The Meaning of Matthew 24:23 Explained

Matthew 24:23

KJV: Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

YLT: Then if any one may say to you, Lo, here is the Christ! or here! ye may not believe;

Darby: Then if any one say to you, Behold, here is the Christ, or here, believe it not.

ASV: Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe it not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  if  any man  shall say  unto you,  Lo,  here  [is] Christ,  or  there;  believe  [it] not. 

What does Matthew 24:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 24:15-28 - Beware Of False Christs
The abomination of desolation is explained in Luke 21:20, and probably refers to the Roman ensigns as the symbols of pagan and therefore unclean power. So urgent would be their need of flight that the outside steps of the houses must be used. None might try to save his property. Ever, the winter's cold must be faced, if life were to be saved; and the flight must be farther than could be covered on a Sabbath day, that is, according to Jewish law, less than a mile.
It is a matter of literal fact that there was compressed into the period of the Jewish War an amount of suffering perhaps unparalleled. Josephus' history of the period abounds in references to these false Christs who professed themselves to be the Messiah.
Notice that, though the elect may be powerfully tempted, they will repudiate and resist the attack and still remain loyal to their Lord. What a searching word is this!-"whom He did predestinate"¦ them He also glorified," Romans 8:30. They may be tempted, tried, almost deceived, but angels will bear them up in their hands and God will keep their feet. See Psalms 91:12; 1 Samuel 2:9. [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 24:23

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]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 24:23

John 10:8 Before me [προ εμου]
Aleph with the Latin, Syriac, and Sahidic versions omit these words (supported by A B D L W). But with or without προ εμου — pro emou Jesus refers to the false Messiahs and self-appointed leaders who made havoc of the flock. These are the thieves and robbers, not the prophets and sincere teachers of old. The reference is to John 10:1. There had been numerous such impostors already (Josephus, Ant. XVIII. i. 6; War II. viii. I) and Jesus will predict many more (Matthew 24:23.). They keep on coming, these wolves in sheep‘s clothing (Matthew 7:15) who grow rich by fooling the credulous sheep. In this case “the sheep did not hear them” First aorist active indicative with genitive. Fortunate sheep who knew the Shepherd‘s voice. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 24:23 mean?

Then if anyone to you says Behold here [is] the Christ or Here not believe [it]
Τότε ἐάν τις ὑμῖν εἴπῃ Ἰδοὺ ὧδε Χριστός Ὧδε μὴ πιστεύσητε

τις  anyone 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
εἴπῃ  says 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Ἰδοὺ  Behold 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἰδού  
Sense: behold, see, lo.
ὧδε  here  [is] 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὧδε  
Sense: here, to this place, etc.
Χριστός  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
Ὧδε  Here 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὧδε  
Sense: here, to this place, etc.
πιστεύσητε  believe  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: πιστεύω  
Sense: to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in.

What are the major concepts related to Matthew 24:23?

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