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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:11

Verse 11 11.And many false prophets will arise. This warning differs from the former, in which Christ foretold that many would come in his name. For there he spoke only of impostors, who, shortly after the commencement of the Gospel, gave out that they were the Christ; but now he threatens that in all ages false teachers will arise, to corrupt sound doctrine, as Peter tells us (2 Peter 2:1) that the Church will be no less exposed to this evil under the Gospel than it anciently was under the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 24:12

Verse 12 12Because iniquity will abound. How far and wide this evil extends every person ought to know, but there are very few who observe it. For in consequence of the superior clearness with which the light of the gospel discovers the malice of men, even good and properly regulated minds grow cool, and almost lose the desire to exercise benevolence. Each of them reasons thus with himself, that the duties which they perform to one person, or to another, are thrown away, because experience and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:1-14

The great prophecy: General predictions of coming sorrows. I. THE TEMPLE . 1 . The Lord ' s departure. Jesus went out. He had taught in the temple for the last time. He had greatly loved that holy house of God. He had shown a burning zeal for its honour. Twice he had expelled the crowd of traffickers who made it a house of merchandise, a den of thieves. He "would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple." He so strongly insisted upon the duty of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:1-51

PROPHECY OF THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM , AND OF THE TIMES OF THE END . ( Mark 13:1-37 ; Luke 21:5-36 .) There is no reason to think, with Olshauson, that St. Matthew or his editor has considerably amplified the original discourse of our Lord by introducing details and expressions from other quarters. The discourse, as we now have it ( Matthew 24:1-51 . and 25.), forms a distinct whole, divided into certain portions closely related to each other and it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:4-14

Signs of the advent. The coming of Christ in his kingdom being the great event of prophecy to be fulfilled, the time and signs of that coming became questions of intense interest to the disciples. The time is generally indicated by the signs. These are— I. APOSTASY THROUGH THE INFLUENCE OF FALSE CHRISTS . 1 . Many antichrists appeared before the destruction of Jerusalem. 2 . Many have since been deceived by the popes. 3 . Many have been deceived in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:10

Shall many be offended. The persecutions directed against the disciples in general shall in many cases result in overcoming their steadfastness and sapping their faith. Shall betray one another. To curry favour with enemies and to secure their own safety in troublous times, Christians were found to inform against friends, and to deliver them up to the civil authorities. Tacitus notes instances of this degrading cowardice. "First those were seized who confessed that they were Christians;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:11

False prophets ( Matthew 24:24 ). These were not necessarily predictors or soothsayers, but teachers having, as they said, a message from God. Such pretenders have arisen in every great crisis; but the Jews a few years later were deceived continually by fanatics or impostors, who professed to be inspired, and premised the infatuated people deliverance, urging them to resist the Romans, in expectation of the coming of Messiah to lead them to immediate victory (comp. Josephus, 'Bell. Jud.,'... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:12

Because iniquity shall abound ( πληθυνθῆναι , is multiplied ) . The word rendered "iniquity" is ἀνομι ì α , "lawlessness," general immorality and licence. Impatience of rule and discipline, connivance at and imitation of heathen practices, reacted upon the faith of believers, undermined steadfast adherence to principle. Then was the power of "that wicked one" ( ὁἀ ì νομος , 2 Thessalonians 2:8 ) exercised and seen in the lapse of the unstable. The love of many ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 24:12-13

The difficulty of keeping on. "Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." These verses are connected with Christ's prophecy of the history of his Church. There may be difficulty in fixing the precise references of his language, but he describes general features which are seen in every passing age. There is always a disposition to exaggerate or overestimate the evils of the age in which we happen to live, because they are specially prominent to us. But we may certainly... read more

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