Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Many shall come in my name - Usurping my name: calling themselves the Messiah. See Matthew 24:5. Concerning this prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem, and its literal accomplishment, see the notes on Matthew 24:1-42 (note).

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

And he said, Take heed that ye be led not astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them. And when ye shall hear of wars and tumults, be not terrified; for these things must needs come to pass first; but the end is not immediately.

There were many historical fulfillments of the things mentioned here in the forty years preceding the destruction of Jerusalem. Such things as "wars and tumults," however, were but the normal state of humanity; and even the earthquakes and natural disasters mentioned a moment later were all "par for the course," as far as this world is concerned.

One thing that has occasioned some questioning among scholars is Jesus' prophecy of the many false christs who would come claiming to be "I AM," and that "the time (of the End) is at hand." Geldenhuys said;

As far as can be ascertained, there were no persons who represented themselves as Christ during the years between the Ascension and 70 A.D. ... this refers to the last days before his Second Advent.[14]

Boles, however, mentioned that the whole country (during those years) "was overrun with magicians, seducers, impostors, etc., who drew the people after them into the wilderness, promising signs and wonders.[15] There was also a pretended prophet, an Egyptian (Acts 21:38).

If there were indeed no such people claiming to be "Christ" during the interval, Geldenhuys is correct in referring the words to the times prior to the End; but it is rash to conclude that there were no such claimants to Messiahship, whether or not we may be able to identify them. Spence stated that:

Many of these pretenders appeared during the lifetime of the apostles ... Simon Magus was one (Acts 8). His rival Dositheus, and his disciple Meander were such ... Many of these false Messiahs appeared in the interval between the Ascension and the destruction of Jerusalem.[16]

In view of the prophecy of Jesus, and the known condition of the times, it would appear that the preponderance of evidence favors Spence's view.

By the very nature of this double prophecy, the same condition of false pretenders to Messiahship and deity will mark the approach of the final judgment; and it must be observed that our generation has already seen many such pretenders to divine honors.

[14] Ibid., p. 530.

[15] H. Leo Boles, Commentary on Luke (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1940), p. 394.

[16] H. D. M. Spence, op. cit., p. 184.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And he said, take heed that ye be not deceived,.... With false Christs, and false prophets:

for many shall come in my name; making use of his name, taking it to them; not that they would pretend they were sent by him, but that they were he himself:

saying, I am Christ; so the Syriac and Persic versions supply as we do:

and the time draweth near; not that such will come, but when come, they will say, that the time of the deliverance of the Jewish nation from the Roman yoke is at hand:

go ye not therefore after them; do not be their disciples, or follow them where they would lead you; for nothing but destruction will be the consequence of it.

Geneva Study Bible

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come ^b in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

(b) Using my name.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

the time — of the Kingdom, in its full glory.

go  …  not  …  after them — “I come not so very soon” (2 Thessalonians 2:1, 2 Thessalonians 2:2) [Stier].

Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament

That ye be not led astray (μη πλανητητε — mē planēthēte). First aorist passive subjunctive with μη — mē (lest). This verb πλαναω — planaō occurs here only in Luke though often in the rest of the N.T. (as Matthew 24:4, Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, Matthew 24:24, which see). Our word planet is from this word.

The time is at hand (ο καιρος ηγγικεν — ho kairos ēggiken). Just as John the Baptist did of the kingdom (Matthew 3:2) and Jesus also (Mark 1:15).

Go ye not after them (μη πορευτητε οπισω αυτων — mē poreuthēte opisō autōn). First aorist passive subjunctive with μη — mē A needed warning today with all the false cries in the religious world.

Vincent's Word Studies

Deceived

Rev., rightly, led astray. See on Matthew 24:4.

In my name

See on Matthew 18:5.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

I am the Christ; and the time is near — When I will deliver you from all your enemies. They are the words of the seducers.

The Fourfold Gospel

And he said, Take heed that ye be not led astray: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am [he]¹; and, The time is at hand: go ye not after them.

1. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [he]. See .

Scofield's Reference Notes

And he said

See note on the Olivet discourse. (See Scofield "Matthew 24:3").

John Trapp Complete Commentary

8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Ver. 8. See Matthew 24:4-5, &c.

Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament

Observe here, Christ does not gratify his disciples' curiosity, but acquaints them with their present duty; namely, to watch against deceivers and seducers, who should have the impudence to affirm themselves to be Christs, saying, I am Christ: some Christs personal, or the Messiah; others Christs doctrinal, affirming their erroneous opinions to be Christ's mind and doctrine: Take heed that ye be not deceived, for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ.

