"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.'" Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." (Lk 10:13-16)
Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum are the cities wherein most of Jesus’ mighty works were done (Mt 11:20). These cities enjoyed greater privileges. They were all gracious works and works of mercy. Because of these activities of Jesus, these cities were exalted far above. They were brought as near heaven as external means could bring them.
Any refusal to the invitation by the disciples would bring the people to disaster. The disaster is going in the opposite direction from God. This would mean throwing themselves into the hands of the pagan power. This would be worse than the sufferings faced by the wicked cities of the Old Testament.
It would be more tolerable for the pagan towns because they were not given such chances and if they were given those chances they would have repented. Repentance is part of the message of the kingdom of God.
