For many will come in My name
This phrase indicates a future time when numerous individuals will falsely claim to represent Jesus. The use of "in My name" suggests that these impostors will present themselves as legitimate messengers or representatives of Christ, leveraging His authority to gain followers. Historically, this has been seen in various movements and individuals who have claimed divine authority or messianic status. The warning is a call for discernment among believers, emphasizing the need to test the spirits and teachings against the truth of Scripture (1 John 4:1).

claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’
The declaration "I am the Christ" is a direct claim to the messianic title that belongs solely to Jesus. This reflects the historical context of the first century, where messianic expectations were high among the Jewish people. The phrase warns of false messiahs who would arise, attempting to lead people astray by claiming to fulfill the prophecies and roles attributed to the true Messiah. This connects to other scriptural warnings about false prophets and teachers (2 Peter 2:1) and highlights the importance of recognizing the unique and singular role of Jesus as the Christ.

and will deceive many.
The prediction that "many" will be deceived underscores the effectiveness and widespread impact of these false claims. It serves as a cautionary note about the vulnerability of people to spiritual deception, especially when it is cloaked in religious language and authority. This deception is not limited to the time of Jesus but extends throughout history, as seen in various cults and religious movements. The phrase calls believers to remain vigilant and grounded in the truth of the Gospel, echoing the apostolic exhortations to hold fast to sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this prophecy, Jesus is addressing His disciples on the Mount of Olives, warning them about future deceptions.

2. Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' discourse, representing the early followers of Christ and, by extension, all believers.

3. False Christs
Individuals who falsely claim to be the Messiah, leading people astray.

4. Mount of Olives
The location where Jesus delivers the Olivet Discourse, a significant teaching on the end times.

5. Deception
A key event and theme in this passage, highlighting the spiritual danger of being led away from the truth.Vigilance Against Deception
Believers must remain vigilant and discerning, aware that false teachings and claims will arise.

Rooted in Scripture
Grounding oneself in the Word of God is essential to recognize and resist false claims of messiahship.

Spiritual Discernment
Cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit aids in discerning truth from deception.

Community Accountability
Engaging with a community of believers provides support and accountability in maintaining doctrinal purity.

Endurance in Faith
Despite the prevalence of deception, believers are called to endure in their faith, trusting in Christ alone.(5) Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ.--Better, the Christ. No direct fulfilments of this prediction are recorded, either in the New Testament, or by Josephus, or other historians. Bar-Cochba (the "son of the star"), who claimed to be the "Star" of the prophecy of Balaam (Numbers 24:17), is often named as a fulfilment; but he did not appear till A.D. 120--nearly 50 years after the destruction of Jerusalem. In the excited fanaticism of the time, however, it was likely enough that such pretenders should arise and disappear, after each had lived out his little day, and fill no place in history. The "many antichrists, i.e., rival Christs, of 1John 2:18, may point to such phenomena; possibly, also, the prophecy of 2Thessalonians 2:4. Theudas (the last rebel of that name--not the one named in Acts 5:36, but by Josephus, Ant. xx. 5), or "the Egyptian" of Acts 21:38, may possibly have mingled Messianic claims with their pretensions, but there is no evidence of it.

Verse 5. - Here begins what has been called the first strophe of the oracle (vers. 5-14), which indicates certain prognostics common to the close of the Jewish theocracy and to the end of the world. Many shall come in my Name (ἐπί τῷ ὀνόματί μου), resting on my Name, grounding their pretensions thereon. Saying, I am Christ (the Christ). They who really desired to follow Christ should be tried by the temptation to see in other persons the Messiah. The warning could scarcely have been needed by the apostles themselves; it must have been meant primarily for their converts and the early Christians. And though we have no account in apostolic Church history of any such pretenders, yet in the age succeeding our Lord's death we read of many impostors who asserted themselves to be inspired prophets, if not the Messiah, and led astray many credulous persons (see Josephus, 'Ant.,' 20:05. 1; 8. 6, etc.). There were doubtless many false Messiahs whose names are little known, and critics have enumerated twenty-nine such. The pretensions of these persons were not generally admitted, and their adherents were commonly few and uninfluential. Our Lord probably did not allude to these in his monition. But we may observe that the warning may include such deceivers as Simon Magus and those many false teachers who vexed the early Church, and, without assuming the name of Christ, did Satan's work by undermining the faith. St. John speaks of there being "many antichrists" in his day (1 John 2:18), and St. Paul had occasion to warn his converts against "heretical seducers" (see 2 Corinthians 11:13; 2 Thessalonians 2; 1 Timothy 6:3, etc.). Since then the prophecy has been fulfilled in the heretics who, professing to come in the Name of Christ and to enunciate his doctrine, or, like Mohammed, to assume his place, have taught lies. These shall abound in the latter days, and shall be a sign of the approaching end.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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
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.

the
ὁ (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.

Christ,’
Χριστός (Christos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

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

will deceive many.
πλανήσουσιν (planēsousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4105: To lead astray, deceive, cause to wander. From plane; to roam.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 24:5 For many will come in my name (Matt. Mat Mt)