Matthew 24:5 kjv
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matthew 24:5 nkjv
For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
Matthew 24:5 niv
For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many.
Matthew 24:5 esv
For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray.
Matthew 24:5 nlt
for many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah.' They will deceive many.
Matthew 24 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 7:15 | "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." | Warning against false prophets |
| Matt 24:4 | "Jesus answered and said to them: 'Take heed that no one deceives you.'" | Direct prelude; warning against deception |
| Matt 24:11 | "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." | Echoes the theme of widespread deception by false prophets |
| Matt 24:23-24 | "Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs... to deceive..." | Emphasizes resistance to claims of "here is the Christ" |
| Mark 13:6 | "For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many." | Parallel warning in Mark |
| Luke 21:8 | "And He said: 'Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Do not therefore go after them.'" | Parallel warning in Luke; adds urgency of time |
| Deut 13:1-5 | "If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams... and gives you a sign or a wonder... saying, 'Let us go after other gods...' you shall not listen..." | Old Testament warning against false prophets |
| Jer 14:14 | "The prophets prophesy lies in My name... They prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart." | Warning against prophets using God's name for deceit |
| Acts 5:36-37 | "For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody... After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census..." | Historical examples of individuals claiming to be leaders |
| Acts 20:29-30 | "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things..." | Internal threats, perversion of truth |
| Rom 16:17-18 | "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine... by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple." | Warning against divisive and deceptive individuals |
| Eph 5:6 | "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience." | Warning against general deception and empty words |
| Col 2:8 | "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." | Warning against philosophical and worldly deception |
| 2 Thess 2:3-4 | "Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition... exalting himself." | Eschatological context of the man of lawlessness |
| 2 Thess 2:9-10 | "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception..." | Description of the ultimate deceiver's methods |
| 1 Tim 4:1 | "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." | Prophecy of departing from faith due to deception |
| 2 Tim 3:13 | "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." | Escalation of evil and deception |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord..." | Clear warning against false teachers and heresies |
| 1 John 4:1 | "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." | Call to discernment and testing spirits |
| Rev 12:9 | "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world..." | Source of ultimate deception |
| Rev 13:14 | "And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast..." | Deception related to the beast's power |
| John 5:43 | "I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive." | Contrast between Jesus' true coming and others' false claims |
Matthew 24 verses
Matthew 24 5 Meaning
Matthew 24:5 serves as a direct warning from Jesus regarding spiritual deception preceding His return and the end of the age. It prophesies that numerous individuals will emerge, falsely claiming the identity of the Christ or Messiah, and by their false declarations, they will lead many people astray. This sign underscores the importance of discernment for believers as a key indicator of the spiritual climate during the last days.
Matthew 24 5 Context
Matthew 24:5 is part of the Olivet Discourse, delivered by Jesus on the Mount of Olives shortly before His crucifixion. The disciples had asked Him three questions: when the Temple would be destroyed, what would be the sign of His coming, and what would be the sign of the end of the age (Matt 24:1-3). In response, Jesus provided a series of prophecies and warnings regarding both the destruction of Jerusalem (which occurred in A.D. 70) and the broader signs leading up to His second coming and the consummation of the age. This verse stands as the very first specific warning following Jesus' initial injunction to "take heed that no one deceives you" (Matt 24:4), establishing spiritual deception, specifically related to false claims of Messiahship, as a primary and prominent characteristic of the perilous times ahead. Historically, in first-century Judea, a volatile political and religious climate, many individuals had arisen claiming to be messianic deliverers from Roman rule or other forms of oppression, reflecting the intense messianic expectation among the Jewish people.
Matthew 24 5 Word analysis
- For many (πολλοί - polloi): Implies a significant number, not just a few isolated cases. The deception will be widespread in scope.
- will come (ἐλεύσονται - eleusontai): Future tense, indicating a prophetic prediction. It signifies that these events are guaranteed to unfold as foretold.
- in My name (ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου - epi tō onomati mou): This phrase is crucial. It does not primarily mean acting on Jesus' behalf or under His authority, but rather assuming His identity, authority, or claim to Messiahship. It refers to those who usurp Christ's unique position, either claiming to be the Messiah themselves or claiming to speak with an exclusive, ultimate authority that replaces or supersedes Jesus.
- saying (λέγοντες - legontes): Expresses their direct proclamation or verbal assertion. They will explicitly state their false claims.
- 'I am the Christ' (Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ Χριστός - Egō eimi ho Christos): This is a direct, unequivocal claim to be the Messiah. Ego eimi ("I am") echoes divine declarations (cf. LXX for Ex 3:14), adding gravity to the false claim, implying unique authority. Ho Christos ("the Christ") is the Greek translation of the Hebrew "Messiah," meaning "the anointed one," the expected deliverer and king. This means they are directly impersonating or counterfeiting the unique identity and role of Jesus of Nazareth.
- and will deceive (καὶ πλανήσουσιν - kai planēsousin): From planao, meaning "to lead astray, to wander, to err, to delude." This highlights the dangerous consequence of following these false claims. It emphasizes the active work of misleading and the spiritual danger involved.
- many (πολλούς - pollous): Reinforces the pervasive nature of this deception. A large segment of people, though not all, will fall victim to these false teachings and false messiahs.
- "Many... saying, 'I am the Christ'": This phrase combination signifies a significant rise of individuals specifically claiming to be the Messiah. This is a targeted form of deception aimed at the core of faith.
- "in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ'": This emphasizes the deceptive nature, as the pretenders use the very "name" (identity/authority) of Christ to undermine Him. They present themselves as the fulfillment of expectation, yet they are false.
- "will deceive many": This highlights the grave consequence and the success of the deceivers in leading large numbers astray. It serves as a stark warning to listeners about the power and breadth of spiritual delusion.
Matthew 24 5 Bonus section
The warning in Matthew 24:5 is prophetic with both immediate historical application (e.g., numerous messianic pretenders before A.D. 70 who led segments of the Jewish populace astray) and continuous eschatological relevance for the entire church age. This is the very first specific "sign" of the end times mentioned by Jesus, indicating its immense significance as a pervasive threat. It sets the stage for the more advanced and globally impactful deception by the Antichrist and false prophet (Rev 13, 2 Thess 2:9-10). The verb "deceive" (πλαναω - planao) implies not merely misdirection, but a wandering from truth into error, a severe spiritual aberration. This highlights the ongoing need for believers to be firmly rooted in biblical truth, understanding the distinct character and message of the one true Christ, to withstand such powerful spiritual deceptions.
Matthew 24 5 Commentary
Matthew 24:5 issues a critical foundational warning in Jesus' Olivet Discourse: a key sign of the age preceding His return will be widespread spiritual deception centered around false messianic claims. These impostors will boldly proclaim themselves as the "Christ" or use the authority of His name to mislead, attracting many followers. This is not merely about generic false teaching, but a direct counterfeiting of Jesus' unique identity and role as the Anointed One. Throughout history and into the present, various figures have risen making such claims or acting with ultimate spiritual authority that rightly belongs only to Christ. This warning necessitates a constant spirit of discernment among believers, urging them to measure all claims against the true teachings and person of Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture. Believers must cultivate a deep relationship with the true Shepherd to recognize the voice of a stranger.Examples include historical figures claiming to be the Jewish Messiah, leaders of various cults proclaiming unique divine anointing or embodying a Christ-like role, and movements based on a specific personality rather than the person of Jesus Christ and His established doctrine.