Priorities of the KingdomSample

REPENTANCE COMES FIRST

MAIN IDEAS

• JESUS predicts a tragic end for the fortresses in which He did most of His miracles: Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida.

• The miracles done by Jesus should have led people to humility and repentance, but instead, they took pride in the fact that more miracles had happened in their towns than in other areas.

• Miracles bring an added responsibility for repentance and a return to God. If those who have benefited from miracles do not repent, the miracles will be to their detriment and will attract a harsher judgment at the end.

In the present situation we can see JESUS’ frustration with the citadels where most of His miracles had been performed – Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida – since the effect of the miracles was not the repentance of men. JESUS tries to warn them that repentance is the priority of the KINGDOM, and that they should feel responsible for the benefits they had received. The citadels in which many miracles were performed tended to consider themselves superior to the citadels in which fewer miracles were performed.
This tendency to have an attitude of superiority in the context of miracles can be seen to this day in churches or within certain believers. God’s blessings and wonders ought to make people more accountable and to generate authentic repentance in their hearts, making them more devoted to serving Him.