Matthew 11:23 (WEB)
You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today.
Catechism · 1
“Then will the culpable unbelief that counted the offer of God's grace as nothing be condemned.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 11:20-24; 12:41-42.
Fathers and councils · 32
Irenaeus of Lyons
“Verily I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 23, 24.
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Augustine of Hippo
“Now what He seems to wish for against His enemies, is not the wish of malevolence, but the declaration of their punishment; as in the Gospel, with the cities, in which though He had performed miracles, yet they had not believed on Him, He doth not wish in any evil will what He saith, but predicteth…” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 20–24.
Read the whole comment“Thereafter Matthew goes on as follows: “Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not;” and so on, down to where we read, “It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom at the day of judgment, than for you.”” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 20–24.
Read the whole comment“…to that apostolic one, where it is said, “Bless; and curse not;” while it is both written of the Lord, that He cursed the cities which received not His word; and the above-mentioned apostle thus spoke respecting a certain man, “The Lord will reward him according to his works.”” — editor's note: Matt xi. 20–24 and Luke x. 13–15.
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John Chrysostom
“Now, to show that there He received no honor, hear Him say, “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell.” ( Matt. xi. 23.)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 22–24. [The Greek here agrees with the received text. In verse 23 the R.V. follows a different and better established reading.—R.]
Read the whole comment“Fifthly, by His upbraiding them that had not believed, and by His alarming and threatening them greatly.” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 20–24.
Read the whole comment““For He did not many mighty works there,”it is said, but in Capernaum He did miracles: wherefore He said also, “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, shalt be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.”” — editor's note: Matt. xi. 23.
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Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
“(Mat.” — the author cites it
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Tertullian
“Sodom also, and Gomorrah, would have escaped if they had fasted.” — editor's note: See Ezek. xvi. 49; Matt. xi. 23, 24; Luke x. 12–14.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Thus far He had brought His accusation against the Jews in common; now against certain towns by name, in which He had specially preached, and yet they would not be converted; whence it is said, “Then began he to…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
His upbraiding of the towns of Corozaim, Bethsaida, and Capharnaum, is set forth in this chapter, because He therefore upbraided them, because after He had such mighty works and wonders in them they had not done…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
That you should not say that they were by nature evil, He names Bethsaida, a town from which the Apostles had come; namely, Philip, and two pair of the chief of the Apostles, Peter and Andrew, James and John.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
In this word, Wo, these towns of Galilee are mourned for by the Saviour, that after so many signs and mighty works, they had not done penitence.
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Corozaim, which is interpreted ‘my mystery,’ and Bethsaida, ‘the house of fruits,’ or, ‘the house of hunters,’ are towns of Galilee situated on the shore of the sea of Galilee. The Lord herefore mourns for towns…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
And to these are preferred Tyre and Sidon, cities given up to idolatry and vices; “For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have long ago done penitence in…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Matthew
In “sackcloth” is the roughness which denotes the pricking of the conscience for sin, “ashes” denote the dust of the dead; and both are wont to be employed in penitence, that the pricking of the sackcloth may remind…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
Tyre and Sidon are cities of Phoenicia. Tyre is interpreted ‘narrowness,’ and Sidon ‘hunting,” and denote the Gentiles whom the Devil as a hunter drives into the straits of sin; but Jesus the Saviour sets them free…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
We ask where it is written that the Lord did wonders in Corozaim and Bethsaida? We read above, “And he went about the towns and villages, healing all sicknesses, &c.” [9:35] among the rest, therefore, we may suppose…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
It is not then true that His Gospel was not preached in those times and places, in which He foreknew that all would be such, as were many in His actual presence, who would not even believe on Him when He raised men…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
This is because Tyre and Sidon had trodden under foot the law of nature only, but these towns after they had transgressed the natural and the written Law, also made light of those wonders which had been wrought among…
Read the whole comment - Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
We at this day see the words of the Saviour fulfilled; Corozaim and Bethsaida would not believe when the Lord came to them in person; but Tyre and Sidon have afterwards believed on the preaching of the Apostles.
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
Capharnaum was the metropolis of Galilee, and a noted town of that province, and therefore the Lord mentions it particularly, saying, “And thou, Capharnaum, shalt thou indeed be exalted to heaven? Thou shalt go down…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
In other copies we find, “And thou, Capharnaum, that art exalted to heaven, shalt be brought down to hell;” and it may be understood in two different ways. Either, thou shalt go down to hell because thou hast proudly…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
And they have made the sins not of Sodom only and Gomorrah, but of Tyre and Sidon light in comparison, and therefore it follows, “For if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom, it would…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
This makes the accusation heavier, for it is a proof of extreme wickedness, that they are worse, not only than any then living, but than the wickedest of all past time.
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
In Capharnaum, which is interpreted ‘the most fair town,’ Jerusalem is condemned, to which it is said by Ezekiel, “Sodom is justified by thee.” [Ezek 16:52]
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord, who knows all things, here uses a word expressing uncertainty — “perhaps,” to shew that freedom of choice is left to men. “But I say unto you, it shall be easier for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
The careful reader will hesitate here; If Tyre and Sidon could have done penitence at the preaching of the Saviour, and His miracles, they are not in fault that they believed not; the sin is his who would not preach…
Read the whole comment - Remigius of AuxerreCatena Aurea on Matthew
We may also answer in another way. There were many in Corozaim and Bethsaida who would believe, and many in Tyre and Sidon who would not believe, and therefore were not worthy of the Gospel. The Lord therefore…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
A certain Catholic disputant of some note expounded this place of the Gospel in the following way; That the Lord foreknew that they of Tyre and Simon would fall from the faith after they had believed the miracles…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
Luke also gives this as spoken in continuation of some other of the Lord’s discourses; from which it appears that he has rather followed the actual order of events; Matthew to have followed his recollection. Or the…
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Cross-references · 8
Parallel passages
Matthew 11:23 and Luke 10:13 share the same wording (14 words).
Cited together with
Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels II.33.
Cited together in Harmony of the Gospels II.33.
Cited together in John Chrysostom on John 4:43–45 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in John Chrysostom on John 4:43–45 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in John Chrysostom on John 4:43–45 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 11:20–24 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Jerome on Matthew 11:20–24 (7) (Catena Aurea).