Deception of False Prophets in Matthew 24
In Matthew 24:24, Jesus warns his disciples about the emergence of "false christs and false prophets" who will perform "great signs and wonders" with the intention of deceiving "even the chosen ones, if possible" [1]. This warning is part of Jesus' Olivet Discourse, where he describes the signs preceding the destruction of the temple and his second coming [1].
The literary context of Matthew 24 places this warning within a broader discussion of eschatological events. Jesus has just spoken about wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecutions, emphasizing that these are "the beginning of the birth pains" (Matthew 24:8). He then warns against false prophets who will lead many astray (Matthew 24:11) before specifically highlighting the deceptive power of false christs and prophets in verse 24 [1]. This suggests an escalation in the nature of deception as the end times approach. Other New Testament texts echo this concern, with references to false prophets appearing in Acts 13:6, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 2:18, and 4:1 [7]. The book of Revelation also describes a specific "false prophet" [7].
Historically, the concept of false prophets was not new to Jesus' audience. The Old Testament frequently addresses individuals who claimed to speak for God but were not sent by Him [4]. These figures often "pretended to be sent by God" but were "not sent or commissioned by God" [4]. Examples include prophets who prophesied falsely or spoke "lies in the name" of God [4]. The Old Testament also describes instances where God allowed false prophets to test Israel [4].
The term "false christs" (ψευδόχριστοι, pseudochristoi) refers to individuals who claim to be the Messiah. Historically, many such figures have appeared; one source notes that at least twenty-four individuals claimed to be the Messiah, with the last recorded instance in 1682 [3]. One notable example cited by John Gill is Bar Kokhba, who was proclaimed the Messiah by Rabbi Akiba in the second century CE [6]. The term "false prophets" (ψευδοπροφῆται, pseudoprophētai) refers to those who falsely claim divine inspiration or speak on behalf of these false christs [6]. These individuals are characterized in scripture as "light and treacherous," "covetous," "crafty," "drunken," and "immoral and profane" [4]. They are sometimes compared to "foxes in the desert" or "wind" [4].
A key element of the deception described in Matthew 24:24 is the performance of "great signs and wonders" (σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα μεγάλα, sēmeia kai terata megala) [1]. This highlights that not all miracles are proof of divine approval [7]. Deuteronomy 13:1-4, for instance, warns against prophets who perform signs and wonders but lead people away from God [7]. The power to perform such acts can come from evil agents, as seen in 2 Thessalonians 2:9, which speaks of the "activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders" [2]. The magicians of Egypt, the Witch of Endor, and Simon Magus are biblical examples of individuals performing miracles through non-divine power [2]. These deceptive miracles are intended to "lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones" [1].
The phrase "if possible, even the chosen ones" (εἰ δυνατὸν καὶ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς, ei dynaton kai tous eklektous) emphasizes the extreme nature of this deception. While the elect are ultimately secure, the warning underscores the intensity of the temptation [1]. The deceit comes from the heart and is a characteristic of the human heart, which God abhors [5]. Believers are cautioned to "beware of those who teach" deceit [5].
Theological traditions have interpreted this passage as a crucial warning for discernment. Athanasius of Alexandria noted that Christ's warning against false prophets is an instance of His goodness, preparing His followers for future challenges [9]. John Calvin emphasized that the primary test of doctrine is its tendency to promote the glory of God, not men, and that miracles should only confirm sound doctrine, not establish it [8]. Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, acknowledged that even false teachings might contain some mixture of truth, making discernment more complex [11]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, understood "false prophets" in this context primarily as "false teachers" who would deceive people concerning their duty and salvation [10]. He also noted that false prophets existed both in Jerusalem and among the exiles in Babylon, demonstrating their pervasive influence [12].
The warning in Matthew 24:24 thus serves as a timeless caution against spiritual deception, emphasizing the need for believers to test all claims and teachings against the true word of God, recognizing that even miraculous displays can be used to mislead [7, 8].
