Matthew 24:5
New International Version
For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.

New Living Translation
for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.

English Standard Version
For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

Berean Standard Bible
For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Berean Literal Bible
For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will mislead many.

King James Bible
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

New King James Version
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

New American Standard Bible
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people.

NASB 1995
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

NASB 1977
“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

Legacy Standard Bible
For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Amplified Bible
For many will come in My name [misusing it, and appropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many.

Christian Standard Bible
For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For many will come in My name, saying, I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many.

American Standard Version
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray.

Contemporary English Version
Many will come and claim to be me. They will say they are the Messiah, and they will fool many people.

English Revised Version
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Many will come using my name. They will say, 'I am the Messiah,' and they will deceive many people.

Good News Translation
Many men, claiming to speak for me, will come and say, 'I am the Messiah!' and they will fool many people.

International Standard Version
because many will come in my name and say, 'I'm the Messiah,' and they will deceive many people.

Majority Standard Bible
For many will come in My name, claiming, ?I am the Christ,? and will deceive many.

NET Bible
For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will mislead many.

New Heart English Bible
For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray.

Webster's Bible Translation
For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and will deceive many.

Weymouth New Testament
"for many will come assuming my name and saying 'I am the Christ;' and they will mislead many.

World English Bible
For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for many will come in My Name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray,

Berean Literal Bible
For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will mislead many.

Young's Literal Translation
for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they shall lead many astray,

Smith's Literal Translation
For many shall come upon my name, saying, I am Christ; and deceive many.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For many will come in my name saying, I am Christ: and they will seduce many.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For many will come in my name saying, ‘I am the Christ.’ And they will lead many astray.

New American Bible
For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many.

New Revised Standard Version
For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For many will come in my name, and say, I am the Christ, and they will deceive many.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For many will come in my name, and they will say. 'I AM THE LIVING GOD, The Messiah', and they will deceive many.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and will deceive many.

Godbey New Testament
For many will come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and they will deceive many.

Haweis New Testament
For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Messiah; and shall deceive multitudes.

Mace New Testament
for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ: and shall deceive many.

Weymouth New Testament
"for many will come assuming my name and saying 'I am the Christ;' and they will mislead many.

Worrell New Testament
for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray.

Worsley New Testament
for many shall come in my name saying, I am the Christ, and shall deceive many.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Signs of the End of the Age
4Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.…

Cross References
1 John 2:18
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.

1 John 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.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. / He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Mark 13:6
Many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.

Luke 21:8
Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.

Acts 5:36-37
Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men joined him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. / After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and drew away people after him. He too perished, and all his followers were scattered.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Revelation 13:11-14
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. / And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. / And the second beast performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. ...

Revelation 19:20
But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

Jeremiah 23:21
I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, / and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” / you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Ezekiel 13:6-7
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?

Isaiah 8:19-20
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? / To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.


Treasury of Scripture

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

in.

Matthew 24:11,24
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many…

Jeremiah 14:14
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

Jeremiah 23:21,25
I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied…

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Matthew 24
1. Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple;
3. what and how great calamities shall be before it;
29. the signs of his coming to judgment.
36. And because that day and hour are unknown,
42. we ought to watch like good servants, expecting our Master's coming.














For many will come in My name
This phrase indicates a future time when numerous individuals will falsely claim to represent Jesus. The use of "in My name" suggests that these impostors will present themselves as legitimate messengers or representatives of Christ, leveraging His authority to gain followers. Historically, this has been seen in various movements and individuals who have claimed divine authority or messianic status. The warning is a call for discernment among believers, emphasizing the need to test the spirits and teachings against the truth of Scripture (1 John 4:1).

claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’
The declaration "I am the Christ" is a direct claim to the messianic title that belongs solely to Jesus. This reflects the historical context of the first century, where messianic expectations were high among the Jewish people. The phrase warns of false messiahs who would arise, attempting to lead people astray by claiming to fulfill the prophecies and roles attributed to the true Messiah. This connects to other scriptural warnings about false prophets and teachers (2 Peter 2:1) and highlights the importance of recognizing the unique and singular role of Jesus as the Christ.

and will deceive many.
The prediction that "many" will be deceived underscores the effectiveness and widespread impact of these false claims. It serves as a cautionary note about the vulnerability of people to spiritual deception, especially when it is cloaked in religious language and authority. This deception is not limited to the time of Jesus but extends throughout history, as seen in various cults and religious movements. The phrase calls believers to remain vigilant and grounded in the truth of the Gospel, echoing the apostolic exhortations to hold fast to sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this prophecy, Jesus is addressing His disciples on the Mount of Olives, warning them about future deceptions.

2. Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' discourse, representing the early followers of Christ and, by extension, all believers.

3. False Christs
Individuals who falsely claim to be the Messiah, leading people astray.

4. Mount of Olives
The location where Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse, a significant teaching on the end times.

5. Deception
A key event and theme in this passage, highlighting the spiritual danger of being led away from the truth.
Teaching Points
Vigilance Against Deception
Believers must remain vigilant and discerning, aware that false teachings and claims will arise.

Rooted in Scripture
Grounding oneself in the Word of God is essential to recognize and resist false claims of messiahship.

Spiritual Discernment
Cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit aids in discerning truth from deception.

Community Accountability
Engaging with a community of believers provides support and accountability in maintaining doctrinal purity.

Endurance in Faith
Despite the prevalence of deception, believers are called to endure in their faith, trusting in Christ alone.(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 destruction of Jerusalem. In the excited fanaticism of the time, however, it was likely enough that such pretenders should arise and disappear, after each had lived out his little day, and fill no place in history. The "many antichrists, i.e., rival Christs, of 1John 2:18, may point to such phenomena; possibly, also, the prophecy of 2Thessalonians 2:4. Theudas (the last rebel of that name--not the one named in Acts 5:36, but by Josephus, Ant. xx. 5), or "the Egyptian" of Acts 21:38, may possibly have mingled Messianic claims with their pretensions, but there is no evidence of it.

Verse 5. - Here begins what has been called the first strophe of the oracle (vers. 5-14), which indicates certain prognostics common to the close of the Jewish theocracy and to the end of the world. Many shall come in my Name (ἐπί τῷ ὀνόματί μου), resting on my Name, grounding their pretensions thereon. Saying, I am Christ (the Christ). They who really desired to follow Christ should be tried by the temptation to see in other persons the Messiah. The warning could scarcely have been needed by the apostles themselves; it must have been meant primarily for their converts and the early Christians. And though we have no account in apostolic Church history of any such pretenders, yet in the age succeeding our Lord's death we read of many impostors who asserted themselves to be inspired prophets, if not the Messiah, and led astray many credulous persons (see Josephus, 'Ant.,' 20:05. 1; 8. 6, etc.). There were doubtless many false Messiahs whose names are little known, and critics have enumerated twenty-nine such. The pretensions of these persons were not generally admitted, and their adherents were commonly few and uninfluential. Our Lord probably did not allude to these in his monition. But we may observe that the warning may include such deceivers as Simon Magus and those many false teachers who vexed the early Church, and, without assuming the name of Christ, did Satan's work by undermining the faith. St. John speaks of there being "many antichrists" in his day (1 John 2:18), and St. Paul had occasion to warn his converts against "heretical seducers" (see 2 Corinthians 11:13; 2 Thessalonians 2; 1 Timothy 6:3, etc.). Since then the prophecy has been fulfilled in the heretics who, professing to come in the Name of Christ and to enunciate his doctrine, or, like Mohammed, to assume his place, have taught lies. These shall abound in the latter days, and shall be a sign of the approaching end.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

many
πολλοὶ (polloi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

will come
ἐλεύσονται (eleusontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

in
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

My
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

name,
ὀνόματί (onomati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3686: Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.

claiming,
λέγοντες (legontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

‘I
Ἐγώ (Egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

am
εἰμι (eimi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Christ,’
Χριστός (Christos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

will deceive many.
πλανήσουσιν (planēsousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4105: To lead astray, deceive, cause to wander. From plane; to roam.


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