Matthew 11:20 (DBY)

Passage

Then began he to reproach the cities in which most of his works of power had taken place, because they had not repented.

Nearby Context

Matthew 11:18 For John has come neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon.

Matthew 11:19 The Son of man has come eating and drinking, and they say, Behold, a man [that is] eating and wine-drinking, a friend of tax-gatherers, and of sinners: and wisdom has been justified by her children.

Matthew 11:20 Then began he to reproach the cities in which most of his works of power had taken place, because they had not repented.

Matthew 11:21 Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee Bethsaida! for if the works of power which have taken place in you, had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they had long ago repented in sackcloth and ashes.

Matthew 11:22 But I say to you, that it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in judgment-day than for you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "began", "reproach", "cities", "most", "works", "power", "taken", and "place". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "began" and "reproach", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "The Son of man has come eating..." into verse 21's "Woe to thee Chorazin woe to thee...", so "began" and "reproach" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "began" and "reproach" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.