Matthew 11:23, commentary and pictures

To be lifted up to heaven is to be lifted high in privilege by great light and advantage and sacred blessing, by having Jesus Himself present with His teaching and mighty works, and to be thrust down to hell is to be brought low under judgment and left in darkness as deep as the light rejected. Capernaum was His home through much of His public ministry and was honored with His perfect life and gracious words and works of pardon and healing, yet it did not repent or become morally changed but heard without doing what He taught. If those same mighty works had been done in Sodom it would have repented and remained to this day, so in the day of judgment it will be more bearable for Sodom than for Capernaum, whose guilt and punishment are greater for rejecting greater light. Guilt is measured by light received and refused rather than by open wickedness alone, so greater favor and opportunity and evidence bring greater responsibility, and neglected blessings increase condemnation. The same warning therefore rests on highly favored churches and people today who profess truth while living impenitent, and Christ urges them to humble themselves and confess and forsake sin and be wholly transformed, for those who refuse will lose the light they have and meet only shame when every case is reviewed before God.

Exalted and Brought Low

To be exalted unto heaven is to be exalted in point of privilege by receiving great light and seeing mighty works, by being honored with Christ's presence, His instruction and His mighty works, and by superior advantages, sacred blessings, opportunities, knowledge and grace. Capernaum was so exalted by the light and privileges Christ gave it, and the same principle holds for any person or community given great spiritual advantages, who are accountable for them and must undergo entire transformation of character and put away pride and self-confidence or fall away in trial and not enter heaven. Being exalted in point of privilege means having Jesus present and having the light of truth, and the same denunciation falls on those who receive great light and instruction yet do not live it, impart it to others, and help others to see and understand the truth.

To be brought down to hell is to be thrust down in judgment for not appreciating the light, not walking in it, and refusing to be benefited by it and repenting not. It means punishment in the day of judgment, when every case is brought up in review before God and punishment is measured by light rejected and given in accordance with sin, with sad surprises and a record filling with shame beyond recall and change. It is also to be brought low and left in darkness matching the greatness of the light received, with loss of the light now shining, because failure to improve privileges and resistance of light and truth despite abundant evidence brings that consequence.

Great privilege, exaltation, abundant blessings and mighty works do not protect a person, church or city from judgment when blessings are rejected and there is no faithful response and repentance. Though exalted, Capernaum would be brought low and humiliated, and its guilt was greater than Sodom's because Sodom would have remained if it had received the same works. Exaltation brings greater accountability, and those who receive clear light, knowledge and grace cannot expect judgment in their favor merely because they have been highly favored, nor does exaltation elevate moral value with God or guarantee safety while rejecting Christ's words.

The denunciation is a heaven-sent divine warning from the lips of Christ, sternly rebuking indifference and determination to continue in sin, and a heaven-sent reproof of indifference whose rejection excuses no one from heeding it. It is not merely a human rebuke that can be dismissed as only man speaking. The image of being exalted to heaven also applies to unworthy men who are praised and highly esteemed by finite people judging by outward appearance, whose praise and attention can contribute to their ruin.

Capernaum's Light and Rejection

Capernaum was Christ's home during the greater part of His public ministry, honored above other cities with His abiding presence, the constant example of His perfect life before the people, His gracious words and teachings, and many of His mighty works of pardon and healing. It received His blessings and messages of pardon and righteousness, with abundant evidence of His love, while angels communed with Him there and guarded Him from harm. Though thus exalted in privilege and light, it repented not, was not morally transformed, did not profit by His ministry, and did not heed His words, and therefore it shall be brought down to hell in deep humiliation. Its hearts were stirred and convicted, yet it would listen without carrying out what He taught, without working out the principles of righteousness, and without uniting with Him in the work.

