Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 24:5
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
5. saying, I am Christ ] Rather, the Christ, the Messiah. The appearance of false Messiahs shall be the first sign. St John bears witness to the fulfilment of this sign: “Even now are there many antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time,” 1Jn 2:18.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The FIRST sign is false Christs.
Verse 5. For many shall come in my name]
1. Josephus says, (War, b. ii. c. 13,) that there were many who, pretending to Divine inspiration, deceived the people, leading out numbers of them to the desert, pretending that God would there show them the signs of liberty, meaning redemption from the Roman power: and that an Egyptian false prophet led 30,000 men into the desert, who were almost all cut off by Felix. See Ac 21:38. It was a just judgment for God to deliver up that people into the hands of false Christs who had rejected the true one. Soon after our Lord’s crucifixion, Simon Magus appeared, and persuaded the people of Samaria that he was the great power of God, Ac 8:9-10; and boasted among the Jews that he was the son of God.
2. Of the same stamp and character was also Dositheus, the Samaritan, who pretended that he was the Christ foretold by Moses.
3. About twelve years after the death of our Lord, when Cuspius Fadus was procurator of Judea, arose an impostor of the name of Theudas, who said he was a prophet, and persuaded a great multitude to follow him with their best effects to the river Jordan, which he promised to divide for their passage; and saying these things, says Josephus, he deceived many: almost the very words of our Lord.
4. A few years afterwards, under the reign of Nero, while Felix was procurator of Judea, impostors of this stamp were so frequent that some were taken and killed almost every day. Jos. Ant. b. xx. c. 4. and 7.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Mark hath the same, Mar 13:6 Luke saith, Luk 21:8, Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not after them. Our Saviour seemeth to have given this as a sign common both to the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world, though possibly before the destruction of Jerusalem, while the Jews were in expectation of a Messiah as a temporal prince or deliverer, there were more of them than afterward, for every one who could get a party together to colour his sedition and rebellion, gave out himself to be the Christ. Of this number are said to have been Theudas, and Judas of Galilee, mentioned by Gamaliel, Act 5:36,37. Amongst these some also reckon the Egyptian mentioned Act 21:38, and Simon Magus, who gave out himself to be some great one, and the people accounted him the great power of God. Such there have been, and probably may be more toward the end of the world. Many were deceived by the impostors: Christ warns his disciples concerning them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
For many shall come in my name,…. by his orders, or with delegated powers and authority from him; but should assume the name of the Messiah, which was peculiarly his, to themselves; and take upon them his office, and challenge the honour and dignity which belonged unto him:
saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. This is the first sign, preceding the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem; as there was a general expectation among the Jews of a Messiah; that is, of one that should arise and deliver them from the Roman yoke, which was the common idea tacked to that word; in this period of time, many set up themselves to be deliverers and redeemers of the people of Israel: who had each of them their followers in great numbers, whom they imposed upon, and brought to destruction. Of this sort was Theudas, not he that Gamaliel speaks of, Ac 5:36 for he was before this time; but one that was in the time of Claudius Caesar, when Cuspius Fadus was governor of Judea; who persuaded a great number to follow him to the river Jordan, which he promised to divide, by a word of command, and give them a passage over; and thereby, as the historian observes c, , “he deceived many”; which is the very thing that is here predicted: but he and his company were routed Fadus, and his head cut off. There was another called the Egyptian, mentioned in Ac 21:38 who made an uproar, and led four thousand cut-throats into the wilderness; and this same man persuaded thirty thousand men to follow him to Mount Olivet, promising a free passage into the city; but he being vanquished by Felix, then governor of Judea; fled, and many of his followers were killed and taken d: and besides, there were many more magicians and impostors, that pretended to signs and wonders, and promised the people deliverance from their evils, by whom they were imposed upon to their ruin. There were others also besides these, that set up for deliverers, who called themselves by the name of the Messiah. Among these, we may reckon Simon Magus, who gave out that he was some great one; yea, expressly, that he was the word of God, and the Son of God e, which were known names of the Messiah; and Dositheus the Samaritan, asserted himself to be Christ f; and also Menander affirmed, that no man could be saved, unless he was baptized in his name g; these are instances before the destruction of Jerusalem, and confirm the prophecy here delivered.
