Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 24:4-6

"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and shall lead many astray. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for [these things] must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet." — Matthew 24:4-6 (ASV)

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Jesus was always practical. The most important thing for his disciples was not that they might know when "these things" would be, but that they might be preserved from the peculiar evils of the time. Therefore, Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. They were to beware lest any of the pretended Messiahs should lead them astray, as they would pervert many others. A large number of impostors came forward before the destruction of Jerusalem, claiming that they were the anointed of God. Almost every page of history is blotted with the names of such deceivers. In our own day, we have also seen some come in Christ's name, saying that they are Christ's. Such men seduce many, but those who heed their Lord's warning will not be deluded by them.

Our Saviour's words, Ye shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars, might be applied to almost any period of the world's history. Earth has seldom had a long spell of quiet. There have almost always been both the realities of war and the rumors of war.

There were many such before Jerusalem was overthrown; there have been many such ever since, and there will be many such until that glorious period when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. See that ye be not troubled is a timely message for the disciples of Christ in every age. For all these things must come to pass, therefore let us not be surprised or alarmed at them, but the end is not yet. The destruction of Jerusalem was the beginning of the end, the great type and anticipation of all that will take place when Christ shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. It was an end, but not the end: the end is not yet.

Jesus was always practical. The most important thing for His disciples was not that they might know when “these things” would be, but that they might be preserved from the particular evils of the time. Therefore, Jesus answered and said to them, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

They were to beware that none of the pretended Messiahs should lead them astray, as they would pervert many others. A large number of impostors came forward before the destruction of Jerusalem, claiming they were the anointed of God. Almost every page of history is blotted with the names of such deceivers, and in our own day, we have seen some come in Christ’s name, saying that they are Christs. Such men seduce many, but those who heed their Lord’s warning will not be deluded by them.

Our Savior’s words, “Ye shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars,” might be applied to almost any period of the world’s history. Earth has seldom had a long spell of quiet. There have almost always been both the realities of war and the rumors of war. There were many such before Jerusalem was overthrown. There have been many such ever since, and there will be many such until that glorious period when “nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

“See that ye be not troubled,” is a timely message for the disciples of Christ in every age. “For all these things must come to pass,” therefore let us not be surprised or alarmed at them, “but the end is not yet.” The destruction of Jerusalem was the beginning of the end, the great type and anticipation of all that will take place when Christ shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. It was an end, but not the end. “The end is not yet.”