Matthew 24:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

NIV: For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many.

NASB: For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people.

CSB: For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many.

NLT: for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.

KJV: For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

NKJV: For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

The disciples have responded to Jesus' dire prediction about the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:1–2) with two questions. They have asked when judgment will fall on Jerusalem, what signs to expect for Jesus' return and the end of the age. As He so often does, Jesus chooses to provide additional information, rather than directly giving an answer. He begins by warning them about the time to come when He will be absent from them (John 16:5–7). They need to be diligent about not being fooled (Matthew 23:4).

Many deceivers will come saying they are the Christ, the Messiah. Jesus does not mean that they will pretend to be Him, specifically. The disciples would know Him from another person. Instead, Jesus is saying that many will come who claim He was not, in fact, the Messiah—Jesus will have been executed by Rome by then (Matthew 16:21)—and that they are really the Christ. Jesus adds that many of these liars will be successful: numerous people will be taken in. Since Jesus is the only true path to the kingdom of heaven, those led astray will be led toward destruction.

History records examples of people who claimed to be the Promised One after Jesus' earthly ministry was over. One such false Messiah, Simon Bar Kokhba, failed in an attempt to revolt against Rome in 135 AD. Jesus does not want His followers to be caught in any such foolish deception.

Matthew 24:1–14 follows Jesus and the disciples out of the temple. This comes after His devastating criticism of the scribes and Pharisees in chapter 23. Christ predicts a moment when the temple will be destroyed without one stone left on another. Later, His disciples ask for more information about these future events. Jesus describes a season in which the world will be in turmoil but that alone will not be proof that the end has come. His disciples will be persecuted, killed, and hated for His name's sake. False prophets will rise and some with them will fall away from the faith.

Jesus makes a dire prediction about the destruction of the temple. Immediately after this, while seated on the Mount of Olives, Jesus responds to a question from the disciples. They ask when judgment will come and what signs will signal His return. Christ describes a season of unimaginable world turmoil and persecution. He points to a specific moment of defilement of the temple, at which point people should run for their lives. Jesus speaks of world-threatening tribulation which will be cut short right before He returns as King and Judge. Since nobody can possibly know when He will return, His followers must live in readiness.

Jesus has just left the temple area, after delivering a blistering criticism of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23). After predicting that the temple would be destroyed, He answers their questions about the end times. He speaks of a period when He will be gone from earth and they will be persecuted and killed. The world will be in turmoil, but the gospel will be preached everywhere. Nobody knows exactly when Jesus' return will be completed, so his followers should constantly be prepared. Jesus continues to teach on these themes in the next chapter.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.