In Luke 10:13–16, Jesus pronounces woes on Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum—towns that witnessed his miracles yet rejected him—saying their judgment will be worse than for Israel’s old enemies, Tyre and Sidon. The warning is clear: to reject Jesus’ messengers is to reject Jesus himself, and to reject Jesus is to reject the Father. While God never stops reaching out in grace, repeated rejection hardens the heart until it can no longer respond. Every choice matters—each “no” makes the next one easier, but each “yes” keeps us open to God’s Spirit. Jesus calls us to keep our hearts tender, responsive, and faithful, saying “yes” to him day by day.

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Well, good morning. It’s good to be with you today as we continue our time in Luke. I’m always thankful for the chance to be in God’s Word together.

Today we’re looking at Luke 10:13–16:

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But at the judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

Yesterday we read about Jesus sending out the seventy. He told them that if a town rejected them, they were to wipe the dust off their feet and move on. Now Jesus gives specific woes to three towns—Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum.

These were towns around the Sea of Galilee. The Sea was the main highway of the region, with little villages all around its shores. Capernaum was fairly large, but places like Bethsaida were small. I’ve actually been to Bethsaida—just a tiny place, even after excavation. And yet, Jesus did great works there.

Then Jesus compares these towns to Tyre and Sidon, long known as enemies of Israel. They were constant opponents of God’s people, never seen as part of God’s plan. And yet Jesus says it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for these Galilean towns—because they had seen his works, and still rejected him.

That’s the heart of it: rejecting the messengers is rejecting Jesus, and rejecting Jesus is rejecting the Father who sent him. Choices have consequences.

We talked yesterday about living in context, loving people, and being present with them. That’s true. But we also have to be honest—some people will choose to reject the gospel. We can’t make anyone believe. God won’t override free will. But rejection is serious, and it hardens the heart.

One of my professors used to say the worst phrase you could hear is “God-forsaken.” What a terrible thought. And yet, as C. S. Lewis said, hell is a door locked from the inside. God never stops reaching out to us, never stops offering grace. But if we continually push him away, our hearts can grow hard, calloused, unable to feel or respond.

Every choice matters. Every “no” makes the next “no” easier. But every “yes” keeps our hearts soft to God’s Spirit. That’s what Jesus is warning these towns about, and what we need to hear today.

So let’s keep our hearts tender. Let’s stay open to the Spirit’s leading. Let’s choose—today and every day—to trust God, to follow him, and to keep saying “yes” to his call.

Thanks for being with me this morning. We’ll pick up tomorrow with Luke 10:17. Have a great day.