Matthew 24 23

Matthew 24:23 kjv

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

Matthew 24:23 nkjv

"Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it.

Matthew 24:23 niv

At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it.

Matthew 24:23 esv

Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe it.

Matthew 24:23 nlt

"Then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Messiah,' or 'There he is,' don't believe it.

Matthew 24 verses

Matthew 24 23 Meaning

This verse serves as a crucial warning from Jesus to His disciples concerning the deceptive nature of false messianic claims that would arise before His true, glorious Second Coming. It instructs believers not to credit or follow any localized announcement of "Christ is here!" or "Christ is there!", because His actual return will be unmistakable, universal, and undeniably visible to all, not confined to a secret location or requiring special revelation.

Matthew 24 23 Context

Matthew 24:23 is part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25), given on the Mount of Olives to His disciples. They had asked Him about the destruction of the Temple and the signs of His coming and the end of the age (Matt 24:1-3). In response, Jesus delivers an extensive prophecy warning them about various future events, including wars, famines, earthquakes, persecutions, and, significantly for this verse, the emergence of false Christs and false prophets. This specific warning follows His general caution in Matt 24:4-5 about deception. The historical context reflects a Jewish expectation for a political Messiah, making them susceptible to various self-proclaimed saviors, especially during periods of national distress and Roman occupation. Jesus preemptively guards His followers against such local, private, and limited manifestations of messianic claims, contrasting them sharply with His true, unmistakable, and universal Second Coming.

Matthew 24 23 Word analysis

• Then (Τότε - Tote): An adverb denoting sequence, linking this specific warning directly to the broader cautions against deception previously issued (Matt 24:4-5, 11). It highlights a particular, perhaps more acute, type of deception that will arise after the initial general warnings.
• if anyone (ἐάν τις - ean tis): A conditional phrase, anticipating the likelihood and indeed the inevitability of such scenarios. It suggests a potential, yet expected, eventuality, underscoring the commonness of these false claims.
• says (εἴπῃ - eipē): Third person singular, aorist subjunctive, implying that specific individuals will be making these claims. It denotes human pronouncements, explicitly distinguishing them from divine revelation.
• to you (ὑμῖν - humin): Plural form, directly addressing the disciples and, by extension, all future followers of Christ. This warning is thus a timeless imperative for the church throughout its history.
• ‘Look (Ἰδοὺ - Idou): An interjection often translated "Behold!" or "See!", designed to grab immediate attention and direct focus. In this context, it signals an urgent but deceptive invitation, an appeal to the sensational.
• here (ὧδε - hōde): An adverb of place, pointing to a specific, localized physical presence. This spatial specificity is key to the deception: a claim of Christ being in a hidden or particular spot, demanding an exclusive visit.
• is (ἐστίν - estin): Present indicative form of "to be," asserting current existence or location. It emphasizes a proclaimed present reality, creating a sense of immediacy and exclusivity.
• the Christ (ὁ Χριστός - ho Christos): Greek for "the Anointed One" or "the Messiah." The definite article "ho" emphasizes that this is the unique, long-awaited Messiah being falsely proclaimed. It highlights the target of the deception – the ultimate object of biblical hope.
• or (ἤ - ē): A disjunctive conjunction, presenting an alternative specific location. It suggests various claims of secret or spatially isolated appearances.
• ‘There (ἐκεῖ - ekei): Another adverb of place, reiterating the idea of a distant or specific location where Christ is supposedly to be found. It expands the warning beyond immediate proximity.
• he is!’ (ἐστίν - estin): Repeating the assertion of a localized, current presence, reinforcing the pattern of deceptive, spatially limited claims and exclusive knowledge.
• do not believe (μὴ πιστεύσητε - mē pisteusēte): A strong prohibitive command. The Greek construction uses mē with the aorist subjunctive, conveying an absolute and immediate prohibition against believing such reports. This command underlines the crucial need for discernment, caution, and unwavering reliance on divine truth.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then if anyone says to you": This phrase establishes the source of the coming deception as human, specifically directed at believers. It prepares them for deliberate attempts to mislead from within or without their circles.
• "‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’": This precise phrase characterizes the nature of the false claims: they will be localized, exclusive, and will require a special invitation or journey to witness. It sharply contrasts with the universal and undeniable visibility of Christ's true return, implicitly warning against claims of hidden or secret manifestations.
• "do not believe it": This is the unequivocal, absolute command from Jesus. It is a protective imperative for the disciples and for all future believers, demanding a decisive rejection of all claims about the localized, physically constrained return of Christ. This underscores the critical importance of discernment and adherence to Christ's revealed truth about His future coming.

Matthew 24 23 Bonus Section

This warning directly counters persistent human inclinations to seek out exclusive, esoteric knowledge or to rally behind charismatic leaders, especially during periods of global crisis or intense religious fervor. It underscores that genuine spiritual experience and true divine revelation will never contradict the established biblical truth of Christ's visible and universal Second Coming. The emphatic nature of "do not believe it" highlights that discernment is a cornerstone of faithful living in the last days. The straightforwardness of Jesus' prohibition indicates that this specific type of deception will be pervasive and highly tempting, appealing to humanity's desire for immediate solutions, sensational signs, or privileged access to divine presence. This teaching is designed to protect believers from investing their hope in human-engineered, geographically confined movements that divert from the clear scriptural portrayal of the King of Kings returning in unmistakable glory.

Matthew 24 23 Commentary

Matthew 24:23 stands as a pivotal safeguard in Jesus' Olivet Discourse, delivering an unambiguous and urgent warning against a specific, insidious form of eschatological deception: localized or private claims about His physical return. Jesus adamantly instructs His followers to utterly reject any reports announcing "Christ is here!" or "Christ is there!" This injunction is founded on the very nature of His true Second Coming, which, as clarified immediately thereafter (Matt 24:27), will be universally visible, instantaneous, and undeniably public, much like lightning flashing across the entire sky. This verse fortifies believers against falling prey to individual charismatic figures proclaiming themselves as the returned Christ or movements drawing followers to specific geographic sites or clandestine meetings for a supposed encounter with Him. It mandates spiritual discernment, anchoring faith not in sensational whispers, esoteric knowledge, or secret cults, but in the transparent and globally apparent truth of Scripture concerning Christ's glorious return. Believers are called to exercise patient endurance, steadfastly keeping their focus on the true Christ, untainted by persuasive yet ultimately false proclamations that promise a limited, accessible manifestation of the Lord.

Examples:

• Rejecting leaders who claim to be Christ or the incarnation of Christ found in specific, often remote, compounds or gatherings.
• Dismissing online or real-world movements that promise a hidden spiritual or physical visitation of Christ exclusive to their group or location.
• Understanding that a truly Christian expectation of Christ's return is universal and cosmic, not requiring special initiation or pilgrimage to witness.