Matthew 11:23 (WEB)

Passage

You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today.

Nearby Context

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

Matthew 11:22 But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.

Matthew 11:23 You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today.

Matthew 11:24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you.”

Matthew 11:25 At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "capernaum", "exalted", "heaven", "down", "hades", "mighty", "works", and "been". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "capernaum" and "exalted", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "But I tell you it will be..." into verse 24's "But I tell you that it will...", so "capernaum" and "exalted" 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 "capernaum" and "exalted" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.