Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 24:11
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
11. false prophets ] At the siege of Jerusalem “false prophets suborned by the Zealots kept the people in a state of feverish excitement, as though the appointed Deliverer would still appear.” Milman’s History of the Jews, ii. 371.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And many false prophets – Many men pretending to be prophets or foretellers of future events. This refers not to the false Messiahs of which he had spoken Mat 24:5, but to prophets who should appear during the siege of the city. Of them Josephus says: The tyrannical zealots who ruled the city suborned many false prophets to declare that aid would be given to the people from heaven. This was done to prevent them from attempting to desert, and to inspire confidence in God. – Jewish Wars, b. 6 chapter 5, section 2, 3.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. False prophets] Also were to be raised up; such as Simon Magus and his followers; and the false apostles complained of by St. Paul, 2Co 11:13, who were deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Such also were Hymeneus and Philetus, 2Ti 2:17-18.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Here are two signs more given:
1. The abounding of false teachers.
2. The abatements of Christians zeal, and love to God.
For the matter of Mat 24:11, See Poole on “Mat 24:23” and See Poole on “Mat 24:24“, where we shall meet with it more fully.
By the aboundings of iniquity here, we may either understand the rage, and malice, and cruelty of the enemies of the gospel; or the apostasy of such as are professors. Both these are great temptations, and though they will not extinguish that holy fire which God hath kindled in good souls, yet they have oft times a very ill influence upon them, to abate of their former warmth in the ways of God. Or if we understand it of love to brethren, the apostasy of professors much cools the Christian, not knowing who they may trust and confide in as sincere. If by the abounding of iniquity we understand the abounding of profaneness in the general, (which always also aboundeth most in times of persecution), that also hath no small influence upon Christians warmth in their profession, to cool and abate it: see Heb 10:25; 2Ti 1:15; 4:16.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And many false prophets shall rise,…. Out of, from among the churches of Christ; at least under the name of Christians; for false teachers are here meant, men of heretical principles, pretending to a spirit of prophecy, and to new revelations, and a better understanding of the Scriptures; such as Simon Magus, Ebion, and Cerinthus, who denied the proper deity, and real humanity of Christ; Carpocrates, and the Gnostics his followers, the Nicolaitans, Hymcneus, Philetus, and others:
and shall deceive many: as they all of them had their followers, and large numbers of them, whose faith was subverted by them; and who followed their pernicious ways, being imposed upon and seduced by their fair words, specious pretences, and licentious practices.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
False prophets (). Jesus had warned against them in the Sermon on the Mount (7:15). They are still coming.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
11. And many false prophets will arise. This warning differs from the former, in which Christ foretold that many would come in his name. For there he spoke only of impostors, who, shortly after the commencement of the Gospel, gave out that they were the Christ; but now he threatens that in all ages false teachers will arise, to corrupt sound doctrine, as Peter tells us (2Pe 2:1) that the Church will be no less exposed to this evil under the Gospel than it anciently was under the Law. There is therefore no reason why error, and certain impostures of the devil and corruptions of piety, should strike pious minds with dismay; since no man is properly founded on Christ, who has not learned that we must stand firm against such attacks; for this is the undoubted trial of our faith, when it is in no degree shaken by the false doctrines which arise, or does he only say that false prophets will come, but likewise that they will be so crafty as to deceive and draw away sects after them. (133) No ordinary caution is necessary here; for the multitude of those who are going astray is like a violent tempest, which compels us to leave the course, if we are not firmly fixed on God. On this subject something was said but lately.
(133) “ En sorte qu’ils auront des disciples, et feront des sectes;” — “so that they will have disciples, and will form sects.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) Many false prophets shall rise.The later writings of the New Testament bear repeated testimony to this feature of the ten years that preceded the destruction of Jerusalem. St. John speaks of false prophets (1Jn. 4:1), and many antichrists (1Jn. 2:18); St. Peter of false teachers (2Pe. 2:1), like the false prophets of old; St. Paul of men who should give heed to seducing spirits (1Ti. 4:1). These show the extent of the evil which was the natural outcome of the feverish excitement of the people. In Josephus (Wars, vi. 5, 2) we have the record of this working of false prophecy in more immediate connection with Juda and Jerusalem. Up to the last moment of the capture of the city by Titus, men were buoyed up with false hopes of deliverance, based on the predictions of fanatics and impostors.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
“And many false prophets will arise, and will lead many astray.”
Many false prophets and teachers will arise and will lead many astray. This would include so-called prophets among His followers, and many others as well. False teaching will abound (compare Mat 7:15-20; 2Pe 2:1-3; 1Jn 2:18-19; Jud 1:4). And sadly through it many will be led astray. For being ‘led astray’ will be a feature of history, see Mat 24:4-5; Mat 24:11; Mat 24:24.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 24:11. Many false prophets shall rise Such particularly were Simon Magus, and his very numerous followers, the Gnostics. Such also were the Judaizing teachers, mentioned 2Co 11:13. Such also were Hymeneus and Philetus, of whom the apostle, 2Ti 2:17 complains, that they affirmed the resurrection to be past already, and overthrew the faith of some.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Mat 24:11 . Besides this ruinous apostasy in consequence of persecution from without, there is the propagation of error by false Christian teachers living in the very bosom of the church itself (comp. Mat 7:15 ). These latter should not be more precisely defined (Kstlin: “extreme antinomian tendencies;” Hilgenfeld: “those who adhere to Pauline views;” comp. also Weiss, Bibl. Theol. p. 586, Exo 2 ). The history of the apostolic age has sufficiently confirmed this prediction, Act 20:30 ; 1Jn 4:1 .
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Ver. 11. And shall deceive many ] Witness the Eastern and Western Antichrist, those deceitful workers, that have drawn millions of souls into hell by their grand impostures. The world went wondering after those two beasts, which, as the panther, hid their horrid heads, that they might take men with their flesh pleasing superstitions. And (as the serpent scytale) when they cannot otherwise overtake the flying passenger, they so bewitch him with their beauty and bravery, that he hath no power to pass away.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 24:11 . , false prophets. The connection requires that these should be within the Christian community (otherwise in Mat 24:24 ), giving false presentations of the faith with corrupt motives. A common feature in connection with new religious movements ( vide on Mat 7:15 ).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Mat 24:11-13. , …, and many, etc.) Faith, love, and hope must be anxiously preserved.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mat 24:5, Mat 24:24, Mat 7:15, Mar 13:22, Act 20:30, 1Ti 4:1, 2Pe 2:1, 1Jo 2:18, 1Jo 2:26, 1Jo 4:1, Jud 1:4, Rev 19:20
Reciprocal: Deu 13:1 – a prophet Neh 6:14 – on the prophetess Mar 13:6 – and shall Luk 21:8 – Take Rom 16:18 – by 1Co 15:33 – Be Eph 4:14 – by the 2Th 2:11 – that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4:11
This is the same prediction that is made in verse 5.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 24:11. Many false prophets. In the Apostolic times such teachers appeared; Judaizing first proclaiming strict adherence to the law, and afterwards a kind of antinomianism, or lawlessness. Comp. the later Epistles. The same moral phenomena will mark an analogous period.