Matthew 11:24 kjv
But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Matthew 11:24 nkjv
But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."
Matthew 11:24 niv
But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."
Matthew 11:24 esv
But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you."
Matthew 11:24 nlt
I tell you, even Sodom will be better off on judgment day than you."
Matthew 11 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mat 10:15 | "Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town." | Prophecy of greater judgment. |
| Mat 11:20-23 | Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done... | Direct context of Jesus' woes against cities. |
| Lk 10:12 | "I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town." | Parallel passage in Luke. |
| Lk 12:47-48 | "And that servant who knew his master's will... will receive a severe beating." | Judgment proportional to knowledge. |
| John 15:22 | "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin." | No excuse for rejecting the Light. |
| John 15:24 | "If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated..." | Rejection of works increases guilt. |
| Gen 19:24-28 | Then the Lᴏʀᴅ rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lᴏʀᴅ out of heaven. | Historical destruction of Sodom. |
| Isa 1:9-10 | If the Lᴏʀᴅ of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom... Hear the word of the Lᴏʀᴅ, you rulers of Sodom! | Judah compared to Sodom in wickedness. |
| Ezek 16:49-50 | "Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride... " | Sodom's specific sins enumerated. |
| Jude 1:7 | just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. | Sodom's punishment as an eternal example. |
| Heb 2:2-3 | For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable... how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? | Greater accountability for greater revelation. |
| Rom 2:5 | But because of your hard and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath... | Accumulation of wrath due to hardness. |
| 2 Pet 2:9 | then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment. | Divine justice holds unrighteous for judgment. |
| Acts 17:30-31 | The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent... He has fixed a day... | Command to repent and the Day of Judgment. |
| Ps 96:13 | he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness. | God as universal righteous judge. |
| Ecc 12:14 | For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. | God judges every deed. |
| Rev 20:11-13 | Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it... and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. | Description of the final judgment. |
| 1 John 4:17 | By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment... | Confidence for believers in judgment. |
| Mat 12:41-42 | The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it... | Unbelieving generation condemned by others. |
| Luke 11:31-32 | The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them... | Further examples of condemnation. |
Matthew 11 verses
Matthew 11 24 Meaning
Matthew 11:24 pronounces a severe warning of a disproportionate judgment against the cities that witnessed Jesus' mighty works but refused to repent, specifically Capernaum, in contrast to the famously wicked city of Sodom. Jesus declares that even Sodom, destroyed for its profound sin, will face a less severe condemnation on the Day of Judgment than these privileged Galilean cities because they rejected the manifest presence and power of God Himself. This verse highlights the principle that accountability and the severity of judgment are directly correlated with the revelation received.
Matthew 11 24 Context
Matthew 11:24 is part of Jesus' denunciation of the Galilean cities—Chorazin, Bethsaida, and especially Capernaum (vv. 20-23)—where He performed most of His mighty works (δυνάμεις, dynameis). Despite witnessing undeniable miracles and hearing the teachings of God incarnate, these cities largely failed to repent. Jesus directly compares their impenitence and the consequences with ancient, notorious cities. Verses 21-23 highlight that even pagan cities like Tyre and Sidon would have repented if they had seen what Capernaum saw, and Capernaum, exalted to heaven (metaphorically for privilege), would be brought down to Hades for its arrogance and rejection. This verse specifically caps the pronouncement on Capernaum by referencing Sodom, the epitome of divine judgment in the Old Testament due to its depravity. The immediate historical context is Jesus' public ministry and the prevailing unbelief in His home region.
Matthew 11 24 Word analysis
- But: Greek: δέ (de). Connects this severe declaration to the previous statements, often introducing a contrast or a stronger emphasis.
- I tell you: Greek: λέγω ὑμῖν (legō hymin). A phrase emphasizing Jesus' divine authority and the certainty of His pronouncement, not mere opinion but absolute truth. Found frequently on the lips of Jesus, highlighting His role as a prophetic figure and more than a prophet.
- it will be more bearable: Greek: ἀνεκτότερον ἔσται (anektoteron estai). "More bearable," "more tolerable." This is a comparative adjective, derived from anecho (to endure, put up with). It signifies different degrees of judgment. It does not imply that Sodom's judgment will be pleasant, but rather less intense than Capernaum's.
- for Sodom: Greek: Σοδόμοις (Sodómois). Refers to the infamous city destroyed by God for its extreme wickedness (Gen 19). It serves as a historical and biblical benchmark for sin and divine judgment, yet paradoxically, will face a lesser punishment due to less light received.
- on the day of judgment: Greek: ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως (en hēmerā kriseōs). This phrase refers to a specific eschatological event when all people will face divine accounting (Heb 9:27). It confirms belief in a future reckoning and establishes a scale of accountability.
- than for you: Greek: ἢ ὑμῖν (ē hymin). "You" refers specifically to Capernaum (implied from v. 23, where Jesus addresses Capernaum directly, “And you, Capernaum...”), and by extension, any who reject such overwhelming evidence. Their rejection is worse than Sodom's because they were privy to the ultimate revelation: Jesus Himself and His mighty works.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "But I tell you, it will be more bearable": Establishes Jesus' sovereign authority in declaring divine truth and judgment. The comparative phrase implies a gradation in the severity of future condemnation. This reveals God's justice is precise, measured not by a flat universal standard, but by one's knowledge and response to truth.
- "for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you": This startling contrast underscores the magnitude of Capernaum's guilt. Sodom, the proverbial city of sin and destruction, is portrayed as having a lesser culpability because they lacked the personal presence and miracles of the Messiah. "You" here emphasizes that rejecting the living manifestation of God's power and love is a greater offense than any known wickedness apart from that revelation. The focus is on the moral responsibility accompanying privileged spiritual access.
Matthew 11 24 Bonus section
The teaching of differing degrees of punishment based on rejected light resonates deeply with other biblical principles like "to whom much is given, much will be required" (Lk 12:48). It underscores the seriousness of neglecting "so great a salvation" (Heb 2:3). This principle validates God's character as a perfectly just judge, who judges "not as man sees" but with perfect equity, taking into account all factors, including revelation, intention, and opportunity. It also provides a stark reminder for all who claim spiritual enlightenment or privileged access to truth that their accountability is immense.
Matthew 11 24 Commentary
Matthew 11:24 functions as a climactic statement within Jesus' pronouncements of judgment against unrepentant cities. It teaches a fundamental principle of divine justice: the severity of condemnation is proportional to the measure of light and privilege received. The citizens of Capernaum witnessed the Incarnate God perform extraordinary miracles—healing the sick, casting out demons, raising the dead—and heard His perfect teaching. This was a revelation unparalleled in history. For them to remain impenitent was a greater affront to God than the wickedness of Sodom, which lived in a time of lesser revelation. Sodom’s judgment was swift and absolute in its time, yet their eternal condemnation, on the "Day of Judgment," will be comparatively lighter because they did not have the Messiah walk among them. This verse warns that privilege brings profound responsibility, and indifference or rejection in the face of truth carries a heavier weight in God's eyes than ignorance. For example, a person today who hears the Gospel clearly and consistently has a greater responsibility to repent than someone in a remote tribe who has never heard Jesus' name, and their judgment will reflect this disparity.