“Then
if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it. For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. “Behold, I have told you beforehand. If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it.
Matthew 24:23-26
Matthew 24 [15.] “When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take out things that are in his house. Let him who is in the field not return back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are with child and to nursing mothers in those days! Pray that your flight will not be in the winter, nor on a Sabbath, for then there will be great oppression, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be. Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
Matthew 24 [23.] “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it. For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones.
Matthew 24 [25.] “Behold, I have told you beforehand. If therefore they tell you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ don’t go out; ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ don’t believe it. For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For wherever the carcass is, there is where the vultures gather together. But immediately after the oppression of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken; and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.
Matthew 24 [32.] “Now from the fig tree learn this parable. When its branch has now become tender, and produces its leaves, you know that the summer is near. Even so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away, until all these things are accomplished. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Meaning:
Jesus had just described the great oppression that would come on Judea (Matthew 24:17-22). In times of fear and suffering people long for rescue, and that makes them easy prey for anyone who promises it. So Jesus warns his disciples a second time about deceivers (Matthew 24:4-5). Mark records the same warning (Mark 13:21-23).
- “Behold, here is the Christ”
“Christ” is the Greek form of “Messiah”, the Anointed One. Many Jews of the first century expected a Messiah who would drive out the Romans. Several men claimed to be that deliverer. Gamaliel mentioned Theudas, who “rose up, making himself out to be somebody”, and Judas of Galilee, whose followers were scattered (Acts 5:36-37). Before the war with Rome many such leaders gathered crowds, promising freedom. Jesus says, “don’t believe it.”
- “false christs, and false prophets… will show great signs and wonders”
Miracles alone do not prove that a message comes from God. Moses warned Israel about a prophet who gives “a sign or a wonder” that comes true, yet calls the people to follow other gods. They were not to listen, “for Yahweh your God is testing you” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3). Paul likewise described the lawless one, “whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (2 Thessalonians 2:9). The test is not how impressive the sign is, but whether the message agrees with God’s word and leads people to the true Christ.
- “so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones”
The deception will be powerful enough to threaten even God’s people. The words “if possible” suggest that God will keep his own. Jesus said of his sheep, “no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). Yet the warning is real, and believers must stay alert.
- “Behold, I have told you beforehand”
Jesus speaks in advance so that his followers will recognise deception when it comes. Some will say the Messiah is “in the wilderness”. In Paul’s day a man known as “the Egyptian” “led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins” (Acts 21:38). Others will claim that he is hidden “in the inner rooms”, known only to a secret circle. Jesus says do not go and do not believe it. His true coming will not be hidden but seen by all, like lightning flashing from east to west (Matthew 24:27).
The Significance of Matthew 24:23-26
- Test every message
John wrote, “Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). Believers today should measure every teacher and every claim of new revelation by the Scriptures.
- Do not chase secret revelations
When Jesus returns, no one will need to be told where he is. Claims that Christ has come secretly, or is known only to a special group, should be rejected.
Cross-References:
Deuteronomy 13:3: "for Yahweh your God is testing you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul." Signs are not enough.
1 John 4:1: "Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits," Testing teachers.
Matthew 7:15: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves." Jesus’ earlier warning.
Matthew 24:27: "For as the lightning flashes from the east, and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." His coming will be visible.
Conclusion: In Matthew 24:23-26 Jesus warns that in times of trouble false christs and false prophets will appear, performing great signs and wonders to lead people astray. He told his disciples beforehand so that they would not chase reports of a Messiah in the wilderness or in secret rooms. His true coming will be unmistakable. Until then believers must test every message by God’s word and hold fast to the real Christ.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible