Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

People's New Testament

11:21 Woe to thee, Chorazin! Chorazin has long been extinct, and its site is not certainly known. It is named only here and in Lu 10:13. Situated about two miles from the ruins of Tell-Hum, thought to be Capernaum, there are ruins now called Kerazeh, including a synagogue, columns and walls of buildings, supposed to mark the site of Chorazin.

Woe to thee, Bethsaida! The word means House of fish, and the name would imply that it was a fishing town, and it was the home of the fishermen, Peter, Andrew and Philip (Joh 1:44). Its locality is in dispute. It was probably situated on both sides of the Jordan, where it emptied into the Sea of Galilee. The ruins of a city lie there, mostly on the east side of the river.

For if the mighty works... had been done in Tyre and Sidon. These were rich Phoenician trading cities on the east shore of the Mediterranean. Tyre was long the chief commercial city of the world; it still exists as a wretched town.

In sackcloth and ashes. The symbols of mourning and repentance. See Jon 3:5 on the repentance of Nineveh. Sackcloth was a kind of coarse cloth, woven of camel's hair.

Wesley's Notes

11:21 Wo to thee, Chorazin - That is, miserable art thou. For these are not curses or imprecations, as has been commonly supposed; but a solemn, compassionate declaration of the misery they were bringing on themselves. Chorazin and Bethsaida were cities of Galilee, standing by the lake Gennesareth. Tyre and Sidon were cities of Phenicia, lying on the sea shore. The inhabitants of them were heathens. Luke 10:13.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

21. Woe unto thee, Chorazin!-not elsewhere mentioned, but it must have lain near Capernaum.

woe unto thee, Bethsaida-"fishing-house," a fishing station-on the western side of the Sea of Galilee, and to the north of Capernaum; the birthplace of three of the apostles-the brothers Andrew and Peter, and Philip. These two cities appear to be singled out to denote the whole region in which they lay-a region favored with the Redeemer's presence, teaching, and works above every other.

for if the mighty works-the miracles

which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon-ancient and celebrated commercial cities, on the northeastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, lying north of Palestine, and the latter the northernmost. As their wealth and prosperity engendered luxury and its concomitant evils-irreligion and moral degeneracy-their overthrow was repeatedly foretold in ancient prophecy, and once and again fulfilled by victorious enemies. Yet they were rebuilt, and at this time were in a flourishing condition.

they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes-remarkable language, showing that they had done less violence to conscience, and so, in God's sight, were less criminal than the region here spoken of.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:16-24 Christ reflects on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud conceit of themselves. He likens their behaviour to children's play, who being out of temper without reason, quarrel with all the attempts of their fellows to please them, or to get them to join in the plays for which they used to assemble. The cavils of worldly men are often very trifling and show great malice. Something they have to urge against every one, however excellent and holy. Christ, who was undefiled, and separate from sinners, is here represented as in league with them, and polluted by them. The most unspotted innocence will not always be a defence against reproach. Christ knew that the hearts of the Jews were more bitter and hardened against his miracles and doctrines, than those of Tyre and Sidon would have been; therefore their condemnation would be the greater. The Lord exercises his almighty power, yet he punishes none more than they deserve, and never withholds the knowledge of the truth from those who long after it.