But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
Christ sent the seventy two by two to proclaim that the kingdom of God had come near, carrying gospel light to every place as harvest workers in a world-wide field. To reject their message is to reject Christ and the Father who sent Him, and such a city will face a judgment more severe than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. The punishment is greater because judgment is measured by light and privilege, so those who refuse plain truth, conviction, and opportunity to be converted are held gravely accountable. It will be more tolerable for Sodom than for those who now enjoy great light yet remain earthly-minded, neglect repentance, dishonor Christ by unconsecrated lives, and refuse to purify their souls by obeying the truth. That warning gives weight to the work of His messengers, calling them to labor with heart and strength among unbelievers, to work wisely in the great centers, and to discern where to spend their time and strength.
Mission Setting and Warning
The saying belongs to the sending of the seventy to proclaim that the kingdom of God has come near. Their mission was not confined to the Jews, for the world was their field and gospel light was to go to all people. They were sent into fields already white for harvest, and that same harvest work was taken up at Pentecost when three thousand souls were added. It shows the original plan for gospel work, in which Christ sent the seventy out two by two just as He had sent the first disciples and the twelve. They received the same first directions given to the twelve, so that no one man begins and carries a work forward entirely by himself but each carries his part as far as he can while another workman is sent to do another essential part, with different gifts cooperating together for the conversion of souls.
On the day of judgment the penalty for a city that rejects the disciples' gospel message will be more severe than the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. Such rejection is a serious offense and cannot be done with impunity. A city that rejects God's messengers after the kingdom has been proclaimed to it will face a harsher judgment than Sodom because it has rejected greater light. To reject their message is to reject the light God has given, to reject Christ and the Father who sent Him. Those who disregard God's warnings are left accountable for doing so.
Judgment According to Light
A city that turns away the plain message sent from heaven that God's kingdom has come near will meet a judgment heavier than that of Sodom. Such refusal brings grave accountability for rejecting truth, resisting conviction, refusing conversion, and failing to use the privileges and opportunities Christ gives. To reject the mercy and gospel message God sends and to mistreat its messengers is a grievous offense against Christ who sends them. The warning is solemn reproof, not resentment or wounded dignity, for greater light and opportunity bring greater responsibility. Judgment is measured by the blessings and truth offered, so a city that refuses a greater opportunity to receive the truth is more accountable. The Galilean towns that witnessed Jesus' ministry were for that reason especially accountable for rejecting him.
It will be more tolerable for Sodom than for those who reject greater light, because Sodom and Gomorrah perished in their sins without the light of truth now freely given, while people now enjoy superior advantages. Judgment is given according to the light and privileges of the time lived in, so being exalted in privilege as Capernaum was does not secure a favorable judgment. What decides the judgment is what use is made of God's blessings, whether people walk in the light and work in keeping with the holy character of the truth they profess. In the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those in these days who have the privileges and great light of truth now shining yet neglect to follow the light, fail to give their hearts fully to God, and are not moved to repentance. The greater sin is to have that light and refuse thorough repentance and reject the most solemn message of mercy, even while seeing Jesus bowed as with mortal agony in the wilderness of temptation because of the sins of the world and fasting nearly six weeks to overcome appetite, vanity, display, and worldly honor on behalf of men, yet turning from the plain pattern left to copy and refusing to imitate His example of overcoming through conflict and self-denial and always doing good to others because it is unpleasant to endure reproach, derision, and shame for His sake.
Judgment will be more severe than Sodom's for people who have received God's mercies and warnings but neglected them. Those who claim Christ's name while dishonoring Him through unconsecrated lives face greater accountability and fearful retribution. The punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah is light in comparison with that of people who know the truth and receive great light and precious opportunities yet remain earthly-minded and corrupt in thought and practice. They cherish corrupt thoughts and practices and refuse to purify their souls by obeying the truth.
Call to Earnest Labor
The verse points to a serious work lying before God's people that demands heart and mind and soul and strength in His service. That labor is not to be confined to believers, but is to become acquainted with unbelievers and place truth before those who are living up to all the light they have. It embraces reaching precious souls in cities such as Melbourne, loving those for whom God gave His only begotten Son. It uses the open door that Christ's death to redeem human beings from sin provides, in order to bring others into fellowship with the saints.
The instructions given when Jesus sent forth His disciples direct work in the great centers now. Strong men are to be appointed, with many young men and women associated with them to labor in a humble manner. Such sent work was necessary in Jesus' time and is even more necessary now. It requires great ingenuity in presenting the words of eternal life so that souls are reached and converted. It requires the workers themselves to be thoroughly converted, so that they present the Word of truth in a spirit of tenderness that will win hearts.
The warning that a city rejecting the gospel message brought by Christ's messengers faces a judgment more severe than Sodom's gives weight to the messengers' work. That solemn outcome calls for discernment about where they should spend their time and strength. The gravity of rejection thus measures the earnestness with which the sending is to be fulfilled.
