Devine Scripture

Matthew 24:5

What does Matthew 24:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 24:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 24:5 means

Jesus explains the first specific danger: "many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray." This prophesies the rise of individuals falsely claiming to be the Messiah, using Christ's authority to deceive. In every age, such false claims have emerged, but Jesus warns of a significant proliferation of them as the end approaches. This underscores His earlier command to 'take heed,' emphasizing the necessity of discerning truth from error and remaining fixed on the true Christ, not those who merely claim His title.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

For people will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and a number will be turned from the true way through them.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they shall lead many astray,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For many will come in my name saying, I am Christ. And they will seduce many.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they shall mislead many.

Context

Following the general warning against deception in the previous verse, this verse provides the first concrete example of how believers might be led astray: through false Christs. This specific warning about imposters sets the stage for further descriptions of tribulations and deceptions that will characterize the period leading up to the end, escalating the signs Jesus describes.

v.4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray.

v.5This passage

v.6And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 John 2:18

    Little children, it is the last hour: and as ye heard that antichrist cometh, even now have there arisen many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last hour.

  • Jeremiah 23:21

    I sent not these prophets, yet they ran: I spake not unto them, yet they prophesied.

  • Jeremiah 14:14

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

  • Revelation 13:8

    And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.

  • John 5:43

    I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

  • Jeremiah 23:25

    I have heard what the prophets have said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

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