Mat 24:24-27 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 24. False Christs . Persons claiming to be the Messiah. False prophets . Persons claiming to be the prophet spoken of by Moses, or persons pretending to declare the way of deliverance from the Romans, and calling the people to follow them. See . Shall shew great signs and wonders . That is, shall pretend to work miracles. Shall so nearly resemble prophets in their miraculous power as to render it difficult to detect the imposture. Josephus represents the false Christs and prophets that appeared, as magicians and sorcerers . He says they led the people out into the deserts, and promised to work miracles to deliver them. Ant., book xx., chap. 8, 6. If it were possible , they shall deceive, etc. So nearly would their pretended miracles resemble true miracles, as to render it difficult to detect the imposition; and so much so, that if it were possible they would persuade even true Christians that they were the Messiah. But this was not possible. They would be too firmly established in the belief that Jesus was the Christ, to be wholly led away by others. Christians may be sometimes led far astray; they may be in doubt about some great doctrines of religion; they may be perplexed by the cavils and cunning craftiness of those who do not love the truth; but they cannot be wholly deceived, and seduced from the Saviour. Our Saviour says, that if this were possible, it would be done then. But it was not possible. (v) "For there shall" (w) "shall shew" (x) "if it were possible"

Matthew 24:24-27

Verse 24. False Christs. Persons claiming to be the Messiah.

False prophets. Persons claiming to be the prophet spoken of by Moses, De 18:15 or persons pretending to declare the way of deliverance from the Romans, and calling the people to follow them. See Mt 24:5.

Shall shew great signs and wonders. That is, shall pretend to work miracles. Shall so nearly resemble prophets in their miraculous power as to render it difficult to detect the imposture. Josephus represents the false Christs and prophets that appeared, as magicians and sorcerers. He says they led the people out into the deserts, and promised to work miracles to deliver them. Ant., book xx., chap. 8, 6.

If it were possible, they shall deceive, etc. So nearly would their pretended miracles resemble true miracles, as to render it difficult to detect the imposition; and so much so, that if it were possible they would persuade even true Christians that they were the Messiah. But this was not possible. They would be too firmly established in the belief that Jesus was the Christ, to be wholly led away by others. Christians may be sometimes led far astray; they may be in doubt about some great doctrines of religion; they may be perplexed by the cavils and cunning craftiness of those who do not love the truth; but they cannot be wholly deceived, and seduced from the Saviour. Our Saviour says, that if this were possible, it would be done then. But it was not possible.

(v) "For there shall" Mt 24:5,11 (w) "shall shew" 2Thes 2:9-11, Rev 13:13 (x) "if it were possible" Jn 10:28,29 Verse 25. Behold, etc. Mark adds, Mk 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. Verse 26. Behold, he is in the desert. The Jews had formed the expectation that the Messiah would appear suddenly, from some unexpected quarter. Hence many would be looking to the desert places, expecting that he would come from them. Accordingly, most of the impostors and pretended prophets led their people into the deserts.

Go not forth. Do not follow them. They will only deceive you.

In the secret chambers. Concealed in some house, or some retired part of the city. Many would, doubtless, pretend that the Messiah was concealed there; and, either for the purpose of encouraging or deceiving the people, would pretend that they had discovered him. Verse 27. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, etc. This is not designed to denote the quarter from which he would come, but the manner. He does not mean to affirm that the Son of man will come from the east, but that he will come in a rapid and unexpected manner, like the lightning. Many would be looking for him in the desert; many in secret places. But, he said, it would be useless to be looking in that manner. It was useless to look to any particular part of the heavens, to know where the lightning would next flash. In a moment it would blaze in an unexpected part of the heavens, and shine at once to the other part. So rapidly, so unexpectedly, in so unlooked-for a quarter would be his coming. See Lk 10:18; Zech 9:14.

The coming of the Son of man. It has been doubted whether this refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, or to the coming at the day of judgment. For the solution of this doubt, let it be remarked,

(1.) that those two events are the principal scenes in which our Lord said he would come, either in person or in judgment.

(2.) That the destruction of Jerusalem is described as his coming, his act, for their great crimes.

(3.) That these events--the judgment of Jerusalem and the final judgment --in many respects greatly resemble each other.

(4.) That they will bear, therefore, to be described in the same language. And,

(5.) therefore, that the same words often include both events, as properly described by them. The words, therefore, had doubtless a primary reference to the destruction of Jerusalem, but such an amplitude of meaning as also to express his coming to judgment.

Isa 1:1, 7, (3.)

(y) "the lightning" Zech 9:14, Lk 17:24