God’s Sorrow, God’s Judgment
Jesus was talking to a large number of His disciples before He sent them out two by two. The following is a part of what He said:
(NASB) Luke 10:13-15 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14 ‘But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.
15 ‘And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades!”
Jesus compared cities in Judea and Galilee with cities in the area of the Philistines. And the comparison was negative!
Woe to those people who have heard the truth, have a background to believe in God’s words, yet do not repent. They do not recognize their need for forgiveness, they do not understand they need God’s mercy…woe to them!
True faith acts on the fact of knowing that a personal spiritual need exists when standing before the living God.
Did you notice that Jesus said unrepentance will be judged and the unrepentant “will be brought down to Hades!” (The Amplified Bible defines this place as “the regions of the dead”) (King James Version of the Bible: the unrepentant “shall be thrust down to hell.”)
Hades or Hell is not a figment of anyone’s imagination nor is it a place which anyone should make light of – it is a real place. Judgment is coming for all – for believers and for those who do not believe in God. As believers we do not need to fear standing before God…for Christ has already taken our punishment for our very real sins against God.
For those who do not believe in Jesus as Redeemer and Savior…they will be judged by God because they are without the shield which Christ gives.
What are some of the truths which can be learned from the words of Jesus?
1- God has compassion for those who turn to Him by faith in Jesus.
2- God’s love warns people of their need to repent!
3- God’s love does not hide the consequences of unbelief.
4- God’s love gives responsibility to respond to His warnings of woe!
5- Because of God’s love we will want to repent!
6- Love for God will result in repentance; deep, heartfelt repentance.
Scripture does not say what the voice of Jesus sounded like when He uttered these dire words of warning. Perhaps His voice broke with sorrow.
Either your sins have been paid for by Christ (receiving His forgiveness by faith in what Jesus did on the cross) OR you will pay the price of your sins yourself.
God’s sorrow does not stop His true judgment, for sins must be punished.