Matthew 11:23

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. AND THOU, CAPERNAUM (see the note at ) WHICH ART EXALTED UNTO HEAVEN. Not even of Chorazin and Bethsaida is this said. For since at Capernaum Jesus had His stated abode during the whole period of His public life which He spent in Galilee, it was the most favoured spot upon earth, the most exalted in privilege. SHALT BE BROUGHT DOWN TO HELL: FOR IF THE MIGHTY WORKS, WHICH HAVE BEEN DONE IN THEE, HAD BEEN DONE IN SODOM - destroyed for its pollutions, IT WOULD HAVE REMAINED UNTIL THIS DAY - having done no such violence to conscience, and so incurred unspeakably less guilt....

23._And thou, Capernaum. _He expressly addresses the city of _Capernaum, _in which he had resided so constantly, that many supposed it to be his native place. It was indeed an inestimable honor, that the Son of God, when about to commence his reign and priesthood, had chosen _Capernaum _for the seat of his palace and sanctuary. And yet it was as deeply plunged in its filth, as if there had never been poured upon it a drop of Divine grace. On this account, Christ declares, that the punishment awaiting it will be the more dreadful, in proportion to the higher favors which it had received from God. It deserves our earnest attention in this passage, that the profanation of the gifts of God, as it involves sacrilege, will never pass unpunished; and that the more eminent any one is, he will be punished with the greater severity, if he shall basely pollute the gifts which God has bestowed upon...

16-24 Christ reflects on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud conceit of themselves. He likens their behaviour to children's play, who being out of temper without reason, quarrel with all the attempts of their fellows to please them, or to get them to join in the plays for which they used to assemble. The cavils of worldly men are often very trifling and show great malice. Something they have to urge against every one, however excellent and holy. Christ, who was undefiled, and separate from sinners, is here represented as in league with them, and polluted by them. The most unspotted innocence will not always be a defence against reproach. Christ knew that the hearts of the Jews were more bitter and hardened against his miracles and doctrines, than those of Tyre and Sidon would have been; therefore their condemnation would be the greater. The Lord exercises his almighty power, yet...

Verse Matthew 11:23. _THOU, CAPERNAUM - EXALTED UNTO HEAVEN_] A Hebrew metaphor, expressive of the utmost prosperity, and the enjoyment of the greatest privileges. This was properly spoken of this city, because that in it our Lord dwelt, and wrought many of his miraculous works. _SHALT BE BROUGHT DOWN TO HELL_] Perhaps not meaning, here, the place of torment, but rather a state of _desolation_. The original word is _Hades_, αδης, from α, _not_, and ιδειν, _to see_; the _invisible_ receptacle or mansion of the dead, answering to שאול _sheol_, in Hebrew; and implying often, 1st. the _grave_; 2dly. the state of _separate souls_, or _unseen_ world of spirits, whether of _torment_, Luke 16:23, or, in _general_,...

AND THOU, CAPERNAUM - See the notes at Matthew 4:13. WHICH ART EXALTED TO HEAVEN - This is an expression used to denote great privileges. He meant that they were especially favored with instruction. The city was prosperous. It was signally favored by its wealth. Most of all, it was signally favored by the presence, the preaching, and the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here he spent a large portion of his time in the early part of his ministry, and in Capernaum and its neighborhood he performed his chief miracles. SHALT BE BROUGHT DOWN TO HELL - This does not mean that all the people would go to hell, but that the city which had flourished so prosperously would lose its prosperity, and occupy the “lowest place” among cities. The word “hell” is used here, not to denote a pla

EXPOSITION MATTHEW 11:1 Matthew only. AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN JESUS HAD MADE AN END. The same formula recurs in Matthew 7:28; Matthew 13:53; Matthew 19:1; Matthew 26:1. In all five cases it marks the end of important speeches. (1) The sermon on the mount (Mt 5-7:27); (2) the charge to the disciples (Matthew 10:5); (3) the parables ...

AND THOU CAPERNAUM,.... This city is singled out from all the rest, and spoken to particularly, because of its peculiar advantages: WHICH ART EXALTED UNTO HEAVEN; which has respect to the very great privileges this place enjoyed, it being the city where Christ chose to dwell, and for a time fixed his abode in; where he first began to preach, and where such a train of miracles were done; a particular enumeration, of which has been before given: as also it may refer to the situation of the place, which was very high and lofty, so that it seemed to reach unto heaven; for the account that R. Benjamin Tudelensis n gives of it is, that "Capernaum, which is, by interpretation, "the village of comfort", at first sight looks to be מקום על כרמלי, "a place higher than Mount Carmel".'' And Nonnus on John 6:59 calls it, βαθυκρηπιδι χαφαρναουμ which the interpreter r

Matthew 11:1. _And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities._ Whatever he commanded, he himself did. He was always the example as well as the legislator of his people. How well it will be for us who are called upon to teach others, if we can teach them as much by what we do as by what we say! «When Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.» Matthew 11:2. _Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples. And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?_ Poor John! His spirit was brave enough amid the wilds when he was by the riversi

HELL (_ See Scofield) - (Luke 16:23). _...

MATTHEW 11:23 mh. e[wj ouvranou/ u`ywqh,sh| {B} Palaeographically it is easy to see how the reading preserved in the earliest witnesses, which represent all the pre-Byzantine types of text, was accidentally modified. After Kafarnaou,m the first letter of mh, was accidentally dropped, with the consequent alteration of the verb to either u`ywqei/sa or u`yw,qhj depending on whether y was taken as the article h` or the relative h[. The strong external attestation for the presence of mh, is supported also by intrinsic and transcriptional probability. The unexpected turn of expression, “And you, Caper...