Albert Barnes Commentary Matthew 11:23

"And thou, Capernaum, shalt thou be exalted unto heaven? thou shalt go down unto Hades: for if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in thee, it would have remained until this day." — Matthew 11:23 (ASV)

And you, Capernaum. (See Barnes on Matthew 4:13).

Which are exalted to heaven. This is an expression used to denote great privileges. He meant that they were especially favored with instruction. The city was prosperous. It was successful in commerce. It was remarkably favored by its wealth. Most of all, it was remarkably favored by the presence, the preaching, and the miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here He spent a large part of His time in the early part of His ministry, and in Capernaum and its neighborhood He performed His chief miracles.

You shall be brought down to hell. This does not mean that all the people should go to hell, but that the city which had flourished so prosperously would lose its prosperity and occupy the lowest place among cities. The word hell is used here, not to denote a place of punishment in the future world, but a state of desolation and destruction as a city.

It stands in contrast with the word heaven. As their being exalted to heaven did not mean that the people would all be saved or dwell in heaven, so their being brought down to hell refers to the desolation of the city. Their privileges, honors, wealth, etc., would be taken away, and they would sink as low among cities as they had been exalted before.

This has been strictly fulfilled. In the wars between the Jews and the Romans, Chorazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum, etc., were so completely desolated that it is difficult to determine their former situation. It is not to be denied, also, that He threatened future punishment on those who rejected Him. The truth taught is that those who are especially favored must be punished accordingly if they abuse their privileges.

If the mighty works—had been done in Sodom. (See Barnes on Matthew 10:15).

Sodom was destroyed on account of its great wickedness. Christ says, if His miracles had been done there, they would have repented, and consequently the city would not have been destroyed. As it was, it would be better for Sodom in the day of judgment than for Capernaum, because its inhabitants would not be called to answer for the abuse of such great privileges.