Observe farther, the signs which our Saviour gives of Jerusalem's approaching destruction, namely, the many broils and commotions, the civil disorders and dissensions, that should be found among the Jews immediately before: Ye shall hear of wars and commotions, and see fearful sights, and great signs from heaven. Josephus declares, that there appeared in the air chariots and horsemen skirmishing, and that a blazing star in fashion of a sword hung over the city for a year together.

Hence learn, that war, pestilence, and famine, are judgments and calamities inflicted by God upon a sinful people for their contempt of Christ and gospel grace. Ye shall hear of war, famine, and pestilence.

Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary

8.] ὁ κ. ἤγγ., i.e. the time of the Kingdom.

They are the words, not of our Lord, but of the πολλοί: see on Matthew 24:4-5.

Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament

Luke 21:8. ὁ καιρὸς ἤγγικε, the time draweth near [hath drawn near]) viz. the time of the Messiah. The thing itself in the thesis (the general proposition) is true. Mark 1:15 [“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand”]. The true Messiah has many characteristic marks, one of which is, the true time, to wit of both Advents. But false Messiahs and impostors boastingly alleged a false time for Jerusalem being ennobled by the setting up of the kingdom of God, at the very time when destruction was about immediately to assail it: Luke 21:24.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

See Poole on "Matthew 24:4", See Poole on "Matthew 24:5", See Poole on "Mark 13:5", and See Poole on "Mark 13:6". This happened, and was abundantly fulfilled, before the destruction of Jerusalem, and probably will receive a further fulfilling in the latter end of the world. But before the destruction of Jerusalem it was, as Josephus assures us, fulfilled in many, particularly:

1. In one Theudas, whether the same mentioned by Gamaliel, Acts 5:36, or some other of that name, is uncertain.

2. An Egyptian sorcerer, mentioned Acts 21:38.

3. One Dositheus, a Samaritan.

4. Another in the time of Festus’s government.

5. Simon Magus is also reckoned for one, Acts 8:9. He boasted he was the great power of God. Others also reckon one Menander, a disciple of Simon Magus.

It is certain there were many who arrogated to themselves the name of the Messiah, to countenance their heading of a faction. There have also been many since the destruction of Jerusalem, and probably will be many more before the end of the world, 2 Timothy 4:3 2 Peter 2:1 1 John 2:18.

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture

не ходите вслед их Ср. 17:23. См. пояснение к Мф. 24:26.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

8.The time draweth near—It must not be understood that our Lord here prophesies that the false Christs would assume to be Messiah returned to judgment. They could only claim that the Messiah’s kingdom was alone to be set up on earth; and the time of that event was, indeed, drawing near.

 

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

‘And he said, “Take heed that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he’, and, ‘The time is at hand’, do not go after them.” ’

The first thing that His people will have to beware of is those who will arise saying, ‘I am the one’ in the name of the Messiah, or who will say ‘the time is at hand’. The warning was very necessary as such things did happen in the first two centuries AD. While we know of only one who was actually officially proclaimed as the Messiah, Bar Kokhba, ‘Son of the Star’ (around 135 BC), who rebelled at the prospect of the building of a heathen city and temple on the site of the old city of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, when Jewish Christians were persecuted for not being willing to follow him, we know of a number who were claimed as having special status, and were probably thought of by their followers in Messianic terms, including some in the last days of Jerusalem (66-70 AD), such as for example - John of Giscala, Simon Bar Giora, and Eleazar, Simon’s son. There was certainly sufficient fanaticism about for it to be so (all we know about it is Josephus’ watered down version, and he would not wish to raise the spectre of Messianic claimants. He wanted to please the emperor).

Among others who made special claims, some of whom arose even earlier, there were:

· Samaritan ‘prophet’ who claimed that he would produce the ancient Temple vessels, and whose followers were slaughtered by Pilate on Mount Gerizim in 35 AD.

· second Theudas, possibly the descendant of the Theudas mentioned in Acts 5:36, who gathered a large number of followers and promised that the Jordan would open before him, only for his followers to be slaughtered and dispersed, with himself being beheaded (c.44-46 AD).

· Jewish Egyptian prophet (Acts 21:38) who assembled a large gathering in the wilderness, promising that the walls of Jerusalem would collapse at his approach and that the Roman garrison would be destroyed. His insurrection was, however, quashed almost before it had begun, although the Egyptian prophet escaped (around 54 AD).

