Matthew 24:23
New International Version
At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

New Living Translation
“Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it.

English Standard Version
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

Berean Standard Bible
At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.

Berean Literal Bible
Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'Here,' do not believe it.

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

New King James Version
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it.

New American Standard Bible
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘He is over here,’ do not believe him.

NASB 1995
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.

NASB 1977
“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.

Amplified Bible
Then if anyone says to you [during the great tribulation], ‘Look! Here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it.

Christian Standard Bible
“If anyone tells you then, ‘See, here is the Messiah! ’ or, ‘Over here! ’ do not believe it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“If anyone tells you then, Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, Over here!’ do not believe it!

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

Contemporary English Version
Someone may say, "Here is the Messiah!" or "There he is!" But don't believe it.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"At that time don't believe anyone who tells you, 'Here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!'

Good News Translation
"Then, if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Messiah!' or 'There he is!'--do not believe it.

International Standard Version
"At that time, if anyone says to you, 'Look! Here's the Messiah!' or 'There he is!', don't believe it,

Majority Standard Bible
At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.

NET Bible
Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!' do not believe him.

New Heart English Bible
"Then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Christ,' or, 'There,' do not believe it.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

Weymouth New Testament
"If at that time any one should say to you, 'See, here is the Christ!' or 'Here!' give no credence to it.

World English Bible
“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then if anyone may say to you, Behold, here [is] the Christ! Or, Here! You may not believe;

Berean Literal Bible
Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'Here,' do not believe it.

Young's Literal Translation
Then if any one may say to you, Lo, here is the Christ! or here! ye may not believe;

Smith's Literal Translation
Then if any say to you, Behold, here Christ, or there; believe ye not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then if anyone will have said to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘he is there,’ do not be willing to believe it.

New American Bible
If anyone says to you then, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.

New Revised Standard Version
Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look! Here is the Messiah!’ or ‘There he is!’—do not believe it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then if any man should say to you, Behold, here is the Christ, or there, do not believe it.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Then if someone will say to you, “Behold, The Messiah is here or there”, you should not believe.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Then if any one shall say to you: Lo! here is the Christ, or there; believe it not.

Godbey New Testament
Then if any one may say to you, Lo, here is Christ, or, there: believe him not:

Haweis New Testament
Then if any man say unto you, Lo! here is the Messiah, or there; believe it not:

Mace New Testament
Then if any shall cry, the Messiah is here, or he is there: give no credit to it.

Weymouth New Testament
"If at that time any one should say to you, 'See, here is the Christ!' or 'Here!' give no credence to it.

Worrell New Testament
Then, if any one shall say to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ!' or 'Here,' believe it not;

Worsley New Testament
Then if any shall say to you, Behold here is the Messiah, or there; believe it not:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Abomination of Desolation
22If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short. 23At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. 24For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.…

Cross References
Mark 13:21-22
At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it. / For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.

Luke 17:23
People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go out or chase after them.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed. / He will oppose and exalt himself above every so-called god or object of worship. So he will seat himself in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the working of Satan, with every kind of power, sign, and false wonder, / and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them.

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Revelation 13:13-14
And the second beast performed great signs, even causing fire from heaven to come down to earth in the presence of the people. / Because of the signs it was given to perform on behalf of the first beast, it deceived those who dwell on the earth, telling them to make an image to the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet had lived.

Revelation 19:20
But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, / and if the sign or wonder he has spoken to you comes about, but he says, “Let us follow other gods (which you have not known) and let us worship them,” / you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. For the LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Jeremiah 14:14
“The prophets are prophesying lies in My name,” replied the LORD. “I did not send them or appoint them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a false vision, a worthless divination, the futility and delusion of their own minds.

Jeremiah 23:21
I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.

Ezekiel 13:6
They see false visions and speak lying divinations. They claim, ‘Thus declares the LORD,’ when the LORD did not send them; yet they wait for the fulfillment of their message.

Ezekiel 13:9
My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and speak lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of My people or be recorded in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.

Isaiah 8:19-20
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? / To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Isaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,

Zechariah 13:2-3
And on that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will erase the names of the idols from the land, and they will no longer be remembered. I will also remove the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. / And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will say to him, ‘You shall not remain alive, because you have spoken falsely in the name of the LORD.’ When he prophesies, his father and mother who bore him will pierce him through.


Treasury of Scripture

Then if any man shall say to you, See, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

Deuteronomy 13:1-3
If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, …

Mark 13:21
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:

Luke 17:23,24
And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them

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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.














