BIBLE STUDY LESSON 02

SERIES R --- THE GOOD SHEPHERD

UNREPENTANT CITIES

THREE TOWNS AND WHAT THEY MISSED

From Matthew 11:20-30

Yeshua had some strong words for the three towns in which He had performed most of His miracles, for these towns had still not turned to Him. [You will be sorry, Chorazin! And you will be sorry, too, Bethsaida! If Tyre and Sidon had seen the miracles that you have seen, they would have put on sackcloth and ashes and turned to YHVH. On the Judgment Day, YHVH will show more mercy to these cities than to you! [Capernaum, you wanted to lift yourself up to heaven. You will be brought down to hell. If Sodom had seen the miracles that you have seen, it would still be standing today. Let Me tell you, then, that YHVH will show more mercy to Sodom on the Judgment Day than to you.] Then Yeshua prayed, [Abba, Adonai of heaven and earth, I thank You for revealing the truth to the ordinary people when even the wise and learned fail to see it. This is the way You have chosen. Turning to those around Him, Yeshua said, [My Father has placed everything in My trust, for He alone knows Me completely. And I am the only one Who knows Him, except those to whom I have revealed Him. Come to me, all of you who struggle with heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Put My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy to wear and the work I give will seem light.]

TEARS FOR YESHUA’ FEET

From Luke 7:36-50

One day a Pharisee named Simon invited Yeshua to dinner. Yeshua went to Simon’s house and ate with him at his table. In the same town there was a woman who did not have a good reputation. When she learned that Yeshua was at Simon’s house, she went to see Him, bringing with her an alabaster flask filled with expensive perfumed oil. With tears in her eyes, the woman stood behind Yeshua at His feet. She began to wash His feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet again and again and poured the expensive perfumed oil on them. Simon the Pharisee began to have doubts about Yeshua when he saw this. He said to himself, [If Yeshua really were a prophet, He would know what a bad reputation this woman has and would not let her touch Him.] Yeshua knew Simon’s thoughts and spoke to him. [I have something to tell you,] He said. [Please tell me what You have to say,] Simon answered. Then Yeshua told Simon a parable. [There was a man who loaned money to two people. To the one he loaned five hundred days’ wages. To the other he loaned fifty days’ wages. Neither man could pay him back, so he told them both to forget the debt. Which man do you think would love him most, Simon?] [I suppose the man who owed him most,] Simon answered. [You are right!] said Yeshua. Then Yeshua turned toward the woman. [Look at this woman!] He said. [When I came into your house, you gave Me no water to wash My feet, but she has washed My feet with her own tears and dried them with her hair. You would not give Me the usual courtesy of a kiss of greeting, but she has been kissing My feet since I came. You did not even give Me olive oil to put on My head. But she has poured out her expensive perfumed oil on My feet. Let Me tell you this: because she has loved Me much, I forgive all her sins, even though they are many. But the one who shows Me little love, receives little forgiveness.] Then Yeshua spoke to the woman, [Your sins are forgiven.] Others at the table began to question this saying, [Who does He think that He is, telling others that He forgives their sins?] But Yeshua told the woman, [It is your faith which has saved you. Go in peace.]

COMMENTARY

THREE TOWNS THAT NEVER REBUILT

During the time of Yeshua, three important towns dotted the northern side of the Sea of Galilee. Bethsaida, which meant [House of Fishing] may have been the fishing district for Capernaum, possibly adjoining the town along the sea. But nobody can be sure, for the location of Bethsaida has been lost. There is not even a trace of the town today. Chorazin, about two miles north of Capernaum, has left a little more for us -- a pile of stone ruins. Little is known about this town, however, except that it once was important, and along with Bethsaida ignored Yeshua and what He said. Capernaum was privileged to be the home of Yeshua after Nazareth rejected Him. But even though Capernaum offered Yeshua a home, it refused to accept what He said, or believe in Him as the Moshiach. These three towns had something in common. They saw the miracles and heard the teachings of Yeshua personally. But they refused to heed them. They had something else in common. In early believers history, each one ceased to exist and has never been rebuilt, just as Yeshua prophesied.