· Another unnamed ‘prophet’ who gathered people in the wilderness, in the time of the Roman governor Festus, promising redemption and deliverance from all evils, and who was again violently crushed (around 60 AD).

· Menahem Bar Hezekiah the leader of the revolt in 66 AD, the son of Judah of Gamala, who claimed Davidic descent.

· Later still Lucuas/Andreas aroused the Jews in Cyrene and its surrounds in the time of Trajan, destroying many heathen temples, and being seen as ‘king’ by his followers and even by a number of Egyptians (around 116 AD).

· And around the same time we know that there were further insurrectionists in Palestine.

These all come to our attention because they were figures involved in direct military action taken by the Romans against them. Some almost certainly saw them as ‘messiahs’. But John tells us that others also arose as false ‘christs’ (antichrists, those who set themselves up over against Christ), teaching heresy, and proving that it was ‘the last hour’, so that John could speak of them as antichrists (1 John 2:18).

Indeed at times of such religious ferment, with expectations running high, we can be confident that such claims were made or applied constantly by some of the common people to different figures who arose, and as quickly fell. We can compare how some did it with Jesus without really knowing the truth about Him (e.g. John 6:14-15; John 7:41). Such ‘messiahs’ are depicted in Revelation 6:2 in terms of a horseman on a white horse (see our commentary on Revelation). The warning to Christians therefore was not to follow any who were like them, for in the nature of what He was about to say, none could be the Christ.

‘In My name.’ This could mean ‘in the name of the Messiah’ or ‘in the name of Jesus’. For the latter compare Acts 19:13, and the later Gnostic heresies. ‘I am the one’ indicates ‘the coming one’ of whatever variety or hue. ‘The time is at hand (or ‘has drawn near’)’, is a warning against alarmists, whether first or twenty first century ones. For the legitimate use of this idea compare Revelation 1:3; Revelation 22:10. Jesus’ implication behind all this is that there will be quite some interval before He returns. For He is going into a far country from which He will not return too soon (Luke 18:12). Compare here Luke 17:23; Mark 13:8; Mark 13:21-23; Matthew 24:8; Matthew 24:23; Matthew 24:26.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

In my name. They shall not say that they belong to me, or that I sent them: but they shall take to themselves my name, viz. Christ, or Messias, which title is incommunicable to any but myself. In effect, in less than two centuries, there appeared many false Christs and impostors, who pretended to be the one that was to come, the desired of nations. (Calmet) --- Perhaps this prophecy is yet to be more expressly fulfilled before the dissolution of the world. Many pious and learned Christians suppose this passage to refer to the time of Antichrist. (Haydock)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

And He said, &c. See App-155.

Take heed. Greek. blepo. App-133.

not. Greek. me. App-105.

deceived = misled.

for many, &c. This was speedily fulfilled. It was the first sign as to "when" (Luke 21:7). Compare 1 John 2:18, "the last hour. "

in. Greek. epi. App-104.

time = season.

draweth = has drawn.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Saying, I am Christ.—Literally, I am. The italics show that the word “Christ” is an interpolation. The sentence is better left in the vagueness of the original, or with only a pronoun as the predicate, I am He. The use of the words in John 1:21; John 8:58, may be referred to as showing that they had become significant even without a predicate.

The time draweth near.—Better, the season has come near.

Go ye not therefore . . .—The better MSS. omit the last words.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.

Take

Jeremiah 29:8; Matthew 24:4,5,11,23-25; Mark 13:5,6,21-23; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15; Ephesians 5:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:3,9-11; 2 Timothy 3:13; 1 John 4:1; 2 John 1:7; Revelation 12:9

for

John 5:43; Acts 5:36,37; 8:9,10

and the time

or, and, The time.

Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Revelation 1:3

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 4:23 - heed;  Deuteronomy 11:16 - Take heed;  2 Chronicles 19:6 - Take;  Mark 13:23 - take;  Luke 13:23 - And;  Luke 17:21 - Lo here;  Luke 17:23 - General;  Luke 21:9 - but;  Luke 21:34 - take;  1 Corinthians 3:10 - But let every;  1 Corinthians 3:18 - deceive;  Galatians 6:7 - not;  Titus 3:3 - deceived;  Hebrews 3:12 - Take;  2 Peter 2:1 - even;  2 John 1:8 - Look