c Joseph. Antiq. l. 20. c. 2. d Joseph. Antiq. l. 20. c. 6. e Jerom in loc. Iren. adv. Haeres. l. 1. c. 20. f Origen contr. Cels. l. 1. p. 44. g Tertull. de prescript. Haeret. c. 46.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
In my name ( ). They will arrogate to themselves false claims of Messiahship in (on the basis of) the name of Christ himself. Josephus (Wars VI, 54) gives there false Christs as one of the reasons for the explosion against Rome that led to the city’s destruction. Each new hero was welcomed by the masses including Barcochba. “I am the Messiah,” each would say. Forty odd years ago two men in Illinois claimed to be Messiah, each with followers (Schlatter, Schweinfurth). In more recent years Mrs. Annie Besant has introduced a theosophical Messiah and Mrs. Eddy made claims about herself on a par with those of Jesus.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
In my name [ ] . Lit., on my name, i e., on the strength of; resting their claims on the name Messiah.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
5. For many shall come in my name. He does not as yet speak generally of false and perverse doctrines, but refers to one class which was sort of introduction to all errors, by which Satan has attempted, in various ways, to corrupt the pure doctrine of the Gospel. For shortly after Christ’s resurrection, there arose impostors, every one of whom professed to be the Christ. And as the true Redeemer had not only been removed from the world, but oppressed by the ignominy of the cross, and yet the minds of all were excited by the hope and inflamed with the desire of redemption, those men had in their power a plausible opportunity of deceiving. Nor can it be doubted, that God permitted such reveries to impose on the Jews, who had so basely rejected his Son. Though those mad attempts speedily disappeared, yet God determined that disturbances of this kind should arise among the Jews; first, that they might be exposed to infamy and hatred; secondly, that they might altogether abandon the hope of salvation; and, lastly, that having been so frequently disappointed, they might rush to their destruction with brutal stupidity. For when the world turned away from the Son of God, to whom it belonged to collect them into holy union, it was right that it should be driven hither and thither by tempests; and by the same vengeance of God it was brought about, that more were carried away by a foolish credulity, than were brought by a right faith to obey God. This circumstance, too, was expressly stated by Christ, that believers might not faint at perceiving the crowd of madmen; for we know how prone we are to follow a multitude, especially when we are few in number.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(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 (Num. 24:17), is often named as a fulfilment; but he did not appear till A.D. 120nearly 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 1Jn. 2:18, may point to such phenomena; possibly, also, the prophecy of 2Th. 2:4. Theudas (the last rebel of that namenot the one named in Act. 5:36, but by Josephus, Ant. xx. 5), or the Egyptian of Act. 21:38, may possibly have mingled Messianic claims with their pretensions, but there is no evidence of it.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Saying, I am Christ In regard to the historical fulfilments of the details, consult our comments on Mark. But this caution clearly shows that it was of a literal coming which the discourse is to treat, and not a figurative.
The caution appears in more expanded form in the closing part of paragraph third, (Mat 24:24-27,) and the same contrast is drawn. Surely no one can compare the two antitheses contained in Mat 24:5-6 and in Mat 24:24-27 without seeing that they contrast the same things, and that, therefore, the end in Mat 24:6 is the coming of Mat 24:27.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah’, and will lead many astray.”
His first concern is that during this period many professing deliverers and saviours will arise among men, and will claim to be ‘God’s anointed’. And many will be led astray by them. The importance of this to Jesus is seen in that in one way or another He repeats it three times, see also Mat 24:11; Mat 24:24. No doubt such men did arise during the hectic period that led up to the destruction of the Temple, each arising in a small way, although very influential among those whom they affected, for fanaticism was continually abroad in Palestine at that time, and men have always delighted in accepting exalted titles, while others delight to see them as ‘messiahs’. So with a ‘coming Messiah’ anticipated it was inevitable that some would be seen in that way. And later history is also littered with men who made this kind of claim, and even more with men who behaved like it. The point is not, however, that one of them will be the true Messiah, so that they have to discern which one is the right one, but that none of them will be so. No human figure who arises in this way is to be believed, or spoken of as the Messiah, for that is not how He will come.
While it is true that we ourselves, because of our lack of contemporary material, only know of one who arose in the first centuries of our era, and officially claimed to be the Messiah, and was widely given heed to as such and given general acceptance among the Jews, and that was Bar Kochbah (c.135 AD), we can be sure that there were many who took the title to themselves in a small way as they stirred up their followers, or acknowledged it as their followers gave it to them. In the religious atmosphere of the time in and around Palestine it could hardly fail to happen. It is because they did not make sufficient impact on history to be remembered that we do not know of them, even though ‘many’ would be led astray by them. Compare Rev 6:2 which probably pictures the rise of false Messiahs. Also compare 1Jn 2:18-19 where John speaks of many ‘antichrists’ in his day.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Beginning of Birth Pains (the Early Contractions) (24:5-8).
