The Meaning of Matthew 24:11 Explained

Matthew 24:11

KJV: And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

YLT: 'And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray;

Darby: and many false prophets shall arise and shall mislead many;

ASV: And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  many  false prophets  shall rise,  and  shall deceive  many. 

What does Matthew 24:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 24:1-14 - Be Ready To Endure
Successive generations have pored over these words of our Lord with great eagerness, endeavoring to extract from them a clear forecast of the future. In the case of the early Christians, they warned them to flee to Pella, and in doing so, to escape the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus. But to all of us they are full of instruction.
It is best to consider these paragraphs as containing a double reference. In the first place, up to Matthew 24:28, they evidently deal with the approaching fall of Jerusalem. Our Lord describes the events which were to mark the consummation of the age, Matthew 24:3, r.v., margin. Antichrists, disturbances of physical and national conditions, the persecutions which the infant Church must encounter, the progress of the gospel, and finally the swoop of the Roman eagles on their prey-all these were to mark the close of the Hebrew dispensation and the birth of the Christian Church. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 24

1  Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple;
3  what and how great calamities shall be before it;
29  the signs of his coming to judgment
36  And because that day and hour are unknown,
42  we ought to watch like good servants, expecting our Master's coming

Greek Commentary for Matthew 24:11

False prophets [πσευδοπροπηται]
Jesus had warned against them in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:15). They are still coming. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 24:11

Matthew 12:41 Shall rise up [ἀναστήσονται]
Rev., stand up. Come forward as witnesses. Compare Mark 14:57. There is no reference to rising from the dead. Similarlyshall rise up, Matthew 12:42. Compare Matthew 11:11; Matthew 24:11. [source]
Matthew 24:23 Lo, here is the Christ, or here [ιδου ωδε ο Χριστος η ωδε]
The false prophets (Matthew 24:11) create the trouble and now false Christs (πσευδοΧριστοι — pseudȯChristoi Matthew 24:24) offer a way out of these troubles. The deluded victims raise the cries of “Lo, here,” when these false Messiahs arise with their panaceas for public ills (political, religious, moral, and spiritual). [source]
Luke 21:8 That ye be not led astray [μη πλανητητε]
First aorist passive subjunctive with μη — mē (lest). This verb πλαναω — planaō occurs here only in Luke though often in the rest of the N.T. (as Matthew 24:4, Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, Matthew 24:24, which see). Our word planet is from this word. [source]
John 7:12 Much murmuring [γογγυσμος πολυς]
This Ionic onomatopoetic word is from γογγυζω — gogguzō for which verb see John 6:41, John 6:61; John 7:32, for secret displeasure (Acts 6:1) or querulous discontent (Philemon 2:14). Among the multitudes “The multitudes” literally, plural here only in John. These different groups were visitors from Galilee and elsewhere and were divided in their opinion of Jesus as the Galileans had already become (John 6:66). A good man Pure in motive. See Mark 10:17.; Romans 5:7 (absolute sense of God). Superior to δικαιος — dikaios Jesus had champions in these scattered groups in the temple courts. Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray Sharp clash in the crowd. Present active indicative of εκεινος ο πλανος — planaō to go astray (Matthew 18:12.), like our “planets,” to lead others astray (Matthew 24:4, Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, etc.). In the end the rulers will call Jesus “that deceiver” (ekeinos ho planos Matthew 27:63). The Jewish leaders have a following among the crowds as is seen (John 7:31.). [source]
John 7:12 Among the multitudes [εν τοις οχλοις]
“The multitudes” literally, plural here only in John. These different groups were visitors from Galilee and elsewhere and were divided in their opinion of Jesus as the Galileans had already become (John 6:66). A good man Pure in motive. See Mark 10:17.; Romans 5:7 (absolute sense of God). Superior to δικαιος — dikaios Jesus had champions in these scattered groups in the temple courts. Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray Sharp clash in the crowd. Present active indicative of εκεινος ο πλανος — planaō to go astray (Matthew 18:12.), like our “planets,” to lead others astray (Matthew 24:4, Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, etc.). In the end the rulers will call Jesus “that deceiver” (ekeinos ho planos Matthew 27:63). The Jewish leaders have a following among the crowds as is seen (John 7:31.). [source]
John 7:12 A good man [αγατος]
Pure in motive. See Mark 10:17.; Romans 5:7 (absolute sense of God). Superior to δικαιος — dikaios Jesus had champions in these scattered groups in the temple courts. Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray Sharp clash in the crowd. Present active indicative of εκεινος ο πλανος — planaō to go astray (Matthew 18:12.), like our “planets,” to lead others astray (Matthew 24:4, Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, etc.). In the end the rulers will call Jesus “that deceiver” (ekeinos ho planos Matthew 27:63). The Jewish leaders have a following among the crowds as is seen (John 7:31.). [source]
John 7:12 Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray [ου αλλα πλαναι τον οχλον]
Sharp clash in the crowd. Present active indicative of εκεινος ο πλανος — planaō to go astray (Matthew 18:12.), like our “planets,” to lead others astray (Matthew 24:4, Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, etc.). In the end the rulers will call Jesus “that deceiver” (ekeinos ho planos Matthew 27:63). The Jewish leaders have a following among the crowds as is seen (John 7:31.). [source]
1 John 4:1 False prophets [ψευδοπροφῆται]
The term is applied in the New Testament to rivals of true prophets under the old dispensation (Luke 6:26; 2 Peter 2:1), and to rivals of the apostles under the gospel economy (Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:11, Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22). In Revelation to “the embodied power of spiritual falsehood” (Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10). The false prophet supports his claims by signs and portents (Matthew 24:24; Acts 13:6; Revelation 19:20) and is thus distinguished from the false teacher. See 2 Peter 2:1, where the two terms occur together. [source]
1 John 4:1 Believe not every spirit [μη παντι πνευματι πιστευετε]
“Stop believing,” as some were clearly carried away by the spirits of error rampant among them, both Docetic and Cerinthian Gnostics. Credulity means gullibility and some believers fall easy victims to the latest fads in spiritualistic humbuggery.Prove the spirits (δοκιμαζετε τα πνευματα — dokimazete ta pneumata). Put them to the acid test of truth as the metallurgist does his metals. If it stands the test like a coin, it is acceptable (δοκιμος — dokimos 2 Corinthians 10:18), otherwise it is rejected (αδοκιμος — adokimos 1 Corinthians 9:27; 2 Corinthians 13:5-7).Many false prophets Jesus had warned people against them (Matthew 7:15), even when they as false Christs work portents (Matthew 24:11, Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22). It is an old story (Luke 6:26) and recurs again and again (Acts 13:6; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10) along with false teachers (2 Peter 2:1).Are gone out (εχεληλυτασιν — exelēluthasin). Perfect active indicative of εχερχομαι — exerchomai Cf. aorist in 1 John 2:19. They are abroad always. [source]
1 John 4:1 Many false prophets [πολλοι πσευδοπροπηται]
Jesus had warned people against them (Matthew 7:15), even when they as false Christs work portents (Matthew 24:11, Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22). It is an old story (Luke 6:26) and recurs again and again (Acts 13:6; Revelation 16:13; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10) along with false teachers (2 Peter 2:1).Are gone out (εχεληλυτασιν — exelēluthasin). Perfect active indicative of εχερχομαι — exerchomai Cf. aorist in 1 John 2:19. They are abroad always. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 24:11 mean?

and many false prophets will arise will mislead many
καὶ πολλοὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐγερθήσονται πλανήσουσιν πολλούς

πολλοὶ  many 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
ψευδοπροφῆται  false  prophets 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ψευδοπροφήτης  
Sense: one who, acting the part of a divinely inspired prophet, utters falsehoods under the name of divine prophecies.
ἐγερθήσονται  will  arise 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
πλανήσουσιν  will  mislead 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: πλανάω  
Sense: to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way.
πολλούς  many 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.