Topical Encyclopedia
Tyre, an ancient Phoenician city located on the Mediterranean coast, holds a significant place in biblical history and prophecy. Known for its wealth, commerce, and strategic maritime position, Tyre was a powerful city-state during the time of the Old Testament. However, it was also a city marked by moral and spiritual depravity, which drew the attention and condemnation of biblical prophets and, later, Jesus Christ Himself.
In the New Testament, Jesus alludes to the depravity of Tyre in His teachings, using the city as a point of comparison to highlight the spiritual blindness and unrepentance of the cities in which He performed miracles. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus reproaches the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, saying, "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes" (
Matthew 11:21). Here, Jesus underscores the severity of Chorazin and Bethsaida's unbelief by suggesting that even the notoriously sinful cities of Tyre and Sidon would have repented had they witnessed the same mighty works.
Similarly, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus reiterates this comparison: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes" (
Luke 10:13). This parallel passage reinforces the idea that Tyre's historical reputation for depravity was well-known and served as a stark contrast to the unrepentant hearts of those who directly encountered Christ's ministry.
The allusion to Tyre's depravity is rooted in the Old Testament, where prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel pronounced judgments against the city for its pride, idolatry, and exploitation. Ezekiel, in particular, delivers a detailed prophecy against Tyre, condemning its king for his arrogance and self-deification (
Ezekiel 28:1-19). The prophet Isaiah also foretells the downfall of Tyre, emphasizing its impending desolation as a consequence of its iniquities (Isaiah 23).
In these New Testament references, Jesus not only acknowledges the historical wickedness of Tyre but also uses it as a didactic tool to call His contemporaries to repentance. By comparing the unrepentant cities of His day to Tyre, He highlights the gravity of rejecting the divine revelation and grace manifested through His works and teachings.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Matthew 11:21,22Woe to you, Chorazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Resources
Who was Huram / Hiram in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are the cedars of Lebanon the Bible mentions? | GotQuestions.orgIs Lucifer Satan? Does the fall of Lucifer describe Satan? | GotQuestions.orgTyre: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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