Matthew 24:24 kjv
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 24:24 nkjv
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:24 niv
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:24 esv
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:24 nlt
For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones.
Matthew 24 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 13:1-5 | "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises... and gives you a sign... saying, ‘Let us follow other gods’... do not listen..." | False prophets, signs validating false gods |
| Matt 7:15-20 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." | False prophets identified by their fruits |
| Mk 13:22 | "For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect." | Parallel passage; confirms message |
| Lk 21:8 | "Take heed that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them." | Warning against being led astray |
| Acts 20:29-30 | "I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you... speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them." | Future internal deception in the church |
| 2 Cor 11:13-15 | "For such men are false apostles... disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." | Satan's deception, false teachers |
| Gal 1:8 | "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 altered gospel, false teachers |
| 2 Thess 2:9-10 | "The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception..." | Deceptive signs linked to the Antichrist |
| 2 Pet 2:1 | "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies..." | Rise of false teachers |
| 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." | Discernment, testing spirits, many false prophets |
| Rev 13:13-14 | "It performs great signs... deceiving those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded..." | False prophet's deceptive signs |
| Rev 16:14 | "For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle..." | Demonic signs preparing for end-times war |
| Exod 7:10-12 | "When Pharaoh's magicians cast down their staffs, they became serpents too. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs." | Counterfeit miracles |
| Num 24:17 | "A star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel..." | Messianic expectation |
| Isa 9:6-7 | "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God..." | Prophecy of the true Messiah |
| Jer 14:14 | "The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions..." | False prophets speaking lies |
| Jn 10:27-28 | "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish..." | Security of the elect, inability to be lost |
| Rom 8:28-30 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." | God's sovereign plan for the chosen |
| 2 Tim 2:19 | "But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’" | Security of God's elect foundation |
| Tit 1:16 | "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works." | Those who appear godly but are not |
| 1 Pet 1:5 | "who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." | God's power guarding believers |
| Jude 1:4 | "For certain people have crept in unnoticed... who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." | False teachers disguised among believers |
Matthew 24 verses
Matthew 24 24 Meaning
Matthew 24:24 serves as a solemn warning from Jesus, emphasizing the profound deceptive power that will characterize the period leading up to His second coming. It declares that individuals falsely claiming to be the Christ (Messiah) or true prophets of God will emerge, wielding the ability to perform genuinely great and impressive miraculous signs and wonders. The primary intent and dangerous capability of these deceptive acts will be to lead people astray, and their influence will be so potent that it would, hypothetically, be able to deceive even those who are genuinely chosen by God, were it not for divine protection and sovereign election.
Matthew 24 24 Context
Matthew chapter 24 is a significant portion of Jesus' "Olivet Discourse," delivered in response to the disciples' questions about the destruction of the temple and the signs of His coming and the end of the age (Matt 24:3). Jesus begins by warning them against deception from the outset (Matt 24:4). He speaks of wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, and the rising of many false prophets who will lead many astray (Matt 24:6-12). Leading up to verse 24, Jesus specifically warns against immediate responses to cries of "Here is the Christ!" (Matt 24:23), emphasizing that His return will be unmistakable and public, not hidden or localized. Verse 24 provides the justification and severity of the preceding warning, explaining why they should not believe such claims – because powerful deception, marked by false christs and prophets with signs, will characterize this period.
Matthew 24 24 Word analysis
- For (γάρ - gar): A conjunction used here to provide a reason or explanation for the preceding warning in Matthew 24:23. It establishes the foundational danger.
- False Christs (ψευδόχριστοι - pseudochristoi): This term combines pseudos (false, deceitful) and Christos (Anointed One, Messiah). It refers to individuals who falsely claim to be the promised Messiah, usurping His divine identity and mission. In the Jewish context, Messianic expectation was high, making such claims highly influential.
- and (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting the two categories of deceivers.
- False Prophets (ψευδοπροφῆται - pseudoprophētai): Similar to false Christs, this term combines pseudos (false) and prophētēs (prophet). These are individuals who claim to speak for God but either utter their own words, the words of demons, or distort God's truth for their own ends. The Old Testament frequently warned against such individuals (e.g., Deut 13, Jer 14).
