracles, and wonders performed by Jesus, demonstrating divine authority and confirming His claims.
  • "Repented" (Greek: metanoeo): Signifies a fundamental change of mind, a turning from sin to God, leading to a transformation of life. The imagery of "sitting in sackcloth and ashes" was a common ancient Near Eastern practice symbolizing deep mourning, humility, and genuine repentance.

Practical Application

Luke 10:13 serves as a sobering reminder for all generations. It challenges us to consider how we respond to the revelation of God's truth and power in our own lives. If we have been exposed to the Gospel, witnessed its transforming power, or experienced God's grace, we bear a greater responsibility to respond in faith and obedience. This verse calls us to:

  • Examine Our Hearts: Are we truly receptive to God's word and His work in the world, or do we become complacent or resistant?
  • Respond to Truth: The call to repentance is timeless. It is not just about feeling sorry for sin, but about a genuine change of direction and commitment to God.
  • Appreciate Spiritual Privilege: Recognize the immense privilege of knowing Christ and having access to His teachings. This privilege comes with the responsibility to live accordingly.

The fate of Chorazin and Bethsaida stands as a perpetual warning against spiritual indifference in the face of profound divine revelation.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 23:1

    ¶ The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.

  • Isaiah 23:18

    And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.

  • Ezekiel 26:1

    ¶ And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

  • Ezekiel 28:26

    And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD their God.

  • Joel 3:4

    Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly [and] speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head;

  • Joel 3:8

    And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken [it].

  • Matthew 11:20

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

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