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MATTHEW 11:20 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 11:19Matt 11:21
“Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:”
Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. The denunciation of the Galilean cities where Jesus had concentrated his ministry — Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum — is the logical consequence of the parable of the children: neither John nor Jesus moved the generation to repent, and the cities that witnessed the most miracles refused the most decisively. The concentration of miracles in these cities makes their rejection more culpable, not less. The chapter that began with John's question ends with Jesus' judgment on the unrepentant.

Church Fathers on Matthew 11:20

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 upbraid the cities in which most of hie mighty works were done, because they had not repented.'

Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · ap. Anselm

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 penitence. Whence He adds, 'Wo for thee, Corozaim! wo for thee, Bethsaida!'

Jerome · 4th century

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.

Chrysostom · 4th century
Read all 22 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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