For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Parallel translations
- WEB For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray.
- BSB For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
- NKJV For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.
- NASB For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people.
- NLT for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Many will come claiming to be the Christ and will deceive many. It warns that false messiahs are a recurring danger.
Overview
Jesus foretells that deceivers will arise claiming his title and leading multitudes astray. Such false claims have appeared throughout history. The warning calls believers to hold fast to the true Christ and not be swept up by counterfeit saviors who exploit hope and fear.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 24:11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
- Matt 24:24For 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.
- Jer 14:14Then 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.
- 1 Jn 2:18Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
- Acts 5:36–37For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
- Acts 8:9–10But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
- Jer 23:25I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.
- John 5:43I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
- Jer 23:21I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
- Rev 13:8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 24:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.