Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 24:23-26

"Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe [it] not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you beforehand. If therefore they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the wilderness; go not forth: Behold, he is in the inner chambers; believe [it] not." — Matthew 24:23-26 (ASV)

It is a great thing to have such faith in Christ that you have none to spare for impostors. It is important not to distribute your faith too widely. Those who believe a little of everything will in the end believe nothing of anything.

If you exercise full faith in what is sure and steadfast, false Christs and false prophets will not be able to make you their dupes.

In one respect, the modern teachers of heresy are more successful than their Judean prototypes, for they do actually deceive the very elect, even though they cannot show great signs and wonders. One of the saddest signs of the times we live in is the ease with which the very elect are deceived by the smooth-tongued false Christs and false prophets who abound in our midst.

Yet our Savior expressly forewarned His followers against them: Behold, I have told you before. Forewarned is forearmed. Let it be so in our case.

Our Savior’s expressive command may be fittingly applied to the whole system of “modern thought” that is contrary to the inspired Word of God: Believe it not.

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

It is a grand thing to have such faith in Christ that you have none to spare for imposters. It is important not to distribute your faith too widely. Those who believe in a little of everything will, in the end, believe nothing of anything. If you exercise full faith in that which is sure and steadfast, false Christs and false prophets will not be able to make you their dupes.

In one respect, the modern teachers of heresy are more successful than their Judaean prototypes, for they do actually deceive the very elect, even though they cannot shew great signs and wonders. One of the saddest signs of the times in which we live is the ease with which the very elect are deceived by the smooth-tongued false Christs and false prophets who abound among us. Yet our Saviour expressly forewarned his followers against them: Behold, I have told you before.

Forewarned is forearmed. Let it be so for us. Our Saviour's expressive command may be fittingly applied to the whole system of "modern thought" which is contrary to the inspired Word of God: Believe it not.