Christ sent the seventy two by two to proclaim that the kingdom of God had come near, carrying gospel light to every place as harvest workers in a world-wide field. To reject their message is to reject Christ and the Father who sent Him, and such a city will face a judgment more severe than that of Sodom and Gomorrah. The punishment is greater because judgment is measured by light and privilege, so those who refuse plain truth, conviction, and opportunity to be converted are held gravely accountable. It will be more tolerable for Sodom than for those who now enjoy great light yet remain earthly-minded, neglect repentance, dishonor Christ by unconsecrated lives, and refuse to purify their souls by obeying the truth. That warning gives weight to the work of His messengers, calling them to labor with heart and strength among unbelievers, to work wisely in the great centers, and to discern where to spend their time and strength.
Mission Setting and Warning
The saying belongs to the sending of the seventy to proclaim that the kingdom of God has come near. Their mission was not confined to the Jews, for the world was their field and gospel light was to go to all people. They were sent into fields already white for harvest, and that same harvest work was taken up at Pentecost when three thousand souls were added. It shows the original plan for gospel work, in which Christ sent the seventy out two by two just as He had sent the first disciples and the twelve. They received the same first directions given to the twelve, so that no one man begins and carries a work forward entirely by himself but each carries his part as far as he can while another workman is sent to do another essential part, with different gifts cooperating together for the conversion of souls.
On the day of judgment the penalty for a city that rejects the disciples' gospel message will be more severe than the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. Such rejection is a serious offense and cannot be done with impunity. A city that rejects God's messengers after the kingdom has been proclaimed to it will face a harsher judgment than Sodom because it has rejected greater light. To reject their message is to reject the light God has given, to reject Christ and the Father who sent Him. Those who disregard God's warnings are left accountable for doing so.
Judgment According to Light
A city that turns away the plain message sent from heaven that God's kingdom has come near will meet a judgment heavier than that of Sodom. Such refusal brings grave accountability for rejecting truth, resisting conviction, refusing conversion, and failing to use the privileges and opportunities Christ gives. To reject the mercy and gospel message God sends and to mistreat its messengers is a grievous offense against Christ who sends them. The warning is solemn reproof, not resentment or wounded dignity, for greater light and opportunity bring greater responsibility. Judgment is measured by the blessings and truth offered, so a city that refuses a greater opportunity to receive the truth is more accountable. The Galilean towns that witnessed Jesus' ministry were for that reason especially accountable for rejecting him.
It will be more tolerable for Sodom than for those who reject greater light, because Sodom and Gomorrah perished in their sins without the light of truth now freely given, while people now enjoy superior advantages. Judgment is given according to the light and privileges of the time lived in, so being exalted in privilege as Capernaum was does not secure a favorable judgment. What decides the judgment is what use is made of God's blessings, whether people walk in the light and work in keeping with the holy character of the truth they profess. In the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for those in these days who have the privileges and great light of truth now shining yet neglect to follow the light, fail to give their hearts fully to God, and are not moved to repentance. The greater sin is to have that light and refuse thorough repentance and reject the most solemn message of mercy, even while seeing Jesus bowed as with mortal agony in the wilderness of temptation because of the sins of the world and fasting nearly six weeks to overcome appetite, vanity, display, and worldly honor on behalf of men, yet turning from the plain pattern left to copy and refusing to imitate His example of overcoming through conflict and self-denial and always doing good to others because it is unpleasant to endure reproach, derision, and shame for His sake.
Judgment will be more severe than Sodom's for people who have received God's mercies and warnings but neglected them. Those who claim Christ's name while dishonoring Him through unconsecrated lives face greater accountability and fearful retribution. The punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah is light in comparison with that of people who know the truth and receive great light and precious opportunities yet remain earthly-minded and corrupt in thought and practice. They cherish corrupt thoughts and practices and refuse to purify their souls by obeying the truth.
Call to Earnest Labor
The verse points to a serious work lying before God's people that demands heart and mind and soul and strength in His service. That labor is not to be confined to believers, but is to become acquainted with unbelievers and place truth before those who are living up to all the light they have. It embraces reaching precious souls in cities such as Melbourne, loving those for whom God gave His only begotten Son. It uses the open door that Christ's death to redeem human beings from sin provides, in order to bring others into fellowship with the saints.
The instructions given when Jesus sent forth His disciples direct work in the great centers now. Strong men are to be appointed, with many young men and women associated with them to labor in a humble manner. Such sent work was necessary in Jesus' time and is even more necessary now. It requires great ingenuity in presenting the words of eternal life so that souls are reached and converted. It requires the workers themselves to be thoroughly converted, so that they present the Word of truth in a spirit of tenderness that will win hearts.
The warning that a city rejecting the gospel message brought by Christ's messengers faces a judgment more severe than Sodom's gives weight to the messengers' work. That solemn outcome calls for discernment about where they should spend their time and strength. The gravity of rejection thus measures the earnestness with which the sending is to be fulfilled.