Matthew 24:11 kjv
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:11 nkjv
Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.
Matthew 24:11 niv
and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Matthew 24:11 esv
And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
Matthew 24:11 nlt
And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.
Matthew 24 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text (shortened) | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 13:1-5 | If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises... and says, "Let us go after other gods"... that prophet or dreamer must be put to death. | Warning against those leading to idolatry |
| Mt 7:15-20 | Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves... By their fruit you will recognize them. | Identifying false prophets by their conduct |
| Mt 24:4 | Jesus answered: "See to it that no one deceives you." | Primary warning against deception |
| Mt 24:5 | For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many. | Related warning about false christs |
| Mt 24:24 | For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. | Heightened deception near the end |
| Acts 20:29-30 | I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. | Internal threat from within the church |
| 2 Cor 11:13-15 | For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light... | Disguised nature of false teachers |
| Gal 1:8-9 | But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. | Warning against alternative gospels |
| Eph 4:14 | so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning... | Immaturity makes one susceptible |
| 1 Tim 4:1 | Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons. | Departure from faith in latter times |
| 2 Tim 3:1 | But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. | General sign of the last days |
| 2 Tim 3:13 | But evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. | Escalating deception |
| 2 Tim 4:3-4 | For the time is coming when people will not endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears... will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. | Rejecting sound doctrine |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master... and many will follow their sensuality... | Past precedent, future destructive heresies |
| 1 Jn 2:18-19 | Children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come... They went out from us, but they were not of us... | Antichrists and internal apostasy |
| 1 Jn 4:1 | Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. | Call to discernment |
| Jude 1:4 | For certain people have crept in unnoticed... who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. | Infiltrators denying Christ |
| Rev 12:9 | And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world... | Source of all deception |
| Rev 13:14 | And through the signs that it was allowed to do on behalf of the beast, it deceives those who dwell on earth... | The beast and false signs |
| Rev 16:13 | And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. | Mention of "the" false prophet |
Matthew 24 verses
Matthew 24 11 Meaning
Matthew 24:11 states that during the time leading up to the end of the age, a multitude of false prophets will emerge, and their activities will result in widespread spiritual deception, causing many people to stray from the path of truth and faith. This verse describes a significant sign of the times, emphasizing both the numerical abundance of these deceivers and the pervasive impact of their misleading teachings on a large segment of the population.
Matthew 24 11 Context
Matthew 24:11 is part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, delivered on the Mount of Olives in response to the disciples' questions regarding the destruction of the Temple and the signs of His coming and the end of the age (Mt 24:3). Jesus begins His reply by cautioning against deception (Mt 24:4). He then lists a series of events—false christs, wars, famines, earthquakes—and specifies that these are merely "the beginning of the birth pains" (Mt 24:8), not the immediate end. Within this initial list of signs, Jesus highlights the widespread emergence of false prophets and their deceptive influence, positioning it as a significant characteristic of the age leading up to His return. This particular warning underscores an internal spiritual threat to God's people, contrasting with more external societal disruptions.
Matthew 24 11 Word analysis
And (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction, connecting this sign with the previous ones mentioned (wars, famines, earthquakes). It indicates an accumulation of events marking the end times.
many (πολλοί - polloi): Signifies a significant number, indicating widespread prevalence and not an isolated occurrence. This suggests the challenge of discernment will be great due to the sheer volume of misleading voices.
false prophets (ψευδοπροφῆται - pseudoprophetai):
pseudo-(ψευδο-) meaning "false," "deceptive."prophetai(προφῆται) meaning "one who speaks for God," or "an interpreter of the divine will."- Combined, it refers to those who claim to speak God's word but do not, either by teaching human wisdom as divine revelation, distorting divine revelation, or fabricating predictions that do not come to pass.
- Biblically, these individuals mimic true prophets to gain credibility, but their message is contrary to God's truth, often leading people away from God (Deut 13:1-5) or giving false hope (Jer 14:14).
will arise (ἐγερθήσονται - egerthesontai): From
egeirō, meaning "to wake up," "to raise up," or "to appear." This suggests a spontaneous or orchestrated emergence. It implies an active and sudden appearance or rise of these figures, often from within the religious community, rather than being obviously external enemies.and (καὶ - kai): Again, a connector, linking their emergence to their subsequent action.
lead astray (πλανήσουσιν - planēsousin): From
planan, meaning "to wander," "to go astray," "to be led astray," "to deceive." This verb carries the strong connotation of intellectual or spiritual error and wandering from the correct path. It signifies active deception, leading people away from truth, orthodoxy, and right conduct.many (πολλούς - pollous): This re-emphasis on "many" highlights the significant success of the false prophets in their deception. Not just a few will be deceived, but a multitude. It underscores the severity and pervasiveness of the spiritual danger.
Words-group analysis:
- "many false prophets will arise": This phrase emphasizes the scale and origin. It's not a fringe phenomenon but a broad movement of deceitful spiritual leaders emerging into prominence. The term "arise" suggests an internal threat to faith, not merely an external one.
- "and lead many astray": This phrase underlines the dangerous efficacy of these false prophets. Their teachings and influence will successfully divert a significant number of people from the true gospel, orthodox teaching, or a righteous path, demonstrating a deep spiritual blindness or lack of discernment among the deceived. The consequence is not mere disagreement but genuine spiritual error and wandering from truth.
Matthew 24 11 Bonus section
The warning in Matthew 24:11 directly contributes to the overarching theme of discernment required in the last days. The methods by which these false prophets "lead many astray" often involve presenting themselves with persuasive speech, claiming special revelations or spiritual experiences, performing purported signs and wonders, or appealing to people's desire for worldly comfort and success rather than biblical truth and holiness. This aligns with other New Testament passages that describe such teachers appealing to "itching ears" (2 Tim 4:3-4) and being motivated by greed or sensuality (2 Pet 2:3, 10). The implication for believers is not just to identify error, but to cultivate a robust and intimate knowledge of genuine biblical truth, which acts as an anchor against the winds of deceptive doctrines.
Matthew 24 11 Commentary
Matthew 24:11 is a stark prophetic warning from Jesus concerning the spiritual landscape that would characterize the period preceding His return. The emergence of "many false prophets" points to a proliferation of individuals who, despite claiming divine inspiration or religious authority, will propagate doctrines that diverge from, or actively oppose, the truth of God's Word. Their deceptiveness is insidious, as they often appear credible and speak persuasively, echoing the New Testament warnings that even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14).
The danger of these false prophets lies in their ability to "lead many astray" (planēsousin). This is not passive misinformation but an active leading away from spiritual integrity, sound doctrine, and genuine faith in Christ. Their teachings often appeal to human desires, offer an easier path, twist scripture, or promote teachings that undermine the person and work of Christ. This spiritual seduction can result in widespread apostasy and moral decay among those who lack discernment, rooted in a deep understanding of scripture and a reliance on the Holy Spirit.
This verse serves as a crucial call to vigilance for all believers. It underscores the necessity of continuous spiritual discernment, adherence to the authoritative Word of God, and testing every teaching against biblical truth (1 Jn 4:1). The very prevalence implied by "many" emphasizes that deception will be a widespread challenge, requiring constant sobriety and discernment from followers of Christ.