And he said, “See 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus warns that false leaders will claim to be the Messiah, but the subtle clue is that they will also claim "the time is at hand." This phrase is a twisted echo of John the Baptist and Jesus himself, who announced the arrival of God's kingdom, but these deceivers use it to create a false sense of urgency and legitimacy for their own claims.
And he said, “See 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following Jesus' prediction about the temple's destruction, his disciples ask about the signs of these events and his return. Jesus immediately warns them not to be deceived, as many will claim to be the Messiah or announce that the "crisis has come," misleading people into following them. He emphasizes that these deceptive figures and signs of unrest are just the beginning of troubles, not the immediate end.
Jesus warns his followers about people who will claim divine authority. How do we discern truth from deception when it sounds so convincing?
Jesus' warning here is direct: "Many will come in my name." This doesn't just mean they'll use his name casually; it means they will claim to represent him, even to be him. Think of it like someone showing up to a party using your invitation, but acting like they are you. They'll make bold claims like 'I am he!' or 'The time is near!' – promises designed to grab your attention and loyalty. This is a crucial reminder that spiritual authority comes from God, not from persuasive words or claims of divine appointment. We need to test all claims against the truth of Scripture and the character of Christ.
Many who seek to deceive prey on a sense of urgency. Why is this tactic so effective, and how can we resist it?
Jesus highlights a common tactic of deception: 'The time is at hand!' False teachers often create a sense of immediate crisis or an impending breakthrough to pressure people into following them. They play on our desire for things to change quickly, for justice to arrive, or for God's kingdom to be fully established now. The original language suggests 'the season has come near' or 'the crisis has approached.' This isn't necessarily a bad thing in itself – Jesus himself declared 'The time is fulfilled' (Mark 1:15). But when false prophets use it, it's a tool to bypass careful discernment and prompt hasty decisions. True spiritual movements unfold according to God's timing, not manipulative deadlines.
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Discernment is not passive; it requires active obedience. What does Jesus mean by this direct command?
The ultimate instruction in this verse is simple yet profound: 'Do not go after them.' Jesus isn't just asking us to think critically; he's commanding us to act by refusing to follow those who are leading people astray. This means we need to be actively engaged in our faith, rooted in God's Word, and discerning about who we give our attention and allegiance to. It’s a call to a courageous, attentive faith that resists the pull of popular or persuasive deceivers. Our spiritual journey is meant to be walked with the true Shepherd, not wandering after those who mimic his voice.
Understand the original words
planaō · Greek Verb
To be caused to wander from the truth, to be deceived, or to be led into error. It is a frequent warning in Scripture against false teachings and false messiahs who attempt to draw believers away from Christ.
egō eimi · Greek Pronoun and Verb
A title of historical and theological significance, referring to the one promised by God to deliver His people. Jesus uses this to warn against imposters who will claim divine authority or messianic status to deceive the faithful.
Jesus' warning speaks directly to the turbulent period before and during the First Jewish-Roman War. Many would exploit the widespread anxiety and fervent hope for a messianic deliverer by falsely claiming to be Christ or announcing that the 'time' for God's kingdom was at hand, leading people astray just before Jerusalem's destruction.
c. 27 BC - AD 64
The Zealot Movement Grows
In the decades leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem, various factions and individuals, often identifying with the Zealot cause, emerged claiming to be messianic figures or leaders of a divinely ordained rebellion against Rome.
c. AD 40s - 60s— this verse
Rise of False Messiahs and Agitators
This period saw numerous individuals proclaiming themselves the Messiah or divinely appointed leaders, gathering followers and inciting unrest against Roman rule. These figures often promised imminent deliverance.
AD 66
The First Jewish-Roman War Begins
Growing tensions and Roman oppression erupted into full-scale rebellion. This war would bring immense devastation and ultimately lead to the fall of Jerusalem.
AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
Roman forces, led by Titus, besieged and destroyed Jerusalem, including the magnificent Second Temple. This event marked a catastrophic turning point for the Jewish people.
This passage directly parallels Jesus' warning in Luke, explicitly stating that many will come falsely claiming to be Christ, highlighting the deceptive nature of false messiahs.
2 Thessalonians 2:3This verse speaks of a future 'rebellion' and the 'man of lawlessness' who will deceive many, echoing the theme of deception and false claims to authority mentioned in Luke.
1 John 2:18John warns that even in his time, many 'antichrists' had already appeared, reinforcing the idea that the threat of deception and false leaders is a persistent reality throughout the church age, not just a future event.
Jeremiah 29:8This Old Testament prophet warns the Israelites in exile not to listen to false prophets who prophesy peace when disaster is coming, connecting to the warning against deceptive pronouncements about 'the time being at hand'.
clarkeLuke 21:8: "And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them."
Many shall come in my name - Usurping my name: calling themselves the Messiah. See Matthew 24:5 . Concerning this prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem, and its literal accomplishment, see the notes on Matthew 24:1-42 (note).
bengelLuke 21:8: "And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them."
Luke 21:8 . Ὁ καιρὸς ἤγγικε , the time draweth near [hath drawn near]) viz. the time of the Messiah. The thing itself in the thesis (the general proposition) is true. Mark 1:15 [“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand”]. The true Messiah has many characteristic marks, one of which is, the true time, to wit…
Jesus warns that false leaders will claim to be the Messiah, but the subtle clue is that they will also claim "the time is at hand." This phrase is a twisted echo of John the Baptist and Jesus himself, who announced the arrival of God's kingdom, but these deceivers use it to create a false sense of urgency and legitimacy for their own claims.
Following Jesus' prediction about the temple's destruction, his disciples ask about the signs of these events and his return. Jesus immediately warns them not to be deceived, as many will claim to be the Messiah or announce that the "crisis has come," misleading people into following them. He emphasizes that these deceptive figures and signs of unrest are just the beginning of troubles, not the immediate end.
Following Jesus' prediction about the temple's destruction, his disciples ask about the signs of these events and his return. Jesus immediately warns them not to be deceived, as many will claim to be the Messiah or announce that the "crisis has come," misleading people into following them. He emphasizes that these deceptive figures and signs of unrest are just the beginning of troubles, not the immediate end.
"And he said, “See 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." — Jesus warns that false leaders will claim to be the Messiah, but the subtle clue is that they will also claim "the time is at hand." This phrase is a twisted echo of John the Baptist and Jesus himsel…
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Last reviewed October 2026