Its refusal came from pride of disposition and defects of character, and from unwillingness to humble the heart to confess and forsake sins, as if such humiliation were beneath dignity and would give God the glory. The people clung to worldly plans and sinful practices instead of responding to light and the Holy Spirit, and many were persuaded but did not act on conviction. Even extraordinary evidence did not guarantee repentance, for witnesses of His miracles rejected them and attributed them to the devil rather than submitting to the truth. They rejected Him because they followed religious teachers who interpreted Scripture to fit their own opinions and traditions, while they relied on those teachers instead of searching Scripture for themselves. A combative, self-indulgent spirit completed the resistance that left privilege unimproved.

A spiritual creed joined to a selfish, carnal life is the same deception that rested upon Chorazin and Bethsaida, for which God has no use. The Lord is present with His people in all their assemblies and is acquainted with all their decisions and plans. Truth with its sanctifying power must be brought into body, soul, and spirit in all that is done, or privilege only increases guilt. Merely hearing, accepting, professing, or giving nominal assent to sacred truth does not save, for light does not save by being heard or accepted alone. It must be cherished rather than treated as common or dulled by frequent repetition, lived and used to change the life day by day, to become better, to do the Word, and to receive it with living faith. Those who know the truth but do not live by it face heavier condemnation, while neglect itself condemns and God-given opportunities and privileges condemn those who refuse to walk in the light.

Sodom and Coming Judgment

Had the mighty works done in Capernaum been done in Sodom, Sodom would have repented and would have remained until this day. The same light now shining on the highly privileged was not given to Sodom and Gomorrah nor to nations sitting in heathen darkness. Christ upbraided the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done because they repented not, declaring that exaltation to heaven by great light ends in being brought down to hell when there is no moral transformation. Great spiritual privilege therefore brings serious accountability, and rejecting abundant evidence brings judgment.

For this reason it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for Capernaum. Sodom's punishment will be lighter, while Capernaum's guilt is greater and its punishment more severe and less bearable for rejecting greater light and greater opportunity to receive divine truth. Privilege without repentance only increases guilt, for a spiritual creed joined to a selfish carnal life leaves the favored under condemnation.

Sodom and Gomorrah will condemn those who have the light of this enlightened age yet persist in wrongdoing. This generation is condemned by Sodom's example because it has received greater light and refused to repent. At the judgment the unrepentant will be confronted by people of Sodom, whose response to less light makes despisers of salvation more culpable, condemned in proportion to the light rejected. God, who destroyed the cities of the plain for their sin and iniquity, will surely punish those who see the Son of God, hear His teaching, and yet reject His offered mercy and salvation, a greater sin than that which brought destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah. He holds the destiny of people and nations in His hands, while the righteous in contrast will receive eternal life. In the judgment even Tyre and Sidon and wicked Sodom will stand better than those thus exalted in privilege who do not appreciate the light, walk in it, and help others to see it, for Tyre and Sidon would have repented if they had witnessed the same mighty works.

Light Measures Accountability

Guilt is measured by the light received and rejected, not by open wickedness alone, and judgment and punishment are given according to both the wickedness of the people and the light of truth they have had. Hearing great light brings responsibility to respond to it, for light does not save merely by being heard or accepted but must be used to change the life. Capernaum, though given great privilege and mighty works, will be brought low in judgment for rejecting light, while Sodom would have remained if it had seen such works and its judgment will be more tolerable than that of those who saw and refused. This woe falls on those who see evidences of truth yet refuse to walk in its light because obedience would cost opinions, business, or other temporal advantage, who set aside conviction, reject the plain Thus saith the Lord, turn from truth to fables, and misapply and misinterpret the Scriptures to make them appear to sustain error. Places where truth has been known for years face greater punishment, making it fearful to build up great institutions in such places, and receiving help from those who have rejected that truth does not remove the danger.

