20Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21"Woe 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. 22But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."
Mighty works had been done for the people in Chorazin and Bethsaida and yet the people did not repent. Jesus claimed that if he had done these works in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago. I believe this statement implies that Tyre and Sidon have not seen the great works of Jesus. But the people in Chorzain and Bethsaida, not Tyre and Sidon, had seen these works. Jesus is saying that judgment will be easier for those who had not seen His great works than for those who had seen the great works and had not repented.
Is this a case of "ignorance is bliss"? Is it better to know nothing? Actually, no, Jesus just says their judgment will be more tolerable. I don't want just a tolerable judgment, I want a great judgment. And I believe that can only be achieved by learning all we can. But in learning, we must act on what we learn, we must repent, otherwise we will be worse off than if we had learned nothing at all.
And what of Capernaum? Jesus began His ministry in Capernaum after the forty days being tested by the devil in the wilderness. Matthew 4:13-16 said Jesus' ministry there was a fulfillment of a prophesy. What a blessing, an exaltation to heaven, it was to the city for Jesus to start His ministry there. But experiencing blessings while on earth is no assurance that things will be easy for you in the day of judgment. Jesus says Capernaum, which was exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades. And Sodom which had been cursed will have a more tolerable time in the day of judgment.
Have you ever felt that God has blessed you richly? That's not necessarily an indication you will have it made in the day of judgment. Look at Capernaum, so richly blessed. It will have a worse time in the day of judgment than a city which was cursed.
Let yourself be influenced by the mighty works around you. Don't just take what God gives you then continue your life as it was. Repent and try to mold your life to what Jesus instructed. Jesus isn't even saying your judgment will be based on how successful you are at creating your new life, but that you repent. The mighty works you see are not given to just anyone. But be aware that they are indications that more is expected of you.