Luke 10:13
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Luke 10:13
Woe is pronounced upon Chorazin and Bethsaida for their hardened response to Jesus’ mighty works. The cities had seen miracles surpassing many elsewhere, and yet they did not repent. In contrast, Tyre and Sidon, ancient pagan cities known for their puedo—though by comparison in judgment will have less strict judgment, depending on Luke’s audience. The critique is not merely about rejection but about misdirected privilege: those who receive revelation have a higher expectation. The chapter balances mercy with warning, showing that divine hospitality is not blind; it depends on response. The rhetorical “woe” echoes prophetic scrolls from Israel’s tradition (e.g., Isaiah) and signals cosmic disorder when God’s deeds are met with disbelief.
This verse underlines the responsibility that comes with proximity to grace. It emphasizes that miracles demand a corresponding response—repentance, faith, and transformed living. Theologically, it also helps define the ethics of Christian witness: signs are not ends in themselves but invitations into repentance and new life. The contrast with Tyre and Sidon foreshadows Gentile inclusion and judgment paradigms that occur throughout Luke’s Gospel.
In today’s church culture, the warning translates into accountability for Christians who experience God’s power—worship without transformation is incomplete. Practical takeaway: when you encounter spiritual experiences, follow up with repentance, accountability, and mission. Consider how your community can respond to visible acts of God with concrete acts of mercy, social justice, and gospel sharing. Do not merely marvel; translate marvel into mission.
Cross-References: Matthew 11:21-24; Luke 11:29-32; Jeremiah 5:21-31; Romans 2:4-11; James 2:14-17