A Warning Against Deception #

When the disciples came to Jesus with their questions, they were eager for clarity, for they understood that something monumental was about to unfold. Jesus was preparing to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom, but before delving into the specifics, He first issued a stark warning:

 “See to it that no one misleads (deceives) you…” (Matthew 24:4, ESV).

This declaration was not merely an introduction to a theological discourse but a vital caution for His followers as they navigated the tumultuous days ahead.

The Nature of Deception in the Last Days #

The warning in Matthew 24:4 is echoed across the Synoptic Gospels. Mark records Jesus saying, “See that no one leads you astray” (Mark 13:5, ESV), while Luke provides a more detailed description, “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” (Luke 21:8, ESV).

Each of these statements carries the same gravity, urging the disciples to be vigilant, for they would soon face spiritual deceptions and false messiahs.

This warning was of particular importance to the first generation of disciples, who lived in the closing years of the Old Covenant age, a period leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Jesus was preparing them for events that would seem to signal the end of time but were, in fact, signs of the closure of the old era.

As we reflect on these words, it becomes clear that the term “time is at hand” was not an abstract prophecy about some far-off future but a statement rooted in their immediate context.

The phrase “at hand” points to the imminent end of the Jewish Temple system and the fulfilment of God’s redemptive plan through Christ.

The “Time is at Hand” Phrase in Scripture #

The urgency of this “time at hand” can be seen throughout the New Testament, marking the climax of God’s plan for Israel and the ushering in of a new order:

Romans 13:11-12 (ESV) — “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Philippians 4:5 (ESV) — “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.”

James 5:8 (ESV) — “You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

1 Peter 4:7 (ESV) — “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”

1 John 2:18 (ESV) — “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.”

In these verses, the phrase “at hand” signifies the proximity of a momentous change—the arrival of the New Covenant and the closing of the Old. It was not distant, but near and pressing. In the context of Jesus’ warning, it spoke to the imminent upheaval of the Old Covenant system, which would be realised in their lifetime through the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of the Temple in AD 70.

The Deceptive Signs #

Jesus’ warning was not a vague caution about future spiritual challenges; it was a direct and urgent address to the realities they would face. The phrase “many will come in my name” indicates a surge of false teachers who would exploit the confusion and the turmoil of the coming age. The Gospels, particularly in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21), list a number of these false signs:

False prophets and messiahs who would claim to be the Christ (Matthew 24:5; Mark 13:6).

Wars, rumours of wars, and political upheaval (Matthew 24:6-7; Mark 13:7-8).

Earthquakes, famines, and natural disasters (Matthew 24:7-8; Mark 13:8).

Persecution of believers, with betrayals and betrayals (Matthew 24:9-10; Mark 13:9-13).

The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel, referring to the desecration of the temple (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14).

These signs were not intended to describe some distant future but were warning indicators for the disciples of events to unfold in their lifetime.

The apostolic community needed to understand that these disturbances were not the end of the world, but the collapse of the Old Covenant, and that they would be a part of the Church’s foundational years. These upheavals were not signs of Christ’s return in glory but the signs of the closing of the Old Covenant age and the final judgment on Jerusalem and the Temple.

The Wisdom of Christ #

Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, sought to protect His disciples from being swept away by the prevailing winds of deception.

As John A. Broadus, quoting Alexander, comments on this warning, “The divine wisdom of the Saviour and His knowledge of the perils which beset His followers are strikingly exemplified in this preliminary warning against error and delusion, this exposure of false signs before giving a description of the true.”

This illuminates the foresight and care of Jesus for His disciples and the church, ensuring that they would not be caught off guard by the spiritual deceptions that would come in their time. Jesus’ love for His disciples and His concern for the Church’s growth were evident in His clear instruction. He wanted them to stand firm in the truth as they would face not only external opposition but internal deception as well.

While this warning was particularly directed to the disciples of Jesus’ time, there is still relevance for us today. In every age, the Church must remain vigilant against false teachings that distort the gospel.

The signs that Jesus outlined—wars, natural disasters, and false claims—may seem familiar to us in some respects, but they are not signs of Christ’s immediate return. Instead, they are echoes of the struggles the early Church faced as it was birthed in the collapse of the Old Covenant.

We, too, must heed Jesus’ warning and ensure that we are not deceived by the distractions and falsehoods that permeate modern Christianity. Our focus must be on Christ, the true fulfilment of God’s promises, and not on speculative end-time theories that lead us astray. The true signs of Christ’s kingdom are not in sensational events, but in the ongoing transformation of hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Christ,
Shaliach.