Luke 21:8
New International Version
He replied: “Watch out 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.

New Living Translation
He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them.

English Standard Version
And he said, “See 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.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

Berean Literal Bible
And He said, "Take heed, lest you be led astray; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and 'The time is drawn near.' Do not go after them.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.

New American Standard Bible
And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them.

NASB 1995
And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them.

NASB 1977
And He said, “See to it that you be not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is at hand’; do not go after them.

Legacy Standard Bible
And He said, “See to it that you are not deceived; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Do not go after them.

Amplified Bible
He said, “Be careful and see to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name [appropriating for themselves the name Messiah which belongs to Me alone], saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not follow them.

Christian Standard Bible
Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then He said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, I am He,’ and, The time is near.’ Don’t follow them.

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

Contemporary English Version
Jesus replied: Don't be fooled by those who will come and claim to be me. They will say, "I am Christ!" and "Now is the time!" But don't follow them.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus said, "Be careful that you are not deceived. Many will come using my name. They will say, 'I am he!' and 'The time is near.' Don't follow them!

Good News Translation
Jesus said, "Watch out; don't be fooled. Many men, claiming to speak for me, will come and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time has come!' But don't follow them.

International Standard Version
He said, "Be careful that you are not deceived, because many will come in my name and say, 'I AM' and, 'The time has come.' Don't follow them.

Majority Standard Bible
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.? Therefore do not follow them.

NET Bible
He said, "Watch out that you are not misled. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them!

New Heart English Bible
He said, "Watch out that you do not get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Therefore do not follow them.

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

Weymouth New Testament
"See to it," He replied, "that you are not misled; for many will come assuming my name and professing, 'I am He,' or saying, 'The time is close at hand.' Do not go and follow them.

World English Bible
He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He said, “See—you may not be led astray, for many will come in My Name, saying, I am [He], and the time has come near; do not then go on after them;

Berean Literal Bible
And He said, "Take heed, lest you be led astray; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and 'The time is drawn near.' Do not go after them.

Young's Literal Translation
And he said, 'See -- ye may not be led astray, for many shall come in my name, saying -- I am he, and the time hath come nigh; go not on then after them;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he said, See ye, be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, That I am; and the time has drawn near: therefore go not after them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Who said: Take heed you be not seduced; for many will come in my name, saying, I am he; and the time is at hand: go ye not therefore after them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said: “Be cautious, lest you be seduced. For many will come in my name, saying: ‘For I am he,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ And so, do not choose to go after them.

New American Bible
He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them!

New Revised Standard Version
And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He said to them, Be careful that you may not be deceived; for many will come in my name, and say, I am the Christ; and the time is near; but do not follow them.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But he said to them, “Beware that you be not deceived, for many shall come in my name, and they shall say, 'I am God, The Messiah', and the time is near, but do not go after them.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
He replied: Take heed that you be not deceived; for many will come in my name, saying: I am he; and, The time is near. Go not, therefore, after them.

Godbey New Testament
And He said, See that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, I am He; and The time is at hand: go ye not after them.

Haweis New Testament
Then he said, Take heed that ye be not deluded: for many will come in my name, saying, I am he; and the period approaches: go not therefore after them.

Mace New Testament
he answered, take care, that you be not seduced: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, it won't be long e'er this happens, therefore do not follow them.

Weymouth New Testament
"See to it," He replied, "that you are not misled; for many will come assuming my name and professing, 'I am He,' or saying, 'The time is close at hand.' Do not go and follow them.

Worrell New Testament
And He said, "Take heed that ye be not led astray; for many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The season has drawn near!' Go not after them.

Worsley New Testament
And He said, Take heed that ye be not deceived; for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and the time is near: but do not therefore go after them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Temple Destruction Foretold
7“Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?” 8 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. 9When you hear of wars and rebellions, do not be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end is not imminent.”…

Cross References
Matthew 24:4-5
Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. / For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

Mark 13:5-6
Jesus began by telling them, “See to it that no one deceives you. / Many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
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. / He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

1 John 2:18
Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have appeared. This is how we know it is the last hour.

1 John 4:1
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.

2 Peter 2:1
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Revelation 6:1-2
Then I watched as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” / So I looked and saw a white horse, and its rider held a bow. And he was given a crown, and he rode out to overcome and conquer.

Revelation 13:11-14
Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. This beast had two horns like a lamb, but spoke like a dragon. / And this beast exercised all the authority of the first beast and caused the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose mortal wound had been healed. / And the second beast performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. ...

Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

Jeremiah 23:16
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They are filling you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Ezekiel 13:6-7
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message. / Haven’t you seen a false vision and spoken a lying divination when you proclaim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ even though I have not spoken?

Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, / and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” / you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Isaiah 8:19-20
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? / To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Isaiah 9:15-16
The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies. / For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.

Micah 3:5
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:


Treasury of Scripture

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

Take.

Jeremiah 29:8
For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

Matthew 24:4,5,11,23-25
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you…

Mark 13:5,6,21-23
And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: …

for.

John 5:43
I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

Acts 5:36,37
For 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 8:9,10
But 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: …

and the time.

