Luke 21:8
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
the time--of the Kingdom, in its full glory. go . . . not . . . after them--"I come not so very soon" (Th2 2:1-2) [STIER].
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. The notice Christ took, and the approbation he gave, of a poor widow that cast two mites into the treasury (Luk 21:1-4). II. A prediction of future events, in answer to his disciples' enquiries concerning them (Luk 21:5-7). 1. Of what should happen between that and the destruction of Jerusalem - false Christs arising, bloody wars and persecutions of Christ's followers (Luk 21:8-19). 2. Of that destruction itself (Luk 21:20-24). 3. Of the second coming of Jesus Christ to judge the world, under the type and figure of that (Luk 21:25-33). III. A practical application of this, by way of caution and counsel (Luk 21:34-36), and an account of Christ's preaching and the people's attendance on it (Luk 21:37, Luk 21:38).
Open source ↗21:8-11 Jesus foretold events that are often misinterpreted as signs of the end, such as the appearance of false messiahs, wars, earthquakes, famines, and severe persecution, but Jesus said that the end won’t follow immediately. 21:8 claiming, ‘I am the Messiah’: See study note on Mark 13:5-6.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
and many false prophets will arise and mislead many.
For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners among you, and do not listen to the dreams you elicit from them.
while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go out or chase after them.
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, refusing to confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.
And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”