Don't Believe the False Reports of Christ - Matthew 24:23

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told of horrific events that will be on the earth before He comes again and the end of the world takes place. He also said, “But pray that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse twenty-three of his book, Matthew writes how Jesus told His disciples what to do, “if any man say unto you, Lo, here is Christ” where we read:

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

The verse reads, “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there;” Matthew began with Jesus' word, “then” which means “therefore, wherefore, consequently and these things being so” “if any man” which refers to “whether any person male or female” “shall say” or “will utter, declare and proclaim” “unto you” which means “to the disciples of Jesus”, “lo” or “look, behold and see” “here is Christ” which refers to “in this place is the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”, “or there” which means “or over in that place is the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”. Matthew shared how Jesus warned His disciples concerning people who tell them “the Messiah” is in one place or another.

The verse goes on to say, “... believe it not.” Matthew added Jesus' word, “believe” or “have confidence, trust and credit” “it not” which means “the saying the Messiah is in one particular place or another”. Matthew shared how Jesus instructed His disciples not to “trust” or “have confidence in” the words of people who proclaim the whereabouts of the Messiah.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how deceived these people are who seek to promote the location of “the Messiah”. When Jesus' disciples hear these reports, they are not to “have confidence” in them. Many today come professing they are the “Christ” of God and mislead people into believing he is their “Messiah”. Jesus knew these things would come to pass, and He is the only “Messiah” sent from God. Those who are wise shall put their “faith and trust” in Him and refuse to commit to anyone else as their “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Matthew writes how Jesus says “there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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