THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
This generation: Mt 11,16-19
This generation in verse 16 refers to the contemporaries of Jesus and John who are rejecting their message. Jesus' comment echoes what was said about their ancestors in Deuteronomy. That was the generation which would not be allowed to see the promised land because of their disobedience (Dt 1,35).
The lesson given in verses 18 and 19 which arises from the saying in verse 17 is that a choice must be made. It's not possible to "have it both ways". John and Jesus came with very different styles of ministry but with the same message of repentance (3,2 & 4,17).
The conclusion therefore at the end of verse 19 is that wisdom must always be the guide. The evidence is there in the ministry of both John and Jesus.
Woes on the Towns: Mt 11,20-24
Verse 20 begins "then", which is weaker than "At that time" in 11,25 and 12,1. These verses therefore follow-on from the comments of verses 16-19.
Verses 2 and 19 both speak of the deeds or works of Jesus. In verses 20 and 21, the word is "power", perhaps best translated as "miracles".
Jesus came proclaming repentence (4,17) and this can seen as the theme of these verses. Woes in the Old Testament prophets (Isaiah and Amos and elsewhere) are warnings, not judgements. The call is to repentance before it is too late.
Thus Chorazin and Bethsaida get worse ratings than Tyre and Sidon, Gentile cities both roundly condemned in the prophets. Their greater willingness to repent can be seen in the book of Jonah where the king of the great city Nineveh unexpectedly proclaims a fast and the wearing of sackcloth and ashes (Jonah 3,6). Daniel 9,3 links sackcloth and ashes with repentance.
With verse 22, the implication for the audience is they must act before it is too late.
The quotation in verse 23 comes from Isaiah 4,11-15, part of taunts against Babylon. The king wishes to ascend to heaven above the stars of God (14,13) but he will in fact be brought down to Sheol, the place of the dead.
Thus the call to respond to Jesus and repent is underlined by verse 24. In 10,15 the context was the rejection of the missionaries.
Now return to continue our reading.