Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 24:10

"And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another." — Matthew 24:10 (ASV)

During the “birth pains” (v.8) Jesus’ disciples will be persecuted and killed. “You” quite clearly extends beyond the immediate disciples and includes all the followers Jesus will have. Persecution broke out early (cf. Acts 4:1–30; 7:59–8:3; 12:1–5; Rev. 2:10, 12) and kept on during the “birth pains,” against a background of hatred by the whole world (cf. Acts 28:22). Persecution is a characteristic of this age (vv.9, 21, 29)—a time when many will “turn away” from the faith and hate each other.

There is a certain parallelism between v.10 and vv.11–12. Those who turn away from the faith are deceived by false prophets, and those who hate each other do so because wickedness abounds and the love of most grows cold; only those who endure—in love (v.12) and despite persecution (vv.9–11; cf. Rev. 2:10)—will be saved (v.13). They must “stand firm to the end”; individual responsibility persists to the end of one’s life, but corporate responsibility to the final consummation. Thus, part of the effect of this “tribulation” is to purify the body of professed disciples: those who endure are saved (cf. Daniel 11:32, 34–35).

The reasons for falling away may differ. In 13:21 the cause is persecution or tribulation; in 24:10–12 it is false prophets. But even here false prophecy finds some of its appeal in the matrix of trouble and persecution (vv.4–9) from which it emerges; and Matthew cares little whether faith is lost owing to fear of physical violence or to deception effected by false prophets. The result is the same and is to be expected throughout this age.