Matthew 24:24
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For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS. (Mat 25:1-13) Then--at the time referred to at the close of the preceding chapter, the time of the Lord's Second Coming to reward His faithful servants and take vengeance on the faithless. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom--This supplies a key to the parable, whose object is, in the main, the same as that of the last parable--to illustrate the vigilant and expectant attitude of faith, in respect of which believers are described as "they that look for Him" (Heb 9:28), and "love His appearing" (Ti2 4:8). In the last parable it was that of servants waiting for their absent Lord; in this it is that of virgin attendants on a Bride, whose duty it was to go forth at night with lamps, and be ready on the appearance of the Bridegroom to conduct the Bride to his house, and go in with him to the marriage. This entire and beautiful change of figure brings out the lesson of the former parable in quite a new light. But let it be observed that, just as in the parable of the Marriage Supper, so in this--the Bride does not come into view at all in this parable; the Virgins and the Bridegroom holding forth all the intended instruction: nor could believers be represented both as Bride and Bridal Attendants without incongruity.
Open source ↗24:24 false messiahs and false prophets (see 7:15; 24:4-8; also Acts 13:6; 2 Pet 2:1; 1 Jn 2:18; 4:1): Revelation describes a particular false prophet (see Rev 16:13). • signs and wonders: Not all miracles are proof of God’s approval (see Deut 13:1-4; Rev 13:13).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.
If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you,
We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him.
But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away.
Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”