Sources
- Matthew “For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. -- Matthew 24:24”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Miracles Through Evil Agents — Performed through the power of the devil -- 2Th 2:9; Re 16:14. Wrought In support of false religions. -- De 13:1-2. By false christs. -- Mt 24:24. By false prophets. -- Mt 24:24; Re 19:20. A mark of the Apostasy -- 2Th 2:3,9; Re 13:13. Not to be regarded -- De 13:3. Deceive the ungodly -- 2Th 2:10-12; Re 13:14; 19:20. Exemplified Magicians of Egypt. -- Ex 7:11,22; 8:7. Witch of Endor. -- 1Sa 28:7-14. Simon Magus. -- Ac 8:9-11.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Christs, False — Our Lord warned his disciples that they would arise (Matt. 24:24). It is said that no fewer than twenty-four persons have at different times appeared (the last in 1682) pretending to be the Messiah of the prophets.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prophets, False — Pretended to be sent by God -- Jer 23:17,18,31. Not sent or commissioned by God -- Jer 14:14; 23:21; 29:31. Made use of by God to prove Israel -- De 13:3. Described as Light and treacherous. -- Zep 3:4. Covetous. -- Mic 3:11. Crafty. -- Mt 7:15. Drunken. -- Isa 28:7. Immoral and profane. -- Jer 23:11,14. Women sometimes acted as -- Ne 6:14; Re 2:20. Called foolish prophets -- Eze 13:2. Compared to foxes in the desert -- Eze 13:4. Compared to wind -- Jer 5:13. Influenced by evil spirits -- 1Ki 22:21,22. Prophesied Falsely. -- Jer 5:31. Lies in the na”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Deceit — Is falsehood -- Ps 119:118. The tongue, the instrument of -- Ro 3:13. Comes from the heart -- Mr 7:22. Characteristic of the heart -- Jer 17:9. God abhors -- Ps 5:6. Forbidden -- Pr 24:28; 1Pe 3:10. Christ was perfectly free from -- Isa 53:9; 1Pe 2:22. Saints Free from. -- Ps 24:4; Zep 3:13; Re 14:5. Purposed against. -- Job 27:4. Avoid. -- Job 31:5. Shun those addicted to. -- Ps 101:7. Pray for deliverance from those who use. -- Ps 43:1; 120:2. Delivered from those who use. -- Ps 72:14. Should beware of those who teach. -- Eph 5:6; Col 2:8. Should lay aside”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 24:24: For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,.... Such as the above mentioned: these false Christs had their false prophets, who endeavoured to persuade the people to believe them to be the Messiah, as Barcochab had Akiba, who applied many prophecies to him. This man was called Barcochab, which signifies the son of a star, in allusion to Num 24:17 he was crowned by the Jews, and proclaimed the Messiah by Akiba; upon which a Roman army was sent against him, and a place called Bitter was besieged, and taken, and he, and a prodigious number of Jews were dest”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 24:24: 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).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 9: of lies? The proper course, therefore, is, in the first instance, to ascertain and examine the doctrine which is said by the Evangelist to precede; then after it has been proved, but not till then, it may receive confirmation from miracles. But the mark of sound doctrine given by our Saviour himself is its tendency to promote the glory not of men, but of God ( John 7:18 ; 8:50 ). Our Saviour having declared this to be test of doctrine, we are in error if we regard as miraculous, works which are used for any other purpose than to mag”
- CCEL (Patristic) “Athanasius of Alexandria, Select Works and Letters, section 261: 223 To the Bishops of Egypt. ———————————— Chapter I. 1. Christ warned His followers against false prophets. All things whatsoever our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as Luke wrote, ‘both hath done and taught 1147 1147 Acts i. 1 . ,’ He effected after having appeared for our salvation; for He came, as John saith, ‘not to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved 1148 1148 John iii. 17 . .’ And among the rest we have especially to admire this instance of His goodness, that He was not silent concerning those wh”
- Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 7:15: We have here a caution against false prophets, to take heed that we be not deceived and imposed upon by them. Prophets are properly such as foretel things to come; there are some mentioned in the Old Testament, who pretended to that without warrant, and the event disproved their pretensions, as Zedekiah, Kg1 22:11, and another Zedekiah, Jer 29:21. But prophets did also teach the people their duty, so that false prophets here are false teachers. Christ being a Prophet and a Teacher come from God, and designing to send abroad teachers under him, gives warning to al”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Second Part of the Second Part (Secunda Secundae), Of the Cause of Prophecy, Art. 6: Article: Whether the prophets of the demons ever foretell the truth? I answer that, As the good is in relation to things, so is the true in relation to knowledge. Now in things it is impossible to find one that is wholly devoid of good. Wherefore it is also impossible for any knowledge to be wholly false, without some mixture of truth. Hence Bede says [*Comment. in Luc. xvii, 12; Cf. Augustine, Questions. Evang. ii, 40] that "no teaching is so false that it never mingles truth with f”
- Ezekiel (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Ezekiel 13:1: The false prophets, who are here prophesied against, were some of them at Jerusalem (Jer 23:14): I have seen in the prophets at Jerusalem a horrible thing; some of them among the captives in Babylon, for to them Jeremiah writes (Jer 29:8), Let not your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you. And as God's prophets, though at a distance from each other in place or time, yet preached the same truths, which was an evidence that they were guided by one and the same good Spirit, so the false prophets prophesied the same lies, being actuated by one and the s”