Manna on the Mountain
Dr. Curtis McClane is a Bible scholar with many years experience as a teacher, minister, and Christian counselor with a passion for the Lord and people who want to know God. These lessons on the Bible and Christian life average 30 minutes in length and drop once a week.
Manna on the Mountain
Matthew Lesson 45: Woe to the Unrepentant Cities
Matthew 11: 20-24 is the text for this lesson entitled, "Woe to the Unrepentant Cities."
There is a significant difference between Jesus’ words about repentance and judgment. The purpose of today’s lesson is to understand and live by three great principles enunciated in this text: accountability, repentance, and divine judgment. Curtis also explores how the grace of God fits into this paragraph of judgment? Yes, it is there, behind every line, and in every word that Jesus uttered!
The three Galilean cities being addressed here are (1) Bethsaida, (2) Chorizin, and (3) Capernaum. They were the sites of nearly all of Jesus' early miracles and sermons. Yet they remained largely unrepentant. In face, Jesus compared them to infamous cities of the Old Testament-- Sodom, Tyre, and Sidon.
This message from Jesus expounds on the principles of divine justice and mercy. Divine judgment is based on knowledge and response to revelation. Notice God’s patience and desire for repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
God demonstrates his mercy and divine justice according to the human heart, and on whether a person is seeking God or rebelling against God.