- Will arise (ἐγερθήσονται - egerthēsontai): Future passive, indicating that these figures will emerge and manifest, highlighting their proliferation and active presence.
- and (καὶ - kai): Another conjunction, connecting their emergence with their deceptive actions.
- Perform (δώσουσιν - dōsousin, lit. "will give," used in the sense of "to manifest" or "to perform"): Indicates that these deceptions are not merely rhetorical claims but tangible actions.
- Great Signs (σημεῖα μεγάλα - sēmeia megala): Sēmeia means "signs" or "miracles" that serve as indicators or proofs. Megala means "great" or "impressive." These are not minor or easily dismissed feats, but extraordinary, attention-grabbing displays that seem to validate the claims of the deceivers. They mimic divine power to create credibility.
- and (καὶ - kai): Connects "signs" and "wonders."
- Wonders (τέρατα - terata): Miraculous acts that cause astonishment, awe, or amazement. Often paired with "signs" (sēmeia) to emphasize their spectacular and powerful nature. This pair is common in Scripture, often describing divine acts, but here applied to satanically inspired deceptions.
- So as to lead astray (ὥστε πλανῆσαι - hōste planēsai): A purpose clause indicating the deliberate intent and goal of their actions. Planēsai means "to wander," "to go astray," "to deceive," "to lead into error." The power of these signs is directly aimed at misleading people from the truth.
- If possible (εἰ δυνατόν - ei dynaton): This critical phrase signifies the magnitude of the deception rather than an actual possibility for God's true elect to be lost. It implies the deceit will be so persuasive and potent that it would deceive anyone if God's protective hand were not upon His chosen. It speaks to the power of the false act, not the weakness of God's election or the perseverance of the saints.
- Even (καὶ - kai): Emphatic, highlighting the extreme reach and danger of the deception, targeting even those considered most secure in faith.
- The Elect (τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς - tous eklektous): Refers to those whom God has chosen or predestined for salvation through Christ before the foundation of the world. They are secured by God's sovereign grace and faithfulness, underscoring that while the deception is powerful, their ultimate security rests in God's hands.
Matthew 24 24 Bonus section
The warning in Matthew 24:24 extends beyond a historical context, carrying significant relevance for contemporary believers. It highlights that the validity of a spiritual claim or teaching should never be based solely on accompanying "signs and wonders." Miracles, while potentially from God, can also be counterfeit, powered by demonic forces (as seen with Pharaoh's magicians in Exodus or the Beast in Revelation). True discernment, according to Scripture, rests on conformity to biblical truth (sound doctrine) and alignment with the character of Christ. This means questioning any supposed prophet or "Christ" whose message deviates from the established Word of God, regardless of the spectacles they may perform. The divine protection promised to "the elect" implies the Holy Spirit's role in guiding believers into all truth and guarding them against fatal error, demanding their diligent engagement with the Scriptures and prayer for spiritual insight.
Matthew 24 24 Commentary
Matthew 24:24 reveals the cunning and potency of end-time deception, a warning critical for all believers. Jesus forecasts the rise of two categories of spiritual impostors: "false christs" who usurp the unique messianic role, and "false prophets" who distort divine revelation. Their distinguishing mark will be the performance of "great signs and wonders"—miraculous feats designed to validate their false claims and mesmerize an unsuspecting audience. The very power and impressiveness of these deceptions is their danger. The phrase "so as to lead astray" underscores their malevolent intent: to cause people to deviate from divine truth and to follow error. "If possible, even the elect" serves as a crucial theological boundary marker. It magnifies the unparalleled strength of the delusion, implying that only by divine grace and sovereign election will God's chosen ones persevere. This is not a suggestion that the elect can be eternally lost, but rather a testament to the immense deceptive power they will face, a power so great it would overcome anyone if God did not secure His own. This verse therefore simultaneously warns against pervasive end-time deception and affirms the secure preservation of God's elect by His power. It calls for constant vigilance, discernment rooted in truth, and unwavering faith in Christ, whose return will be unmistakably clear.