Why didn't God perform "mighty deeds" in Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom, thus saving them?

[Luke_K]

In Matthew 11:20-23, Jesus says:

20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.

So why didn’t God perform miracles (“mighty deeds” in other translations), perhaps by a prophet, in these cities? It sounds like he could have saved them, but didn’t. He blasted Sodom into oblivion instead.

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

In Matthew 11:20-23, Jesus says:

So why didn’t God perform miracles (“mighty deeds” in other translations), perhaps by a prophet, in these cities? It sounds like he could have saved them, but didn’t. He blasted Sodom into oblivion instead.

I think you’ve misunderstood what Jesus was saying. Jesus is clearly using a rhetorical device (I’m willing to say hyperbole, but it’s not precisely) to show the hardheartedness of the people in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. What Jesus is basically saying is that the miracles performed in these towns were so spectacular that they would have even converted those in Tyre, Sidon and Sodom. Remember, that Sodom was the epitome of all unrighteousness, and it means a big deal to suggest that even they would have converted. It’s like using Richard Dawkins as an example. That’s how hardhearted those in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were.

The underlying theme of the biblical passage is that of free will. Miracles do not convert. Only God does that through faith. That is why those in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were damned. Despite the magnificence of the miracles performed in these towns, they were still unwilling to repent. Another theme underlying the biblical passage is that of culpability. Because Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum saw these miracles and still decided to not repent, they will be held more accountable for their sins than those in Tyre, Sidon and Sodom.

 

[GEddie]

Our LORD is the big time. S & G, etc, had not the privilege of seeing HIM physically. But of those to whom more is given, more will be required.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Luke_K]

I think you’ve misunderstood what Jesus was saying. Jesus is clearly using a rhetorical device (I’m willing to say hyperbole, but it’s not precisely) to show the hardheartedness of the people in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. **What Jesus is basically saying is that the miracles performed in these towns were so spectacular that they would have even converted those in Tyre, Sidon and Sodom. **Remember, that Sodom was the epitome of all unrighteousness, and it means a big deal to suggest that even they would have converted. It’s like using Richard Dawkins as an example. That’s how hardhearted those in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were.

The underlying theme of the biblical passage is that of free will. Miracles do not convert. Only God does that through faith. That is why those in Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum were damned. Despite the magnificence of the miracles performed in these towns, they were still unwilling to repent. Another theme underlying the biblical passage is that of culpability. Because Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum saw these miracles and still decided to not repent, they will be held more accountable for their sins than those in Tyre, Sidon and Sodom.

That’s my point. The rhetorical device in this case doesn’t mean anything if it’s not true.

 

[TimothyH]

Tire and Sidon were not Jewish cities.

Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum were Jewish cities. Capernaum was Jesus headquarters - his base of operations - on the North Shore of the Sea of Galilee, and is probably whee Peter lived. Bethsaida is believed to be near the place where Jesus fed the 5000 with only a few loaves and fish.

Remember that Jonah preached to the non-Jewish city of Nineveh and they believed and repented at once, putting on sackcloth and ashes with the king proclaiming a fast.

Jesus is pointing out how the gentiles were often more recpetive to God than were the Jews. Often times however, the Jews couldn’t have cared less.

His mentioning of how Sodom would have repented if the people there had seen what the Jews had seen must have been particularly offensive to many of the devout Jews who heard him.

-Tim-

 

[Huiou_Theou]

In Matthew 11:20-23, Jesus says:

So why didn’t God perform miracles (“mighty deeds” in other translations), perhaps by a prophet, in these cities? It sounds like he could have saved them, but didn’t. He blasted Sodom into oblivion instead.

He did at least in Sodom; Sodom is the place that was conquered by foreign kings while Lot, Abraham’s nephew, was living there. The cities people were carried off into slavery by kings from other nations, and Abraham went after them – fought and conquered the foreign kings – brought back the people of Sodom to their city; and on the way back refused to take payment from the Sodomite king, but instead offered sacrifice with the priest-king of Salem; this is the place that would later become Jerusalem.

Abraham’s intervention was miraculous in that he was outnumbered and yet God had him prevail. This is why Sodom’s rejection of Lot’s advice, persecution of him, and those he sheltered was more than just a rejection; the very God who saved him was what the angels represent; and Sodom’s reply was F* you…

Tyre, Sidon, I’d have to study some more; but these cities interacted with the established Israel at later dates. Israel itself was meant to be a “light to the nations” and to teach them God’s way. Even the temple was designed with a place for foreigners to come and worship in the less holy porches. So, they had heard of the law of God to some extent in the past; but continued to sin and suffered some kind of ill fate; I think it was just war with Tyre and Sidon; and is not treated as direct punishment from God; but indirect.

It’s also a mistake to think that just because they were punished; they were all damned. Sodom is more reasonable to think such a thing; but in the other places, quite possibly, the death and pain they suffered was punishment enough in God’s eyes. He does judge each person based on what they do and don’t know and in the letters from St. Peter, we are told that Jesus went down to preach to those who had disobeyed as far back as the time of Noah. So, there is reason to hope that he is speaking of purgatory for some of the less sinful people who got caught up in a national sin; for example, there may have been pregnant women during the flood who resisted Noah’s preaching, and their unborn children suffered the consequences their mother’s brought on them.

The eternal fate of people who were not given as great a gift as those at the time of Jesus are also likely to suffer less; for those who’s sin is done in more knowledge also will suffer greater torments after death. We don’t know why there weren’t greater calls to repentance in these places – but I would caution you not to judge based on that; for even if Sodom had not been destroyed – it is quite possible that many more would have been damned or that greater sufferings would have happened. Recall that this world is under the dominion of the Devil; and that some trading of consequences in what might be similar to a divine chess game is going on. The moment God made us free; he made it impossible to save everyone by definition – and we will only be able to understand the moves when he explains it to us face to face. Trust him; he knows what he is doing even when it doesn’t look like it to us here and now.

.

 

[Nate13]

Miracles are a sign of God’s grace. There was nothing stopping God from allowing such miracles to be performed in Sodom except themselves. If there was no one in Sodom who sees the error of their ways and cried out to God, then God isn’t going to force something on them they don’t want. I think its also a testament to how the Jewish people take miracles for granted after their past. They almost feel “entitled” to such miracles

 

[someguy14]

In Matthew 11:20-23, Jesus says:

So why didn’t God perform miracles (“mighty deeds” in other translations), perhaps by a prophet, in these cities? It sounds like he could have saved them, but didn’t. He blasted Sodom into oblivion instead.

They rejected God. So God left them. God created all things. All of Gods judgements are good and true. Praise to God forever.