13 "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, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[b]
16 "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me."
These statements seemed to come out before these 70 were sent out; if not at the time they were out there. Whatever the case it shows how quickly the doom of these places was declared and that it appears they only had one fleeting moment (in general) to come to the truth. Of course this doesn't stop a few from coming to true faith but speaks overall of the cities and their mindset and overall lack of faith. It also reinforces the message given means rejection of Christ and God the Father as we see from the end of verse 16.
These passages also illustrate the RESPONSIBILITY people have alongside their predestined outcome. We can argue whether their reaction was predestined or their fate to not be able to believe. The fact is BOTH seem to be clear from scripture; just as faith comes from hearing the Word ( Romans 10:17) that is God's methodology to reach those elected; called and chosen or Predestined whatever word we wish to use to describe these things has the same concept. Or to put it another way we read in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Hence; knowledge of the truth alone doesn't save. We still are given minds that intersect and commune with our souls and we make a public declaration of what is in our hearts through our mouth; also stated in Romans. With more knowledge we have greater judgment.
13 "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, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.[b]
16 "Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me."
These statements seemed to come out before these 70 were sent out; if not at the time they were out there. Whatever the case it shows how quickly the doom of these places was declared and that it appears they only had one fleeting moment (in general) to come to the truth. Of course this doesn't stop a few from coming to true faith but speaks overall of the cities and their mindset and overall lack of faith. It also reinforces the message given means rejection of Christ and God the Father as we see from the end of verse 16.
These passages also illustrate the RESPONSIBILITY people have alongside their predestined outcome. We can argue whether their reaction was predestined or their fate to not be able to believe. The fact is BOTH seem to be clear from scripture; just as faith comes from hearing the Word ( Romans 10:17) that is God's methodology to reach those elected; called and chosen or Predestined whatever word we wish to use to describe these things has the same concept. Or to put it another way we read in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Hence; knowledge of the truth alone doesn't save. We still are given minds that intersect and commune with our souls and we make a public declaration of what is in our hearts through our mouth; also stated in Romans. With more knowledge we have greater judgment.
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