Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 24:25
Behold, I have told you before.
Behold, I have told you before – Mark adds Mar 13:23, take ye heed. The reason why he told them before was that they might be on their guard, and be prepared for those calamities.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 25. Behold, I have told you before.] That is, I have forewarned you.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Behold, I have told you before. Meaning not before in this discourse, though he had in Mt 24:5 signified also, that false Christs, and false prophets should arise, but before these things came to pass; so that they had sufficient notice and warning of them, and would be inexcusable if they were not upon their guard against them; and which, when they came to pass, would furnish out a considerable argument in proof of him, as the true Messiah, against all these false ones, showing him to be omniscient; and so would serve to establish their faith in him, and be a means of securing them from such deceivers.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
25. Lo, I have foretold it to you. Mark expresses our Lord’s meaning more fully. But take heed: lo, I have foretold you all things. By these words we are taught that they who are dismayed by the stumbling-blocks which Christ predicted are altogether inexcusable; for since the will of God ought to be our rule, it is sufficient that we have received timely warning that such is his pleasure. Again, as he declares that
he is faithful, and will not suffer us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear, (1Co 10:13,)
we shall never be in want of strength to resist, provided that our weakness be not nourished by indifference.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
25. Behold, I have told you before And therefore it shall be impossible to deceive you, my elect.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Behold, I have told you beforehand.”
So they must remember that He has told them beforehand in order that they might not be led astray. Jesus is here putting Himself in the line of the great prophets who by their foreknowledge gave proof of their genuineness and integrity (compare Isa 41:22-23; Isa 44:7; Isa 45:21; Isa 46:10, and see Deu 18:15-22).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 24:25-26. Behold, &c. “Behold, I have given you sufficient warning.” It is remarkable, that our Saviour should not only foretel the appearance of these impostors, but also the manner and circumstances of their conduct; for some he mentions as appearing in the desert, and some in secret chambers, and the event has in all points answered tothe prediction. Several of the false Christs and false prophets conducted their followers into deserts, where they promised to shew wonders and signs; and many, being persuaded, suffered the punishments of their folly; some of them being brought back by Felix, and chastised or slain by him. The Egyptian false prophet, mentioned Act 21:38 led out into the wilderness, four thousand men that were murderers; but being engaged by Felix, the Egyptian himself with others fled away, and most of those who had been with him were slain or taken prisoners. These things happened before the destruction of Jerusalem. And a little after, one Jonathan, a weaver, persuaded many indigent men to follow him into the desert, promising to shew them signs; but most of his followers were also slain, some made prisoners, and he himself was afterwards taken, and burned alive, by order of Vespasian. As several of those impostors conducted their followers into the desert, so did others of them into the secret chambers, or places of security; particularly the false prophet mentioned by Josephus, who declared, that God commanded the people to go up into the temple, where they should receive the signs of deliverance. A multitude of men, women, and children went up accordingly; but, instead of deliverance, the place was set on fire by the Romans, and six thousand perished miserably in the flames, or by throwing themselves down to escape them. We may here observe, that the Messiah was particularly expected about the time of our Saviour, and consequently that the prophets had before-hand marked out that very time for his coming. We read not of any false Messiahs before the age of our Saviour, nor of so many in any age after; and why did they rise in that age particularly, if the Messiah was not at that time particularly expected? And why did the Jews expect their Messiah at that time more than at any other, if that was not the time before appointed for his coming? See Bishop Newton.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
“Behold, I have told you before. (26) Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. (27) For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (28) For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.”
I pause at this verse, respecting the carcass, and the gathering together of the eagles, to correct any error which might arise, as if it implied, that where Christ and his Gospel are, believers will flock. No doubt to Christ the gathering of the people shall be. But the term carcass, would but in suit with the person and glory of Christ. I rather conceive that by carcass, is meant the slaughtered state of the Jews; and that the Roman soldiers, whose ensign was that of an eagle, would be assembled to their destruction.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
25 Behold, I have told you before.
Ver. 25. Behold, I have told you before ] See, therefore, that ye stand alway upon your watch; for, for this end have I warned you: prevision is the best means of prevention. Leo cassibus irretitus ait si praescivissem. To sin after warning is to fall with open eyes, which deserves no pity. Not to be warned, is both a just presage and desert of a downfall.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 24:25 . . ., emphatic nota bene , showing that there will be real danger of misplaced fatal confidences. Hence further expatiation on the topic in Mat 24:26-28 in graphic, pithy, laconic speech.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Isa 44:7, Isa 44:8, Isa 46:10, Isa 46:11, Isa 48:5, Isa 48:6, Luk 21:13, Joh 16:1
Reciprocal: 1Ki 22:23 – the Lord 2Ch 18:22 – the lord hath Pro 27:18 – shall be Pro 31:15 – and giveth Eze 3:21 – if thou Mat 7:15 – false Mat 28:7 – lo Luk 17:34 – I tell Joh 13:19 – I tell Joh 14:29 – General Joh 16:4 – that when 1Co 9:17 – dispensation 1Ti 5:17 – rule 2Ti 2:2 – faithful Heb 11:7 – warned 2Pe 3:17 – seeing 2Jo 1:8 – Look
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4:25
This short verse is for the purpose of defeating the plots of the false prophets to mislead the elect, by impressing the seriousness of it on them beforehand.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 24:25. Told you before hand. (Mar 13:23, But take ye heed.) A warning which can scarcely have been exhausted in the first century.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Jesus reminded His disciples that He had forewarned them about these impostors (cf. Mar 13:1-37; Luk 21:5-36). They would need to be very careful so they will not dupe them.
The disciples Jesus addressed undoubtedly thought they would be alive when these things happened. However that was not to be the case, and Jesus said nothing to mislead them. He was teaching disciples of His in the years to come as well as those sitting in His presence in this discourse, as well as in His others.