At that time
This phrase sets the context for the events Jesus is describing. It refers to a specific period in the future, often interpreted as the end times or the Great Tribulation. The Greek word used here is "τότε" (tote), which indicates a particular moment or season. In the broader scriptural context, this phrase signals a shift to a prophetic discourse, emphasizing the urgency and significance of the events to come. Historically, this period is characterized by turmoil and deception, aligning with other biblical prophecies about the end times.

if anyone says to you
This phrase introduces a warning about deception. The Greek word "ἐάν" (ean) implies a conditional situation, suggesting that believers must be vigilant and discerning. The phrase underscores the personal responsibility of each believer to be aware of false teachings and claims. In the historical context of the early church, false prophets and messianic pretenders were a real threat, and this warning remains relevant for Christians today.

Look
The imperative "Look" is translated from the Greek word "ἰδού" (idou), which is an exclamation meant to grab attention. It serves as a call to be alert and cautious. This word is often used in Scripture to introduce something significant or surprising. In this context, it emphasizes the need for believers to be on guard against deception.

Here is the Christ
This phrase reflects the claims of false messiahs. The term "Christ" comes from the Greek "Χριστός" (Christos), meaning "Anointed One," equivalent to the Hebrew "Messiah." Throughout history, many have falsely claimed to be the Messiah, leading people astray. This warning highlights the importance of knowing the true Christ and being rooted in biblical truth to avoid being misled.

or 'There He is'
This continuation of the previous warning further illustrates the deceptive tactics that will be used. The repetition of location-based claims ("Here" or "There") suggests a widespread and varied attempt to mislead believers. It emphasizes the need for discernment and a deep understanding of Scripture to recognize and reject false claims.

do not believe it
This command is a direct instruction to reject false claims about the Messiah. The Greek word "πιστεύσητε" (pisteusete) means "to believe" or "to have faith." Instructing believers not to believe these claims underscores the importance of faith grounded in truth. Historically, this reflects the early church's challenges with false teachings and the ongoing need for vigilance in maintaining doctrinal purity. This command serves as a reminder to rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment and to remain steadfast in the teachings of Jesus.

(23) Lo, here is Christ, or there.--Better, Lo, here is the Christ. The narrative of Josephus, while speaking of many "deceivers" claiming divine authority (Wars, ii. 13, ? 4), is silent as to any pretenders to the character of the Messiah. It is scarcely conceivable, however, that this should not have been one of the results of the fevered dreams of the people, and the reticence of the historian was probably a suppressio veri connected with his own recognition of Vespasian as a quasi Christ (Wars, vi. 5, ? 4).

Verse 23. - And then. The third section of the prophecy, contained in vers. 23-35, passes from the fortunes of Jerusalem to the end of the world. To the Lord's hearers was conveyed the truth that the signs and events now indicated were to be subsequent to the destruction of the city. No further note of chronology was given. The uncertainty of the future caused a state of constant expectation and hope. And this is the feeling which we Christians are intended to embrace and cultivate. "The word 'then' relates not to the connection in the order of time with the things just mentioned,... not meaning what should follow straightway after these things, but what should be in the time when these things were to be done of which he was about to speak" (St. Chrysostom, 'Horn.,' in loc.). Lo, here is Christ! This refers to something different from the announcement in ver. 5. Some analogous deceptions doubtless occurred at the siege of Jerusalem, but the Lord is predicting the remote events of the latter days, of which previous occurrences were types and anticipations. Believe it not. When Christ does come the second time, there shall be no doubt or ignorance of his appearance (see ver. 27, and compare the warning in Deuteronomy 13:1-3).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
At that time,
Τότε (Tote)
Adverb
Strong's 5119: Then, at that time. From ho and hote; the when, i.e. At the time that.

if
ἐάν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

anyone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

says
εἴπῃ (eipē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to you,
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

‘Look,
Ἰδοὺ (Idou)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2400: See! Lo! Behold! Look! Second person singular imperative middle voice of eido; used as imperative lo!

here [is]
ὧδε (hōde)
Adverb
Strong's 5602: From an adverb form of hode; in this same spot, i.e. Here or hither.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Christ!’
Χριστός (Christos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

‘There [He is],’
Ὧδε (Hōde)
Adverb
Strong's 5602: From an adverb form of hode; in this same spot, i.e. Here or hither.

{do} not
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

believe [it].
πιστεύσητε (pisteusēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust.


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