Guard From Deception

“Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:3-5

Notice how when the disciples asked Jesus about the last days, the first thing He mentioned was deception. The Greek word for deceive in this verse is planao.

According to Strong’s concordance it means “to (properly, cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way.”

From the outset, Jesus warned the disciples that many would be deceived as they anticipated His return. There have been times in the history of the church when rash predictions were made and then relied upon resulting in great disappointment, disillusionment, and falling way. Truth is, these predictors ultimately took people away from doing God’s Word and caused them to trust in mans knowledge and charisma.

Jesus warns: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Matthew 25:13

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect....Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.” Luke 12:40, 43

Besides praying, what are we to be “doing”? “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’....And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” Matthew 25:34-40

Love & Prayers,

Alan James Schrader