Matthew 10:15
What does Matthew 10:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Matthew 10:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Matthew 10:15 means
Jesus issued a stark and solemn warning: "Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city." This hyperbolic statement underscores the severity of rejecting the apostles' message. Sodom and Gomorrah, though destroyed for their gross immorality, did not have the privilege of hearing the kingdom preached by Jesus' authorized messengers. To reject the good news, accompanied by the power of Christ, was a graver sin with more severe consequences. This highlights the profound responsibility that comes with encountering the Gospel.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Truly I say to you, It will be better for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of God's judging than for that town.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862verily I say to you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Amen I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in judgment-day than for that city.
Context
This verse delivers the powerful and sobering consequence directly related to the act of shaking off dust from the feet, providing the ultimate ramification for rejecting the apostles' message. It concludes this section of instructions about how to deal with positive and negative reception, immediately transitioning to a broader warning about the general opposition and dangers they will face in their mission.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ezekiel 16:48
As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.
- Matthew 24:34
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.
- 2 Peter 2:9
the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;
- John 15:22
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.
- 1 John 4:17
Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.
- Luke 10:11
Even the dust from your city, that cleaveth to our feet, we wipe off against you: nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Matthew 10
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Matthew 10.
Devotionals
Devotional
Small Faith, Real Faith
A mustard seed is enough. Not a mountain of certainty — a seed of trust.
Devotional
The Weight We Were Not Built to Carry
Jesus does not promise the absence of burden. He offers an exchange.
Devotional
Consider the Lilies
Worry forgets that the same God who clothes the field clothes you.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About God's Omniscience
God's omniscience means He knows all things in the past, present, and future, including every detail of our lives
Topic
Bible Verses About Hell
The Bible consistently teaches that hell is a real place of eternal conscious punishment for those who reject God.
Topic
Bible Verses About Self-Worth
The Bible teaches that our true worth comes from being created and loved by God, not from our achievements or others' opinions
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for a Panic Attack at Night
Steady, slow verses to pray when your chest is tight and the house is dark.
Verses for
Bible Verses for Morning Work Anxiety
Start the workday from a steadier place — verses to pray with coffee.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You Can't Sleep Because of Anxious Thoughts
Verses to read in bed when your mind won't stop.