Matthew 24:26Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consider the caution given by Christ: "Go not out," He instructs, "into the wilderness, nor venture into the inner chambers." He did not command, "Go out and have no faith," but rather, "Do not go out and do not enter in." The level of deception will be immense during that time, due to the misleading wonders that will occur.

If false prophets appear, Christ warns, claiming that the Messiah has arrived but is concealed in the wilderness or in secret, secluded locations, do not be led astray.

As numerous individuals were following Him, He clarified that His return would be manifest and majestic, differing greatly from how His incarnation took place. “If they say to you, ‘Here He is,’ do not trust them. For just as lightning flashes across the sky, so will His coming be.” In the same way that thieves arose at His birth, so too will deceivers emerge at His return, and falsehoods will multiply. Therefore, do not venture out in search of Him, lest you inadvertently align yourself with those rebels, and be led astray.

If someone assures you that Christ resides in the wilderness of the nations or within the concealed teachings of heretics who claim to unveil the mysteries of God, do not venture out or place your faith in them. Likewise, if anyone seeks to elevate themselves by invoking the name of Christ, refrain from quickly trusting them; for throughout history, during periods of persecution and tribulation, false prophets have consistently found opportunities for deceit.

False prophets will emerge, proclaiming that Christ is in the wilderness and misleading individuals with their proclamations. Others might declare that Christ is found in secret places, ensnaring those who listen with fear of the supreme name. However, Christ, like a flash of lightning, scatters His radiant light throughout the entire world; He does not roam through desolate places nor seeks shelter anywhere. "Heaven and earth I fill," declares the Lord (Jeremiah 23:24). He illuminates with the brilliance of His lightning, allowing us, on that night, to witness the splendor of the resurrection.

He mentions that during that period, there will be heralds and agents of the Antichrist. The treasure in this context pertains to the deepest chambers within homes.

He cautioned them so that upon hearing of Christ’s return, they would not be misled by others and venture out into the wilderness or find themselves imprisoned in concealed places. Why should Christ’s return occur in the wilderness? Does He prefer isolation over communion with humanity? Is He so apprehensive of people that He requires the refuge of the wilderness? If He did not shy away from kings or judges during His Passion, openly proclaiming the truth to the wicked, how could He suddenly be afraid when He comes to judge the unrighteous? Therefore, if anyone tells you, 'Look, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out; 'Look, He is in secret places,' do not believe it.

If someone tells you, "The Messiah is in the wilderness," do not go out; if they claim, "He is in the inner rooms," do not accept their word. This is not the manner in which the genuine Messiah will appear when He returns. He will not require any markers or signs.

I caution you once more not to place your faith in the false messiahs who will arise, nor should you listen to those who claim to have encountered Christ in secluded places or hidden chambers; do not seek Him there. This is not the manner in which the Son of Man will return. Just as lightning strikes suddenly and illuminates the entire sky, so too will His return occur with immediacy and global reach; and just as eagles are drawn to a carcass, so too will the Son of Man gather all people to Himself. This concludes the prophecies regarding the fall of Jerusalem; what follows pertains to the end of the age and the glorious return of Christ.

In the desert, within the concealed spaces, it is advised not to venture into the wilderness or to seek out the hidden places. The exhortation is not to withdraw in disbelief but to refrain from entering or exiting, for the trials will be significant then due to the deceptive signs. During the period of Christ's initial coming, the Jewish people anticipated that the Messiah would manifest quite unexpectedly, possibly emerging suddenly from the desert, which is why false prophets misguided the crowds into the wilderness. Alternatively, He might be found in a secret location, emerging unexpectedly.

The subsequent part of the Saviour’s discourse shifts focus from immediate imagery to the terrifying occurrences associated with the end times. St. John Chrysostom clarifies that after addressing the prophecy concerning Jerusalem, Christ turns His attention to His return, sharing with His disciples signs that are not only relevant to them but also to us and all future generations. The Lord continues His revelation of what lies ahead, warning, "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 arise, performing great signs and wonders to mislead, if possible, even the chosen ones.