Matthew 11:24

KJV

But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

KJV (with Strong's)

But {G4133} I say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, That {G3754} it shall be {G2071} more tolerable {G414} for the land {G1093} of Sodom {G4670} in {G1722} the day {G2250} of judgment {G2920}, than {G2228} for thee {G4671}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But I tell you that on the Day of Judgment it will be more bearable for the land of S'dom than for you!"

Berean Standard Bible

But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”

American Standard Version

But I say unto you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jesus delivers a profound and sobering declaration to the unrepentant cities of Galilee, particularly Capernaum, asserting that their judgment on the final "day of judgment" will be more severe and less tolerable than that of the ancient city of Sodom. This stark comparison underscores the principle that greater exposure to divine truth and miraculous works brings a correspondingly greater accountability, making their rejection of the Messiah's message a sin of immense spiritual gravity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse concludes a series of "woes" Jesus pronounces upon the Galilean cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum (Matthew 11:20-24). These pronouncements immediately follow Jesus' commendation of John the Baptist (Matthew 11:7-19) and precede His gracious invitation to the weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28-30). The "woes" serve as a sharp contrast to the joyful message of the kingdom and highlight the severe consequences of rejecting the very Messiah who performed mighty works in their midst. The crescendo of judgment builds from Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 11:21-22) to Sodom (Matthew 11:23-24), culminating in the dire warning to Capernaum, Jesus' own adopted home, emphasizing the profound spiritual blindness of those who witnessed His glory firsthand yet remained unrepentant.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and especially Capernaum were central to Jesus' Galilean ministry. Capernaum served as His base of operations, where He performed numerous miracles, taught extensively, and called many of His disciples. These cities had unparalleled access to the Son of God, witnessing His healing power, hearing His authoritative teaching, and seeing the signs of the Kingdom of God manifest. Culturally, Sodom was a byword for extreme wickedness and catastrophic divine judgment, famously destroyed by fire and brimstone as recorded in [Genesis 19](/genesis/19 "Genesis 19 - The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah"). By invoking Sodom, Jesus tapped into a deeply ingrained cultural understanding of ultimate divine wrath. The concept of a "day of judgment" was also a well-established eschatological expectation within Judaism, signifying a future time of divine reckoning for all humanity.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several critical theological themes. Firstly, it highlights the principle of **greater accountability**, asserting that those who receive greater light and revelation from God are held to a higher standard of responsibility. The people of these Galilean cities, having witnessed the very Son of God and His miraculous works, bore a heavier burden of accountability than even the notoriously wicked Sodom, which did not have such direct divine revelation. This principle is famously echoed in [Luke 12:48](/luke/12-48 "Luke 12:48 - To Whom Much Is Given"). Secondly, the verse underscores the certainty and severity of **divine judgment**. Jesus, with unparalleled authority, speaks of a future "day of judgment" where God's justice will be meted out, demonstrating that rejection of His truth, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, incurs severe consequences. Lastly, it emphasizes the profound spiritual danger of **rejection of light**. The core issue for these cities was not merely sin, but their hardened hearts and refusal to believe and repent despite undeniable proof of Jesus' identity and mission, making their condemnation more grievous than those who sinned in ignorance.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **anektóteros (Greek, _anektóteros'_):** This word, translated "more tolerable," is a comparative adjective meaning "more endurable" or "more bearable." Its use here is crucial, indicating that there are degrees of punishment or differing levels of suffering in the day of judgment. It does not imply that Sodom's judgment was light or that its inhabitants will escape punishment, but rather that the judgment awaiting those who rejected Jesus' ministry in Capernaum and other cities would be even more intense and less bearable, precisely because of the immense spiritual light and privilege they had rejected.
* **gē (Greek, _gē'_):** Translated as "land," this term refers to the soil, a region, or the solid part of the earth. In this context, "the land of Sodom" signifies not just the people, but the entire region, emphasizing the totality and comprehensive nature of the judgment that fell upon it. By comparing the judgment of the Galilean cities to "the land of Sodom," Jesus highlights the complete and devastating nature of the impending judgment upon these unrepentant places.
* **hēméra (Greek, _hēméra'_):** Meaning "day," this word can refer literally to a 24-hour period or, figuratively, to a defined period or epoch. When combined with "judgment" (krísis), "the day of judgment" refers to a specific, eschatological period of divine reckoning. Jesus' use of this term affirms the future reality of a time when all will be held accountable before God, and He, as the Son of Man, will preside over this ultimate court.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But I say unto you":** This opening phrase asserts Jesus' divine authority. It is a common formula in His teaching (e.g., "But I say to you" in the Sermon on the Mount), signaling that He is not merely quoting tradition or human wisdom, but speaking with the direct authority of God Himself, declaring a truth that transcends human understanding and carries eternal weight.
* **"That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom":** This clause establishes the shocking comparison. Sodom, a city synonymous with ultimate wickedness and divine destruction, is presented as having a "more tolerable" fate in judgment. This is not to diminish Sodom's sin or its severe punishment, but to elevate the gravity of the sin of the Galilean cities. Their privilege of witnessing the Messiah directly made their rejection far more culpable.
* **"in the day of judgment, than for thee.":** This specifies the time of the comparison – the ultimate eschatological "day of judgment" – and the direct recipient of the woe: "thee" (singular, referring to Capernaum, representing the unrepentant cities collectively). It underscores that the judgment is not merely historical destruction but an eternal reckoning, and that the spiritual blindness of Capernaum in rejecting the Messiah was a greater offense than even the notorious sins of Sodom.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 11:24 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound message. **Juxtaposition** is central, creating a stark contrast between the ancient, notoriously wicked city of Sodom and the contemporary Galilean cities, particularly Capernaum, which had been blessed with the presence and miracles of Jesus. This contrast highlights the unexpected and severe nature of the coming judgment. The statement itself is a form of **hyperbole**, an intentional overstatement for emphasis. To suggest that the judgment for Sodom, a city utterly annihilated by divine fire, would be "more tolerable" than for Capernaum, is a dramatic exaggeration designed to shock the audience into recognizing the immense gravity of rejecting the Messiah. Furthermore, the passage functions as a **prophetic woe**, a common form of prophetic denunciation in the Old Testament (e.g., Isaiah 5, Habakkuk 2), where a pronouncement of judgment is delivered against those who have sinned. Finally, there is a layer of **irony** present: the cities that received the greatest blessing—the direct ministry of God incarnate—will face the harshest judgment, precisely because they squandered that unparalleled privilege.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates the principle of proportionate judgment, a cornerstone of biblical theology. God's justice is not arbitrary but is meted out according to the light and truth one has received. The greater the revelation, the greater the accountability. The unrepentant cities of Galilee, having witnessed the very Son of God perform miracles and teach with divine authority, were held to a higher standard than Sodom, which lacked such direct divine encounter. This truth serves as a sobering reminder that spiritual privilege is not merely a blessing but also a weighty responsibility. It underscores the immense seriousness of rejecting Christ and His message, for such rejection, in the face of undeniable evidence, constitutes a sin of unparalleled magnitude, incurring a judgment more severe than even the most notorious historical examples of divine wrath.

