What is the meaning of Matthew 24:26? So if they tell you Jesus has just warned that “false christs and false prophets will arise” (Matthew 24:24). When He says, “So if they tell you,” He is preparing His followers for real voices—friends, neighbors, even religious leaders—who will come with persuasive reports about the Messiah’s whereabouts. • Similar cautions appear in Deuteronomy 13:1–3, where God’s people are told not to follow prophets who lure them away from the Lord. • Paul echoes this posture of vigilance in 2 Thessalonians 2:2–3, urging believers not to be “quickly shaken” by rumors about the day of the Lord. ‘There He is, in the wilderness,’ The wilderness evokes the imagery of prophetic beginnings (John 1:23) and past deliverances (Exodus 16:10). A claimant who positions himself there could sound authentic—“This is how the real Messiah should appear!” • Luke 17:23 records Jesus saying, “They will say to you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go running off.” • Acts 21:38 shows the Roman commander confusing Paul with “the Egyptian” who led a revolt from the desert—proof that messianic pretenders really did emerge from wilderness settings. do not go out, The directive is clear and literal: stay put. Physical movement toward the rumor would signal gullibility and disobedience. • Proverbs 14:15 warns, “The simple believe every word, but the prudent watch their steps.” • Revelation 13:13–14 pictures the end-time beast performing signs to draw people physically and spiritually into deception. Jesus says, “Don’t take the bait.” or, This small connector reminds us that deception wears multiple costumes. Whether the call comes from an open desert or a hidden chamber, the response must remain the same. ‘Here He is in the inner rooms,’ An “inner room” (literally “secret chamber”) suggests exclusivity—special knowledge for a select few. False teachers often promise insider access. • Isaiah 8:12 cautions, “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy.” • 2 Peter 2:1 notes that false teachers “secretly introduce destructive heresies.” Genuine revelation about Christ is public, not secret (John 18:20). do not believe it Belief is the heart’s assent. Jesus commands a settled refusal to credit any claim that contradicts His own promise: His return will be as unmistakable “as lightning that comes from the east and flashes to the west” (Matthew 24:27). • Revelation 1:7 affirms, “Every eye will see Him.” • Hebrews 9:28 comforts us that Christ “will appear a second time…to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.” Because His coming will be globally visible and gloriously obvious, any report demanding verification already fails the test. summary Matthew 24:26 equips believers to recognize and reject spectacular but false announcements about Christ’s return. Whether the lure is an outdoor spectacle or a private gathering, Jesus’ instructions remain simple: don’t chase, don’t move, don’t believe. His true coming will need no advertisement, for it will fill the sky and every eye will see Him. Until that day, we watch, wait, and stay anchored in the unchanging Word. |
    |