Matthew 11:20 (DRB)

Passage

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for that they had not done penance.

Nearby Context

Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking; and they say: He hath a devil.

Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say: Behold a man that is a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom is justified by her children.

Matthew 11:20 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for that they had not done penance.

Matthew 11:21 Woe thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida: for if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in you, they had long ago done penance in sackcloth and ashes.

Matthew 11:22 But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "began", "upbraid", "cities", "wherein", "done", "most", and "miracles". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "began" and "upbraid", 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 came eating and..." into verse 21's "Woe thee Corozain woe to thee Bethsaida...", so "began" and "upbraid" 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 "upbraid" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.