Luke 10:15 — Community Reflections

LUKE 10:15 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.”

And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades — the rhetorical question to Capernaum — the city that was the ministry's home base, the city of the most miracles — communicates the depth of the coming judgment. Lifted to the heavens: the expectation that the city of miracles would receive special honor. No, you will go down to Hades: the expectation is precisely inverted — the privilege of the miracles makes the rejection more culpable.

Church Fathers on Luke 10:15

Our Lord warns us that they will meet with a heavier punishment who have refused to follow the Gospel than those who have chosen to break the law; saying, Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida!
Ambrose · 4th century

Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, Tiberias also which John mentions, are cities of Galilee situated on the shore of the lake of Gennesaret, which is called by the Evangelists the sea of Galilee or Tiberias. Our Lord thus mourns over these cities which after such great miracles and wonders repented not, and are worse than the Gentiles who break through the law of nature only, seeing that after despising the written law, they feared not to despise also the Son of God and His…
Bede · 8th century

Our Lord mourns over these cities for our example, because shedding tears and bitter lamentations over those who are insensible to grief, is no slight antidote, tending both to the correction of the insensible, and to the remedy and consolation of those who mourn over them. Again, He draws them over to what is good, not only by lamenting over them, but also by alarming them. Hence it follows, But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon, &c. This we ought also to listen…
Chrysostom · 4th century

Read all 9 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a reflection on this verse

No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!