Matthew 11:20 (LSB)

Passage

Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.

Nearby Context

Matthew 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’

Matthew 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”

Matthew 11:20 Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.

Matthew 11:21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Matthew 11:22 Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "began", "denounce", "cities", "most", "miracles", "done", and "repent". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "began" and "denounce", 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 to you Chorazin Woe to you...", so "began" and "denounce" 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 "denounce" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.