Jesus begins by describing the turbulent future that the world must face. This should not have been surprising to anyone who knew the Scriptures. The Old Testament is full of descriptions of war and famines and earthquakes and tribulations which were to come and would occur at various stages. So Jesus’ words are simply confirming what the Scriptures had foretold. All that the prophets have spoken of must come about, but this particular aspect of it is not necessarily to be seen as the sign of the end. These wars (including the Judaean war) are simply initial birth pains.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Ver. 5. Shall come in my name ] Or, under my name, saying, I am Christ, as Theudas the Egyptian, Judas the Galilean, Act 5:36-37 . Barhocab, and others of old, who were miserably slain by the Romans. (Joseph. Antiq. xvii. 12, xviii. 20; B. J. ii. 12.) So one Moor in King Edward VI’s time, took upon him to be Christ. So did Hacket in Queen Elizabeth’s time; David George likewise and others in Germany. Here in England, at the Convocation held at Oseney under Stephen Langton, 1206, a certain young man professed himself to be Jesus Christ; showing marks of wounds in his hands, feet, and sides. He brought also two women with him, whereof one took upon her to be our Lady, and the other Mary Magdalene. This counterfeit Christ for his labour was worthily crucified. That I say nothing here of Papists, who desperately deny the Lord that bought them, and wickedly set up Antichrist in his stead (as were easy to prove), who opposeth him not so much in his nature or person, as in his unction and function, and thence also hath his name, , non , non .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 24:5 . , etc., the first omen the advent of pseudo-Messiahs . This first mentioned, quite naturally. Ruin of Jerusalem and the nation will come through revolt against Rome, and the deepest cause of revolt will be the Messianic hope as popularly understood. Volcanic outbursts of Messianic fanaticism inevitable, all the more that they have rejected the true spiritual Christ. Josephus testifies that this was the chief incentive to war against Rome (B. J., vi. 54). The aim of the popular Messianic hope was independence, and all leaders of movements having that goal in view came in the name of “Christs,” whether they formally assumed that name or not. It is doubtful if any did before the destruction of Jerusalem, but that does not falsify Christ’s prediction, which is expressed in terms of an idea rather than in technical terms suggested by fact. It is not a vaticinium ex eventu ; yet strictly true, if we understand by one coming in the name of Christ a leader of the fight for liberty ( vindicem libertatis , Grotius). . The political Christs, leaders of the war against Rome, deceived the bulk of the people. Jesus wished His followers to hold entirely aloof from the movement. To warn them against sympathising with it was by no means superfluous ( vide Luk 24:21 , Act 1:6 ).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
in = upon: trading upon. Greek. epi.
Christ = the Messiah. App-98.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 24:5. , …, for many, etc.) In the beginning will come false Christs; in the middle, false prophets, Mat 24:11; in the end, both (22, 24). A twofold climax.[1031]- , in My name) They will not only say that they have been sent by Me, but that they are He who I am.-, , saying, I am Christ) Joachim Camerarius says, Theophylact has recorded that a certain Samaritan, Dositheus by name, gave out that he was the prophet foretold by Moses; that Simon the Samaritan also (mentioned in the apostolic history of St Luke) called himself the Great Power of God, i.e. : the prediction seems also applicable to Theudas,[1032] and the certain Egyptian,[1033] and another pretender mentioned by Josephus (who records those matters in the eighteenth book of his Antiquities, and the second of his Conquest of Judea), all claiming the character of prophet, though being in reality seditious impostors. And, in later times, Manes even dared to call himself Christ, and, in imitation of Him, appoint twelve apostles.
[1031] i.e. The presence of the two classes together will be a greater evil than that of either of them alone.-(I. B.)
[1032] See Act 5:36.-(I. B.)
[1033] Act 21:38.-(I. B.)
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
in: Mat 24:11, Mat 24:24, Jer 14:14, Jer 23:21, Jer 23:25, Joh 5:43, Act 5:36, Act 5:37, Act 8:9, Act 8:10, Rev 13:8
Reciprocal: Jer 29:8 – Let Jer 37:9 – Deceive Mat 7:15 – false Mar 13:5 – Take Mar 13:6 – and shall Mar 13:21 – General Luk 21:8 – Take 2Th 2:2 – by spirit 2Th 2:11 – that 1Ti 4:1 – depart 2Pe 2:1 – even 1Jo 2:18 – ye have 1Jo 4:1 – believe not
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
24:5
Come in my name means they will take upon themselves the name of Christ as they come among the people. Just because they will be wearing that name they will deceive many who will not look any farther into the subject than the sound of the name.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 24:5. Come in my name, as the Messiah. The Messianic hopes of the Jews were at fever heat, as the destruction of their holy city drew near; many enthusiasts appeared as seducers of the people, and awakened false expectations. It is not known that they claimed the authority of the Christian Messiah. The prophecy goes beyond this, and intimates that Christians would be in danger of supposing some other person to be the Lord Himself. In later times fanaticism among Christians has taken this direction, e. g., the Anabaptists in the sixteenth century.
Deceive many. An overweening desire to understand this prophecy in its final application, combined with too material conceptions of the Second Advent, fosters such deception.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 5
In my name; claiming to be the Messiah.
Matthew 24:6,7. There was a literal fulfilment of these predictions just before the destruction of Jerusalem.