Matthew 24:5
For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus warns that many will claim to be the Messiah, not just impersonating Him, but asserting they are the Christ. This isn't simply about false teachers, but about impostors who will leverage the very name and promise of the Messiah to lead people astray.
Jesus is answering His disciples' questions about when the temple would be destroyed and what signs would accompany His coming and the end of the age. He begins by warning them against deception, explaining that before these major events, many would falsely claim to be the Messiah and lead people astray, a warning that would become acutely relevant in the tumultuous years leading up to Jerusalem's fall.
Jesus says many will come claiming, 'I am the Christ.' What does this imitation of the true Christ look like, and why is it so dangerous?
This verse highlights a specific type of deception: individuals claiming to be the Messiah. The phrase 'I am the Christ' isn't just a casual boast; it's a direct usurpation of Jesus' unique identity and role.
Mimicking the Messiah
This warning is incredibly relevant today, as various ideologies and individuals still try to present themselves as the ultimate answer or savior, often drawing on religious language or concepts to do so.
Jesus warns that these false claimants 'will lead many astray.' What does this spiritual 'astray-ness' truly cost, and how does it happen?
The consequence of following these deceivers is not minor; it's a profound spiritual redirection that leads people away from truth and salvation.
The Cost of Deception
Understand the original words
Christos · Greek Noun
The promised Messiah of Israel, the Anointed One, who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies and the office of Prophet, Priest, and King. He is the Savior sent by God to redeem humanity from sin.
This warning from Jesus points to a recurring danger throughout history: individuals who falsely claim messianic authority, especially during times of political and religious upheaval, seeking to mislead people away from the true path.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus, the true Messiah, is crucified, but his resurrection offers hope and signifies the beginning of his spiritual kingdom.
c. AD 30s - 60s— this verse
Emergence of False Christs and Prophets
Following Jesus' death and resurrection, various individuals emerged claiming to be the Messiah or divinely inspired prophets, often leading followers into rebellion and disaster.
c. AD 40s
Theudas' Deception
A deceiver named Theudas claimed to be a prophet and persuaded many to follow him to the Jordan River, promising a miraculous crossing, but was eventually captured and executed.
c. AD 50s
The Egyptian Prophet
Another false prophet, known as 'the Egyptian,' led a large group of zealots into the desert, claiming divine intervention, but their rebellion was brutally suppressed.
This passage speaks of 'many antichrists' appearing, which directly relates to the theme of false messiahs and deceivers that Jesus warns about in Matthew 24:5.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4These verses describe a future 'rebellion' and the 'man of lawlessness' who will exalt himself, paralleling the deception and false claims Jesus foretells.
Jeremiah 29:8This Old Testament prophecy warns against false prophets and diviners who will mislead the people, highlighting a recurring theme of spiritual deception throughout Scripture.
Acts 5:36-37This historical account in Acts mentions Theudas and Judas of Galilee, who stirred up followers and claimed to be important figures, serving as early examples of the kind of deceivers Jesus predicted.
2 Peter 2:1This passage directly warns of 'false prophets' who will arise and spread destructive heresies, echoing Jesus' caution against those who would deceive many with false claims.
calvinMatthew 24:1-8: "And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple."
- And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple, and his disciples came to him, to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2. And Jesus said to them, Do you not see all these things? Verily I say to you, There shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down. 3. And while he was sitting on the mountain of Olives, the disci…
ellicottMatthew 24:5: "For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."
(5) Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ. —Better, the Christ. No direct fulfilments of this prediction are recorded, either in the New Testament, or by Josephus, or other historians. Bar-Cochba (the “son of the star”), who claimed to be the “Star” of the prophecy of Balaam ( Numbers 24:17 ), is often named as a fulfilment; but he did not appear till A.D. 120—nearly 50 years after the destruc…
Jesus warns that many will claim to be the Messiah, not just impersonating Him, but asserting they are the Christ. This isn't simply about false teachers, but about impostors who will leverage the very name and promise of the Messiah to lead people astray.
Jesus is answering His disciples' questions about when the temple would be destroyed and what signs would accompany His coming and the end of the age. He begins by warning them against deception, explaining that before these major events, many would falsely claim to be the Messiah and lead people astray, a warning that would become acutely relevant in the tumultuous years leading up to Jerusalem's fall.
Jesus is answering His disciples' questions about when the temple would be destroyed and what signs would accompany His coming and the end of the age. He begins by warning them against deception, explaining that before these major events, many would falsely claim to be the Messiah and lead people astray, a warning that would become acutely relevant in the tumultuous years leading up to Jerusalem's fall.
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This shows that spiritual discernment isn't just an intellectual exercise; it's vital for protecting ourselves and others from deep spiritual harm.
c. AD 60s
Growing Unrest in Judea
As Roman oppression and internal strife intensified, the climate in Judea became ripe for messianic claims and popular uprisings.
AD 66-73
First Jewish-Roman War
Widespread rebellion against Roman rule erupted, leading to immense destruction, including the eventual fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Second Temple.
"For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray." — Jesus warns that many will claim to be the Messiah, not just impersonating Him, but asserting they are the Christ. This isn't simply about false teachers, but about impostors who will leverage the…