* [Luke 12:48](/luke/12-48 "Luke 12:48 - To Whom Much Is Given")
* [Hebrews 10:26-29](/hebrews/10-26-29 "Hebrews 10:26-29 - Consequences of Willful Sin After Receiving Truth")
* [Romans 2:1-5](/romans/2-1-5 "Romans 2:1-5 - God's Righteous Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 11:24 stands as a timeless and urgent warning, calling every generation to a serious examination of their response to divine truth. It compels us to consider the "light" we have received in our own lives—whether through the preached Word, the witness of creation, the testimony of the Holy Spirit, or the transformative power of the Gospel. For those living in societies where the Gospel has been widely proclaimed, or for individuals who have had direct encounters with Christian truth, this verse carries particular weight. It challenges us to move beyond mere intellectual assent or casual indifference to a place of genuine faith and repentance. We are reminded that spiritual apathy, especially in the face of compelling evidence of God's truth and grace, is not benign but carries eternal consequences. This verse should stir within us a holy fear of God's righteous judgment and a renewed urgency to respond wholeheartedly to the call of Christ, embracing His salvation and living in obedience to His commands.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "light" or truth have I been exposed to in my life that might increase my accountability before God?**
* **How am I actively responding to the Gospel message and the person of Jesus Christ in my daily thoughts, words, and actions?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be hardening my heart or neglecting to apply the spiritual truths I have learned, similar to the unrepentant cities Jesus denounced?**

### FAQ
**What does "more tolerable" mean in the context of judgment?**

Answer: The phrase "more tolerable" (Greek: _anektóteros_) does not suggest that Sodom's judgment was mild or that its inhabitants will escape punishment. Instead, it indicates a comparative degree of severity in judgment. It means that while Sodom's destruction was utterly catastrophic and its judgment severe, the judgment awaiting the unrepentant Galilean cities (like Capernaum) would be even *less* bearable or *more* intense. This is because the Galilean cities had been given a far greater privilege—the direct presence and ministry of Jesus Christ, the Son of God—and yet they rejected Him. Their sin was therefore considered more egregious, leading to a correspondingly harsher divine reckoning on the "day of judgment."

**Why was Sodom used as the comparison for these Galilean cities?**

Answer: Sodom was a notorious biblical example of extreme wickedness and swift, devastating divine judgment, as recorded in [Genesis 19](/genesis/19 "Genesis 19 - The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah"). It served as a universal byword in Jewish tradition for ultimate depravity and God's righteous wrath. By comparing the fate of the unrepentant Galilean cities to Sodom, Jesus emphasized the extraordinary gravity of their sin. He was essentially saying, "Even Sodom, the epitome of evil and divine punishment, will face a less severe judgment than you, because you have rejected the very Messiah who performed mighty works in your midst!" This comparison highlights the principle that greater spiritual light and opportunity bring greater accountability, making the rejection of Christ a sin of unparalleled magnitude.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 11:24 finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the very person and mission of Jesus. He is the ultimate "light" that came into the world, and His presence brought both the greatest revelation of God's truth and the greatest opportunity for salvation. The judgment pronounced upon Capernaum and other cities is severe precisely because they rejected the very one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). Jesus, as the Son, is the one to whom the Father has committed all judgment ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Has Committed All Judgment to the Son")), and His coming into the world is itself the basis for judgment: that light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead ([John 3:19](/john/3-19 "John 3:19 - The Light Has Come Into the World")). While He warns of the dire consequences of rejecting Him, He simultaneously offers the only escape from that judgment—His atoning sacrifice on the cross and the gift of eternal life through faith in His name. Thus, this verse, while a stark warning, ultimately points to Christ as both the righteous Judge before whom all must stand ([2 Corinthians 5:10](/2_corinthians/5-10 "2 Corinthians 5:10 - The Judgment Seat of Christ")) and the merciful Savior who offers grace and forgiveness to all who repent and believe, providing a path to escape the very judgment He warns against.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 10:15

Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Matthew 11:22

But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.

Lamentations 4:6

For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.

Mark 6:11

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

Luke 10:12

But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.