SEV Biblia, Chapter 24:5
Porque vendrn muchos en mi nombre, diciendo: Yo soy el Cristo; y a muchos engaarn.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 24:5
Verse 5. For many shall come in my name] 1. Josephus says, (War, b. ii. c. 13,) that there were many who, pretending to Divine inspiration, deceived the people, leading out numbers of them to the desert, pretending that God would there show them the signs of liberty, meaning redemption from the Roman power: and that an Egyptian false prophet led 30,000 men into the desert, who were almost all cut off by Felix. See Acts xxi. 38.
It was a just judgment for God to deliver up that people into the hands of false Christs who had rejected the true one. Soon after our Lord's crucifixion, Simon Magus appeared, and persuaded the people of Samaria that he was the great power of God, Acts viii. 9, 10; and boasted among the Jews that he was the son of God.
2. Of the same stamp and character was also Dositheus, the Samaritan, who pretended that he was the Christ foretold by Moses.
3. About twelve years after the death of our Lord, when Cuspius Fadus was procurator of Judea, arose an impostor of the name of Theudas, who said he was a prophet, and persuaded a great multitude to follow him with their best effects to the river Jordan, which he promised to divide for their passage; and saying these things, says Josephus, he deceived many: almost the very words of our Lord.
4. A few years afterwards, under the reign of Nero, while Felix was procurator of Judea, impostors of this stamp were so frequent that some were taken and killed almost every day. Joshua. Ant. b. xx. c. 4. and 7.
The SECOND sign, wars and commotions.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. For many shall come in my name , etc.] by his orders, or with delegated powers and authority from him; but should assume the name of the Messiah, which was peculiarly his, to themselves; and take upon them his office, and challenge the honour and dignity which belonged unto him: saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many . This is the first sign, preceding the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem; as there was a general expectation among the Jews of a Messiah; that is, of one that should arise and deliver them from the Roman yoke, which was the common idea tacked to that word; in this period of time, many set up themselves to be deliverers and redeemers of the people of Israel: who had each of them their followers in great numbers, whom they imposed upon, and brought to destruction. Of this sort was Theudas, not he that Gamaliel speaks of, ( Acts 5:36) for he was before this time; but one that was in the time of Claudius Caesar, when Cuspius Fadus was governor of Judea; who persuaded a great number to follow him to the river Jordan, which he promised to divide, by a word of command, and give them a passage over; and thereby, as the historian observes f1357 , pollouv hpathshn , he deceived many; which is the very thing that is here predicted: but he and his company were routed Fadus, and his head cut off. There was another called the Egyptian, mentioned in ( Acts 21:38) who made an uproar, and led four thousand cut-throats into the wilderness; and this same man persuaded thirty thousand men to follow him to Mount Olivet, promising a free passage into the city; but he being vanquished by Felix, then governor of Judea; fled, and many of his followers were killed and taken f1358 : and besides, there were many more magicians and impostors, that pretended to signs and wonders, and promised the people deliverance from their evils, by whom they were imposed upon to their ruin. There were others also besides these, that set up for deliverers, who called themselves by the name of the Messiah. Among these, we may reckon Simon Magus, who gave out that he was some great one; yea, expressly, that he was the word of God, and the Son of God f1359 , which were known names of the Messiah; and Dositheus the Samaritan, asserted himself to be Christ f1360 ; and also Menander affirmed, that no man could be saved, unless he was baptized in his name f1361 ; these are instances before the destruction of Jerusalem, and confirm the prophecy here delivered.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 4-28 - The disciples had asked concerning the times, When these things shoul be? Christ gave them no answer to that; but they had also asked, What shall be the sign? This question he answers fully. The prophecy firs respects events near at hand, the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the Jewish church and state, the calling of the Gentiles, and the setting up of Christ's kingdom in the world; but it also looks to the general judgment; and toward the close, points more particularly to the latter. What Christ here said to his disciples, tended more to promot caution than to satisfy their curiosity; more to prepare them for the events that should happen, than to give a distinct idea of the events This is that good understanding of the times which all should covet thence to infer what Israel ought to do. Our Saviour cautions his disciples to stand on their guard against false teachers. And he foretells wars and great commotions among nations. From the time tha the Jews rejected Christ, and he left their house desolate, the swor never departed from them. See what comes of refusing the gospel. Thos who will not hear the messengers of peace, shall be made to hear the messengers of war. But where the heart is fixed, trusting in God, it is kept in peace, and is not afraid. It is against the mind of Christ that his people should have troubled hearts, even in troublous times When we looked forward to the eternity of misery that is before the obstinate refusers of Christ and his gospel, we may truly say, The greatest earthly judgments are but the beginning of sorrows. It is comforting that some shall endure even to the end. Our Lord foretell the preaching of the gospel in all the world. The end of the worl shall not be till the gospel has done its work. Christ foretells the ruin coming upon the people of the Jews; and what he said here, woul be of use to his disciples, for their conduct and for their comfort. I God opens a door of escape, we ought to make our escape, otherwise we do not trust God, but tempt him. It becomes Christ's disciples, i times of public trouble, to be much in prayer: that is never out of season, but in a special manner seasonable when we are distressed of every side. Though we must take what God sends, yet we may pray agains sufferings; and it is very trying to a good man, to be taken by an work of necessity from the solemn service and worship of God on the sabbath day. But here is one word of comfort, that for the elect's sak these days shall be made shorter than their enemies designed, who woul have cut all off, if God, who used these foes to serve his own purpose had not set bounds to their wrath. Christ foretells the rapid spreadin of the gospel in the world. It is plainly seen as the lightning. Chris preached his gospel openly. The Romans were like an eagle, and the ensign of their armies was an eagle. When a people, by their sin, make themselves as loathsome carcasses, nothing can be expected but that God should send enemies to destroy them. It is very applicable to the da of judgment, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in that day, 2Th 2:1 Let us give diligence to make our calling and election sure; then ma we know that no enemy or deceiver shall ever prevail against us.
Greek Textus Receptus
πολλοι 4183 A-NPM γαρ 1063 CONJ ελευσονται 2064 5695 V-FDI-3P επι 1909 PREP τω 3588 T-DSN ονοματι 3686 N-DSN μου 3450 P-1GS λεγοντες 3004 5723 V-PAP-NPM εγω 1473 P-1NS ειμι 1510 5748 V-PXI-1S ο 3588 T-NSM χριστος 5547 N-NSM και 2532 CONJ πολλους 4183 A-APM πλανησουσιν 4105 5692 V-FAI-3P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. In my name (epi tw onomati mou). Lit., on my name, i.e., on the strength of; resting their claims on the name Messiah.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
24:5 {In my name} (epi twi onomati mou). They will arrogate to themselves false claims of Messiahship in (on the basis of) the name of Christ himself. Josephus (_Wars_ VI, 54) gives there false Christs as one of the reasons for the explosion against Rome that led to the city's destruction. Each new hero was welcomed by the masses including Barcochba. "I am the Messiah," each would say. Forty odd years ago two men in Illinois claimed to be Messiah, each with followers (Schlatter, Schweinfurth). In more recent years Mrs. Annie Besant has introduced a theosophical Messiah and Mrs. Eddy made claims about herself on a par with those of Jesus.