Greater opportunity to receive divine truth brings greater responsibility and accountability, and those favored with greater light, precious opportunities, wonderful privileges, and many evidences are punished in accordance with their sin when they do not respond. Spiritual growth and advancement must correspond to blessings of light and knowledge, and those whose growth does not keep pace with what God has given, who do not repent, value the light, appreciate evidences, or respond in obedience, will be brought down like Capernaum and face condemnation for rejecting the Holy Spirit's power. Unimproved blessings increase guilt with terrible penalty, and receiving or rejecting the message and the messenger God sends affects the eternal future. Every place given great light that fails in the witness to truth that unity and obedience should produce is accountable for its privilege.

Those who hear the gospel invitation calling sinners to repentance and do not heed it are more guilty before God than the dwellers in Sodom and Gomorrah. Still greater is the sin of those who profess to know God and to keep His commandments yet deny Christ in character and daily life. The fate of Sodom is therefore a solemn admonition not merely to those guilty of outbreaking sin but to all who trifle with Heaven-sent light and privileges. Guilt is also measured by the messenger God sends, so that the more earnest and faithful and praiseworthy the minister, the more blameworthy the people who do not heed the message he bears but go on in their own way.

Had the favored cities accepted the message, repented, and carried the truth to other cities, thousands would have been converted. Rejection of John's preparatory message likewise left people less ready to accept Jesus and led them further into rejection. By that course they lost the blessing and light they could have received at Pentecost, for greater light rejected brought greater loss.

Warning to Privileged Churches

The warning falls on Battle Creek, which was given great light, the clearest light, and abundant evidence of love through blessings, healing and messages of pardon, yet where moral transformation did not go on, the need of righteousness and justice was not realized, and wrong principles, injustice and wrong judgment were perpetuated and covered over until God was wearied. Great privileges and mighty works did not protect it from judgment but called for a higher course of action, for exaltation unto heaven by privilege and light ends in being brought down to hell without repentance, and clinging to worldly plans and sinful practices instead of responding to the Holy Spirit brings greater accountability. Warning after warning was given, yet many supposed they were safe in obtaining their education there, even after the blotting out of two large institutions established there, and there can be no sinless departure from the words of Christ. Judgment comes according to both the wickedness of the people and the light of truth they have had, so those who have had the truth are punished according to that light, and it is fearful to build up great institutions in Battle Creek or any place where the truth has been known for years.

The same warning applies to churches and people of the present day who claim to believe the truth while living in impenitence under great light, for Capernaum was Christ's home during the greater part of His public ministry, with the example of His perfect life constantly before them, His gracious words, many mighty works, and angels communing with Him and guarding Him, yet their hearts though stirred and convicted would not humble to confess and forsake sins as if beneath dignity, and they rendered no fruit. Greater opportunity to receive divine truth brings greater responsibility, so that if Sodom had witnessed the works done in Capernaum it would have repented and remained until this day, and its judgment will be more tolerable than that of the impenitent favored. It applies to the world in this day, greatly favored with great light yet coming short of responsibility, given up to temporal affairs as in Noah's day — eating, drinking, planting, building, marrying and giving in marriage, lawful in themselves but sinful when carried to excess — and with fearful force to the people of the last days, whose advantages are far greater than those of ancient peoples that have long been an astonishment and reproach, so that rejection of greater light brings greater condemnation. Receiving or rejecting the message and the messenger God sends decides the eternal future, and Sodom and Gomorrah will condemn those given greater light who persist in wrongdoing.

The warning applies to the United States, a nation greatly favored with refuge, Christian teaching and other blessings, whose guilt is measured by light and blessings received and rejected and rises with rejection, so that making void God's law would bring its iniquity to its full measure. It applies to cities and places where the truth has shone for years but has been slighted, where receiving help from those who have rejected that truth does not remove danger, and where the truth has been misrepresented by the character and spirit of professors, bringing wrath upon a city given great light but failing to appreciate it. Professors of religion who cruelly oppress others face punishment worse than that of heathen and papists, for privilege in witnessing mighty works brings responsibility, and one who receives much light and then becomes disloyal and denies Christ faces greater punishment. Those exalted with great light and mighty works who do not repent and obey, who have heard truth and have not kept it but continue harmful indulgence of appetite and spend God-given means on disgusting defiling gratification, waste money greatly needed to work the cities and highways and byways and stand in the same position and judgment as the unrepentant cities.

