Lexical Summary psuchó: To cool, to grow cold Original Word: ψύχω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance grow coldA primary verb; to breathe (voluntarily but gently, thus differing on the one hand from pneo, which denotes properly a forcible respiration; and on the other from the base of aer, which refers properly to an inanimate breeze), i.e. (by implication, of reduction of temperature by evaporation) to chill (figuratively) -- wax cold. see GREEK pneo see GREEK aer HELPS Word-studies 5594 psýxō (originally, "to breathe out," cf. J. Thayer) – properly, "to blow, refresh with cool air" (Zod, Dict); (figuratively) "to breathe cool by blowing, to grow cold, 'spiritual energy blighted or chilled by a malign or poisonous wind' " (M. Vincent), used only in Mt 24:12. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. verb Definition to breathe, blow, to make cool NASB Translation grow cold (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5594: ψύχωψύχω: 2 future passive, ψυγήσομαι (cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 318; Moeris, Piers. edition, p. 421, under the word); from Homer down; to breathe, blow, cool by blowing; passive, to be made or to grow cool or cold: tropically, of waning love, Matthew 24:12. Topical Lexicon Conceptual Overview The word translated “will grow cold” in Matthew 24:12 paints a vivid picture of vital warmth being lost. It evokes the gradual chilling of something once hot, suggesting not an abrupt change but a slow, imperceptible decline in affection and commitment. In Scripture the warmth in view is love expressed through covenant loyalty toward God and sacrificial fellowship among believers. Biblical Usage Matthew 24:12 stands as the single New Testament occurrence: “Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” Spoken by Jesus on the Mount of Olives, the statement falls within a series of eschatological warnings that describe pressures preceding His return—persecution, deception, and rampant lawlessness—which combine to sap spiritual warmth from many hearts. Eschatological Setting 1. Olivet Discourse context: Jesus recounts birth pains—wars, famines, earthquakes—before addressing relational decay. The chilling of love signals a moral climate shift more subtle than external catastrophes yet equally perilous. Relationship Between Lawlessness and Love Jesus directly links increasing “lawlessness” (Greek anomia) with the cooling of love. Lawlessness breeds self-interest, undermines trust, and fractures community. As divine commandments are disregarded, the self-giving love exemplified by Christ (John 13:34) withers. Scripture consistently pairs obedience with vibrant love (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3); thus the disappearance of one signals the decline of the other. Historical Perspective Early Christian communities already faced the dynamics Jesus foretold. False teachers stirred confusion (2 Peter 2:1), persecutions threatened solidarity (Hebrews 10:32-34), and societal decadence tempted believers to accommodate. Church Fathers such as Chrysostom warned congregations that complacency and moral laxity would freeze brotherly affection, referencing Matthew 24:12 as an urgent caution. Theological Implications 1. Perseverance: The verse immediately precedes “but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13), highlighting endurance in love as evidence of genuine faith. Practical Ministry Applications • Discern cultural currents that normalize lawlessness and thereby erode compassion. Warnings and Encouragements Jesus’ solemn prediction functions both as alarm and invitation. While many will succumb to spiritual frost, the promise remains that persevering saints will inherit salvation. Revelation 2:4-5 issues a similar call: “You have forsaken your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first.” The remedy is a return to earlier devotion, rekindling the flame through repentance and renewed obedience. Contemporary Reflection Modern believers inhabit cultures saturated with moral relativism and digital distractions that can desensitize hearts. The word from Matthew 24:12 challenges each generation to measure the temperature of its love. An active, sacrificial, truth-anchored affection for God and neighbor stands as one of the surest antidotes to the chill that accompanies widespread evil. Summary The solitary New Testament appearance of this verb is strategically placed within Jesus’ end-time discourse to warn of a subtle yet deadly phenomenon: love’s gradual cooling under the pressure of increasing wickedness. Recognizing the dynamic enables believers to guard against it, nurturing fervent love that “never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8) until the day when love’s warmth fills the renewed creation. Forms and Transliterations έψυξα έψυξαν έψυξεν ψυγησεται ψυγήσεται ψύξουσιν ψύχει psugesetai psugēsetai psygesetai psygēsetai psygḗsetaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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