Matthew 3:2
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Revelation 1:3
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

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Luke 21
1. Jesus commends the poor widow.
5. He foretells the destruction of the temple, and of the city Jerusalem;
25. the signs also which shall be before the last day.
34. He exhorts them to be watchful.














Jesus answered
In this passage, Jesus is responding to a question from His disciples about the signs of the end times. This context is crucial as it sets the stage for His teachings on vigilance and discernment. Jesus, as the ultimate teacher and prophet, provides guidance that is both immediate and eschatological.

See to it that you are not deceived
Jesus warns His followers to be vigilant against deception. This echoes the biblical theme of spiritual discernment found throughout Scripture, such as in 1 John 4:1, which advises believers to test the spirits. The early church faced numerous false teachings, and this warning remains relevant as believers are called to uphold truth in a world filled with falsehoods.

For many will come in My name
This phrase indicates that false prophets and messiahs will arise, claiming authority and identity with Christ. Historically, there have been numerous individuals who have claimed to be the Messiah, both in the first century and throughout history. This serves as a reminder of the importance of knowing the true character and teachings of Jesus to avoid being led astray.

Claiming, ‘I am He’
The claim "I am He" is a direct assertion of messianic identity. In the cultural and historical context of first-century Judea, messianic expectations were high, and many were looking for a political or military leader. Jesus warns that such claims will be made by impostors, emphasizing the need for spiritual discernment.

And, ‘The time is near’
This phrase reflects the eschatological urgency that false teachers might exploit. Throughout history, various groups have predicted the imminent end of the world, often leading to misguided actions and beliefs. Jesus cautions against such predictions, aligning with His teaching in Matthew 24:36 that no one knows the day or hour of His return.

Do not follow them
The command not to follow false messiahs or prophets is a call to steadfastness in faith. It underscores the importance of adhering to the teachings of Christ and the apostles, as seen in passages like Galatians 1:8-9, which warns against accepting any gospel contrary to the one preached by the apostles. This directive is a timeless reminder to remain rooted in the truth of Scripture.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus
The central figure in this passage, providing a warning to His disciples about future deception.

2. Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' warning, representing all believers who are to heed His words.

3. False Messiahs
Individuals who will falsely claim to be Christ or to have divine authority, leading people astray.

4. End Times
The period leading up to the return of Christ, characterized by deception and false teachings.
Teaching Points
Be Vigilant Against Deception
Jesus' warning is a call to be spiritually alert and discerning, recognizing that deception can come from those who appear authoritative.

Know the True Christ
Understanding the true nature and teachings of Jesus is crucial to identifying false claims and teachings.

Test All Teachings
Believers are encouraged to test all teachings against Scripture, ensuring they align with the truth of God's Word.

Stay Grounded in Scripture
Regular study and meditation on the Bible help believers remain rooted in truth and less susceptible to deception.

Do Not Follow the Crowd
Popular opinion or movements claiming divine authority should be carefully evaluated against biblical truth.(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.

Verses 8-19. - The apparent signs which (could show themselves, but which must not be mistaken for the true signs immediately preceding the catastrophe. Verse 8b. - Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ. Many of these pretenders appeared in the lifetime of the apostles. Josephus mentions several of these impostors ('Ant.,' 20:8 §§ 6-10; 'Bell. Jud.,' 2:13. § 5). Theudas, one of these pretenders, is referred to in Acts 21:38 (see, too, Josephus, 'Ant.,' 20:05. § 1). Simon Magus announced that he was Messiah. His riyal Dositheus, his disciple Menander, advanced similar pretences. Mr. Greswell (quoted by Dean Manse], 'Speaker's Commentary,' on Matthew 24:5) has called attention to the remarkable fact that, while many of these false Messiahs appeared in the interval between the Lord's ascension and the Jewish war, there is no evidence that any one arose claiming this title before the beginning of his ministry. It was necessary, he infers, that the true Christ should first appear and be rejected by the great body of the nation, before they were judicially given over to the delusions of the false Christs.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
[Jesus] answered,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“See to it
Βλέπετε (Blepete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 991: (primarily physical), I look, see, perceive, discern. A primary verb; to look at.

that you are not deceived.
πλανηθῆτε (planēthēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4105: To lead astray, deceive, cause to wander. From plane; to roam.

For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

many
πολλοὶ (polloi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

will come
ἐλεύσονται (eleusontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

in
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

My
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

name,
ὀνόματί (onomati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3686: Name, character, fame, reputation. From a presumed derivative of the base of ginosko; a 'name'.

claiming,
λέγοντες (legontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

‘I
Ἐγώ (Egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

am [He],’
εἰμι (eimi)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

and,
καί (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

‘The
(Ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

time
καιρὸς (kairos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2540: Fitting season, season, opportunity, occasion, time. Of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. Set or proper time.

is near.’
ἤγγικεν (ēngiken)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1448: Trans: I bring near; intrans: I come near, approach. From eggus; to make near, i.e. approach.

{Do} not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

follow
πορευθῆτε (poreuthēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die.

them.
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Luke 21:8 He said Watch out that you don't (Luke Lu Lk)
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