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Matthew 24 - Part 8

We have arrived at verse 5 of Matthew 24, which states: “For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

For [gar:G1063] Many [polys:G4183] Shall Come [erchomai:G2064]

The first phrase in Matthew 24:5 is, “For many shall come…”  is comprised of three words that appear in five other citations, two of which are parallel passages to Matthew 24:5, namely, Mark 13:6 and Luke 21:8 respectively:

“For [gar:G1063] many [polys:G4183] shall come  [erchomai:G2064]  in [epi:G1909] my  [mou:G3450] name [onoma:G3686], saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

“And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for [gar:G1063] many [polys:G4183] shall come  [erchomai:G2064] in [epi:G1909] my [mou:G3450] name [onoma:G3686], saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.”

By contrast, these three terms also appear in Mark 10:45 which speaks of Christ saving His elect, “...from the foundation of the world”: “For [gar:G1063] even the Son of man came [erchomai:G2064] not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” [polys:G4183]

The warning in Matthew 24:5 is also repeated two other times in verses 11 and 24 of Matthew 24, highlighting its monumental importance as the chief characteristic of the “Great Tribulation”:

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many… {24} For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

In  [epi:G1909] My [mou:G3450] Name [onoma:G3686]

The next phrase, “in my name” is also comprised of three terms, and is found , among other places, in two of the passages mentioned earlier: Mark 13:6 and Luke 21:8. There are some similar references in the book of Jeremiah with regard to false teachers and prophets, in which this phrase is utilized in Hebrew, as the following citations maintain:

Jeremiah 14:14-15 declare: “Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart. {15} Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.”

Likewise Jeremiah 23:25 adds: “I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.”

Jeremiah 27:15 also reveals: “For I have not sent them, saith the LORD, yet they prophesy a lie in my name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.”

We have learned for some time now that the book of Jeremiah is focused spiritually on “...judgment must first begin at the house of God…,” according to 1 Peter 4:17, and its Old Testament counterpart in Jeremiah 25:29 - and then God’s judgment transitions to the world at large, as it did on May 21, 2011: “For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name [Jerusalem - typifying the churches and denominations], and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.” 

Lord willing, we will continue our examination of Matthew 24:5 next month, and the phrases, “... I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

Prayer And Praise

• We are very grateful to God for His protection and guidance during the Peru tract trip.
• Please continue to pray for our daughter, Maria, and her personality schizophrenia.
• Please continue to pray for progress on the studio and and our website, as we are short-handed.
• Please pray that God would supply new monthly donors, according to His will.