The rebuke to Capernaum applies to all so exalted with light who live in nominal Christianity, having truth shining in bright beams to the understanding and God working wondrously in their behalf, yet works not corresponding with faith, hardened and backslidden, with good outward homes but no Christ in them. Neglect of piety at home and of parental duty by good, sensible, God-fearing fathers and mothers is the principal underlying cause of declension and dissension, and such nominal Christianity is more to be feared and dreaded than any other evil. The woe falls on those who see evidences of truth yet refuse to walk in its light because obedience would cost opinions, business or other temporal advantage, who set aside conviction, reject the plain Thus saith the Lord, turn from truth to fables, and misapply and misinterpret Scripture to make it appear to sustain error, while relying on teachers who interpret Scripture to fit opinions and traditions instead of searching Scripture themselves. It falls also on those who live as though His coming were delayed and on false guides who reject warning, and on churches that know the truth and have had great labor bestowed yet are selfish, exacting and covetous, not prepared to be benefited by becoming doers of the Word, like church members faithless and dishonoring God who cling to habits, ideas and practices despite the Spirit's reproof and neglect privileges and opportunities.

Repentance and Faithful Response

The Saviour urges the erring to repent, and those who humble their hearts, fall broken, seek pardon, and confess past resistance straightforwardly with deep feeling will be pardoned and forgiven and will find joy and release. The one who refuses to confess for fear of showing weakness will find no pardon and will not see Christ as Redeemer, but will go on adding sin to sin with no answer in the day when the books are opened and each is judged by the things written in them. The pointed application to those exalted with great privilege and light strikes to the heart, exposing a wrong position and hardness that makes the work hard.

The highly favored must put away pride and self-confidence and undergo an entire transformation of character, being converted daily by God's power. They must fall upon the Rock and be broken, heed Christ's gracious invitation to come for rest, and wash their character robes from every stain in the blood of the Lamb, making present readiness their aim. Capernaum repented not despite being exalted by mighty works, and if those works had been done in Sodom it would have remained until this day, so its fate warns that clinging to hereditary and cultivated tendencies under Satan's intriguing ends in eternal loss. Unless the change is made, those holding truth even loosely with the tips of the fingers will fall away and become apostates in the approaching time of test and trial and will not enter heaven.

Spiritual growth and advancement must correspond to blessings of light, knowledge, opportunities and privileges, for those whose growth does not keep pace will be brought down like Capernaum. Those who receive great light but refuse to walk in it are under the same sentence as Chorazin and Bethsaida, since neglected opportunities themselves condemn, while those who walk in the light receive more light and go from light to greater light. All who have had precious light freely given, with mighty works and grace made manifest, must have works corresponding to that light, improve their opportunities, follow correct principles in dealing with brethren and with unbelievers, let truth guide the life, and spread heaven's light by flashing light on the pathways of others to lead them from darkness. Capernaum failed to value the privilege of having Jesus work among its people and to share that light, though Sodom would have remained had it seen such works, so its judgment will be more severe.

Continued resistance of light and truth and failure to improve privileges brings loss of the love of God and loss of present light so that greater light is not given. The guilty are left in complete darkness corresponding in greatness to the light received, not knowing at what they stumble, coming under another spirit's control amid prevailing apostasy and ruin. Those favored with great light and many opportunities who do not accept the light nor improve the opportunities will receive punishment in accordance with their sin.

They will meet sad surprises in the last great day when every case is brought up in review before God, and in their record they will see what fills them with shame, which cannot be changed and is beyond recall. The warning is not to follow the Jewish nation over the same path of blind resistance until the very end of probation, but calls for true and faithful watchmen who will not hold their peace but will cry day and night sounding the warnings God has given.