Matthew 24:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They asked Him in private, because they were great things about which they were going to ask Him. They wished to know the day of His coming, for the vehement desire they had to see His glory.

They ask Him three things. First, The time of the destruction of Jerusalem, saying, Tell us when shall these things be? Secondly, The time of Christ’s coming, saying, And what shall be the sign of Thy coming? Thirdly, The time of the consummation of this world, saying, And of the end of the world?

Many will arise claiming my authority, declaring, ‘I am the One, and the hour is near.’ Do not pursue them. They will come in my name to lead astray those who are inclined to believe them, each asserting that they are the Christ and that my return is imminent. Do not follow any of them. As Mark stated, "And many will be deceived." Notable deceivers included Simon and Menander from Samaria, along with others.

I think Mount Olivet to be a mystery of the Church out of the Gentiles.

Be vigilant so that no one leads you astray. Numerous individuals will arrive claiming to be the Messiah, and they will mislead many (Matthew 24:5). This has already begun, as figures like Simon the Magician, Menander, and other wicked heretical leaders have made such claims. They will persist in doing so both in our era and beyond.

And because the questions of the disciples are threefold, they are separated by different times and meanings. That concerning the destruction of the city is first answered, and is then confirmed by truth of doctrine, that no seducer might prevail with the ignorant.

The Lord continuing His walk arrives at Mount Olivet, having by the way foretold the destruction of the temple to those disciples who had shewn and commended the buildings. When they had reached the Mount they came to Him, asking Him further of this.

Soon I will return to my Father, and in that time, falsehood and deception will escalate, leading to the emergence of false Christs. Many will come in my name, proclaiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ claiming that the hour of the Messiah has arrived. A great number will be misled and deceived: many will fall prey to their allure. Therefore, do not follow them—be on guard! This warning from the Lord materialized soon after His ascension, as numerous false Christs and deceivers surfaced. The Jewish historian Flavius notes that the land was rife with magicians who misled the people into the wilderness, presenting illusions as if produced by divine power.

The warning given by Jesus (Matt. 23:37-39) deeply affected the disciples, who wished to believe in its reality. They felt compassion for Jerusalem and struggled to reconcile this prophecy with their expectations of the Messiah's reign. As they departed from the temple, the Lord overheard His followers admiring its grandeur, particularly visible from the Mount of Olives on their way. He then disclosed that all that magnificence would be utterly destroyed. Eager to learn more, the disciples, when they were alone with Him on the Mount of Olives, inquired about the timing of this catastrophic event.

The destruction of Jerusalem and the culmination of the world, despite being temporally distinct events, are addressed simultaneously by Christ in His teaching to the disciples. He does not seek to correct their current understanding but rather allows the events themselves to provide clarity. This approach is due to the inherent connection between the two occurrences, with the fall of Jerusalem serving as a foreshadowing of the ultimate end of the age. The prophetic nature of His message regarding the former event is clear from Matthew 15-22, Mark 14-20, and Luke 20-24, particularly in Luke's account, which vividly depicts the siege of Jerusalem and the turmoil faced by the Jewish people during that period.

The apostles believed that the anticipated reign of the Messiah would commence following the destruction, with Jesus Christ returning and establishing His glorious dominion simultaneously with the world's conclusion. They expected these events to unfold quickly, while they were still living. It was necessary for them to be cautioned against such anticipations. As a result, prior to addressing their inquiry, Jesus warned: “Beware lest someone deceive you with false assurances about my coming and the coming end of the world. Many will come under my name and say, ‘I am the Christ’; many they will mislead, many they will deceive; and the time is near (Luke 21:8).

Christ presented to His followers a prophetic vision concerning the evolution and trajectory of God's kingdom on earth, focusing particularly on two significant occurrences—the devastation of Jerusalem and the dissolution of the Jewish nation as a sovereign entity, along with the culmination of time. The fall of Jerusalem will mark merely the beginning of these events, serving as a forerunner to the grim judgment of both the living and the dead. The timing of this final, terrifying event remains a divine mystery, beyond the understanding of angels; however, prior to this momentous occasion, there will be a brief period filled with numerous trials that must be navigated carefully. Deceptive Messiahs will emerge, alluring many with charm and intimidation; nevertheless, steadfast faith in their Savior and Lord must be maintained. Those who persevere through all challenges for His sake will ultimately attain salvation.

"Under My name" refers to the name of the Messiah - Christ. During this time, anticipation for the Messiah was greatly intensified, resulting in the emergence of numerous false prophets. According to Flavius, the region was rife with deceivers and magicians who misled the populace into the wilderness, where they claimed to perform miracles by divine power. Among these impostors were figures such as Dositheus the Samaritan, who proclaimed himself the Christ, Simon the Magician, another Samaritan who asserted he was the son of God, Theudas (Acts 5:36), who convinced many Jews to journey to the Jordan River with the promise of parting its waters, reminiscent of Elijah and Elisha, and an Egyptian figure referenced in the Book of Acts (Acts 21:38), along with others.

In the view of the God-man, all events, near and distant, converge into one grand vision, where many aspects of the city's and temple's devastation serve as representations of the terrifying occurrences at the world's end. The Lord first indicated to His disciples the signs that would herald the execution of divine judgments. "Watch ye, lest any man deceive you: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am the Christ; and the time is at hand; and many shall deceive you: for ye shall not go out in their footsteps." Yet, when you hear of conflict and chaos, do not be alarmed or terrified, for it is necessary that these events occur first, although not right away.