Beware of Deception - Luke 21:8

The beloved physician Luke shared concerning Jesus, “as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which you behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse eight of his book Luke shared how Jesus said, “Take heed that you be not deceived” where we read:

And he said, Take heed that you be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draws near: go you not therefore after them.

The verse reads, “And he said, Take heed that you be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ;” Luke began with the words, “and he said” or “and Jesus uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “take heed” which means “discern, see, perceive, observe, discover and beware” “that you be not deceived” or “that you, disciples of Jesus, no and not in any way be led astray, into error, away from the truth and into sin”: “for many shall come” which means “because, since and on account that a great number of people shall arise and appear” “in my name” or “by employing everything which Jesus' name covers including the thoughts or feelings which are aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering”, “saying” which means “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “I am Christ” or “I, myself, and the Messiah, anointed One of God and the Savior of mankind”. Luke shared how Jesus warned His disciples to “beware” of imposters who declare themselves to be the Messiah.

The verse continues, “and the time draws near: go you not therefore after them.” Luke added the words, “and the time draws near” or “and the due measure, decisive epoch waited for and opportune and seasonal time approaches and comes near”: “go you not therefore after them” which means “wherefore then disciples of Jesus, do not follow and proceed with these deceivers who say they are Christ”. Luke shared how Jesus warned His disciples that in “due season” these posing “Christs” would appear, and He instructed them not to follow “them”.

When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus knew there would be “imposter Christs” who would arise in the world, and He warned His disciples not to follow them. Though there would be many other who would be fooled by their words and ways, the disciples of Jesus were never to “go after them”. God knows there will be “false Christs” who attempt to persuade people to align with their teachings and ways, and those who are wise will not only beware of “imposters”, but will submit themselves to Jesus who is God's One and only Messiah.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “you shall hear of wars and commotions”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".