But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.
All Commentaries on Matthew 11:24 Go To Matthew 11
Jerome
AD 420
His upbraiding of the towns of Coro aim, Bethsaida, and Capharnaum, is set forth in this chapter, because He therefore upbraided them, because after Hehad such mighty works and wonders in them they had not done penitence. Whence He adds, “Wo for thee, Coro aim! wo for thee, Bethsaida!”.
In this word, Wo, these towns of Galilee are mourned for by the Saviour, that after so many signs and mighty works, they had not done penitence.
And to these are preferred Tyre and Sidon, cities given up to idolatry andvices; “For if the mighty works which have been done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have long ago done penitence in sackcloth and ashes.”.
We ask where it is written that the Lord did wonders in Coro aim and Bethsaida? We read above, “And he went about the towns and villages, healing all sicknesses” among the rest, therefore, we may suppose that He wrought signs in Coro aim and Bethsaida.
This is because Tyre and Sidon had trodden under foot the law of nature only, but these towns after they had transgressed the natural and the written Law, also made light of those wonders which had been wrought among them.
In Capharnaum, which is interpreted ‘the most fair town,’ Jerusalem is condemned, to which it is said by Ezekiel, “Sodom is justified by thee.” .
The careful reader will hesitate here; If Tyre and Sidon could have done penitence at the preaching of the Saviour, and His miracles, they are not in fault that they believed not; the sin is his who would not preach to bring them to penitence. To this there is a ready answer, that we know not God's judgments, and are ignorant of the sacraments of His peculiar dispensations. It was determined by the Lord not to passthe borders of Judea, that He might not give the Pharisees and Priests a just occasion of persecuting Him, as also He gave commandment to the Apostles, “Gonot into the way of the Gentile.” Coro aim and Bethsaida are condemned because they would not believe, though Christ Himself was among them—Tyre and Sidon are justified, because they believed His Apostles. You should not enquire into times when you see the salvation of those that believe.
