Matthew 24:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After concluding His discourse about Jerusalem, Christ turns His attention to His return, sharing with His disciples signs that are relevant not only to them but also for us and for future generations. The term 'then' must not be understood to signify a chronological sequence concerning the preceding events. When Christ intended to clarify the order of time, He stated, ‘suddenly, after the tribulation of those days’ (Matt. 24:29). However, in this instance, He employs the term 'then' not to indicate what follows directly, but rather to signify the period when the events He describes will unfold.

As the apostles raised two inquiries about the besiegement of Jerusalem and the Lord's return, the Lord, after discussing Jerusalem's destruction, begins to foretell His return and the culmination of the age. The term 'then' does not imply an immediate succession to the fall of Jerusalem; rather, it denotes the period when these events will unfold. This indicates that 'then,' which is to say at the time of the Antichrist's arrival, there will be numerous false Messiahs and deceitful prophets who will dazzle onlookers with astonishing displays of demonic power, misleading many. Even the righteous may be lulled into complacency and susceptible to deception. However, take note, for I have warned you in advance, and therefore, you have no reason to be misled; you can safeguard yourselves against such deceit.

Throughout the period of Jewish captivity, numerous leaders claimed to be the Messiah, resulting in three factions within Jerusalem during the Roman siege. This situation is more appropriately interpreted in the context of the end times.

The term "then" does not always signify a chronological sequence regarding the aforementioned events; rather, it marks the beginning of what is to be discussed, similar to the expression "in the days of Ones," found in chapter three. In this context, "then" also does not imply the timing of events, but rather denotes the period when the forthcoming matters would unfold. It appears that Christ directs these statements towards the apostles, yet they pertain to the believers who had emerged by that period.

The Lord cautions us that, as we prepare ourselves, we must not be misled by anyone who approaches us in His name, regardless of the signs they may perform to trick even the chosen ones. Whoever constructs their foundation on the rock—meaning, those who place their trust in Christ—will stand firm against any storms. The rock represents Christ, while the rain symbolizes earthly rulers, and the wind signifies the armies of those rulers who chase after the servants of God (see Matthew 7:24-25). The Holy Gospel goes on to say: For false Christs and false prophets will emerge, performing great signs and wonders to lead astray, if it were possible, even the elect. Behold, I have informed you in advance. Therefore, dear friends, consider the immense love the Lord demonstrates towards us.

THEN, when does this occur? The term "then" does not denote a specific chronological sequence in the previously mentioned events. For instance, at the start of the Gospel, the Evangelist recounts the birth of Jesus, the arrival of the Magi, and the death of Herod, and he subsequently states: ‘In those days John the Baptist came’ (Mt. 3:1). This expression does not refer to the immediate aftermath of those events, but rather to a time that occurred later—specifically about thirty years later. Similarly, in this context, Christ speaks of the period right preceding the end of the world, intentionally bypassing the time between the fall of Jerusalem and the ultimate conclusion of history.

After illustrating a series of terrifying events, the Lord focused on the imminent reality of God’s severe judgment concerning Jerusalem. He stated, “As for Jerusalem, the certainty of its destruction is imminent, when the abomination of desolation, as foretold by Daniel, shall stand in the holy place. Therefore, let those who desire to escape this calamity hurry and leave Judea. Those who choose to remain will endure a suffering unprecedented since the dawn of time. There will arise false messiahs, but do not be deceived by them. The Son of Man will come like lightning, not confined to a specific location or form, but manifesting as the judgment of God (Matthew 24:15-28). He will unveil Himself in the fullness of His glory at the close of the age (29-31).

This marks the third occasion on which Jesus Christ has cautioned against false deceivers. Initially, He alerted us to false messiahs (Mt. 4-5), then He warned of false prophets within the Christian community (Mt. 11). In this instance, He addresses both false prophets and false messiahs collectively, as the former serve the interests of the latter by misleading individuals to venture into deserted places or secret locations to supposedly encounter Christ. Following His prior mention of the events subsequent to the fall of Jerusalem (Lk. 24), and given that prior prophecies about misleaders had already been delivered ahead of Jerusalem’s destruction, this latest admonition from Christ is accompanied by a description of how He will manifest. Furthermore, in the subsequent text (Mt.

The trials faced will heighten the anticipation of the Messiah among the Jewish people, leading many to exploit this hope. Deceptive messiahs and prophets will emerge, performing misleading signs and miracles that closely resemble the authentic ones, causing even those who have faith in Me to potentially be misled.

Sin: The notion that specific locations, like Mount Athos, or titles such as monastic or priestly, inherently lead to salvation is misguided. "If anyone says to you, 'This is where Christ is,' or 'There is He,' do not believe it." Indeed, Jesus Christ is present wherever He is believed in and loved. Our salvation is through His grace, which is accessible to all (Hebrews 4:16). It relies on our commitment and is not distant; it resides within our hearts. While Adam fell from grace in the Garden of Eden, Job upheld his faith in God amidst his suffering. Judas was present among the Apostles, situated close to the Savior but ultimately fell away; in contrast, Zacchaeus, a tax collector regarded as sinful, found favor with God.

Chrysostom, Theophylact, and several others contend that this verse marks the beginning of the Lord's response to His disciples' second inquiry regarding the conclusion of the age and His return for the impending judgment of the world. However, certain aspects of the ensuing description align more aptly with the event of Jerusalem's destruction than with the final judgment, as we will explore further. It is essential to recognize that the latter event serves as a foreshadowing of the former, with particular elements proving more relevant to one event and others to the other. In line with the central theme of the subsequent discourse, Chrysostom teaches: “The term 'then,' as I have reiterated, does not signify a chronological sequence in the previously mentioned events.

The subsequent portion of the Saviour's discourse, stepping away from immediate imagery, addresses the terrifying occurrences that will transpire at the end of the age. St. John Chrysostom articulates that, “Having completed His foretelling about Jerusalem, Christ now turns to His second coming and discusses signs that are valuable not only for His disciples, but also for us and for all who will follow.” The Lord continues to reveal future occurrences, stating, “if anyone says to you, ‘Here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will emerge, performing great signs and wonders to mislead, if that were possible, even the chosen ones.