Mark 13:21 · Bible study
Mark 13:21 Commentary: Warning Against False Christs in the Olivet Discourse
Greek · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jesus warns against false messiahs during the coming tribulation. Analysis of first-century context, Greek grammar, and application for believers today.
Research Summary
- Meaning: During the coming tribulation, reject claims that the Messiah has secretly appeared in a specific place.
- Key words: “Then” (τότε) anchors the warning to the tribulation period; “believe not” (μὴ πιστεύετε) is a present imperative for continual refusal.
- Main debate: Whether the warning is primarily for the first-century Jewish war or for the final tribulation before Christ’s return.
- Theological theme: Divine protection through advance warning, the elect cannot ultimately be deceived, but they must still exercise vigilance.
- Best use: A pastoral root against sensationalism and misplaced hope in political or charismatic leaders who promise deliverance on their own terms.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ don’t believe it.
KJV King James Version 1769
And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ; or, Lo, there; believe it not:
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And then, if any may say to you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Lo, there, ye may not believe;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And then if any one say to you, Lo, here [is] the Christ, or Lo, there, believe [it] not.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And then if any man shall say to you: Lo, here is Christ. Lo, he is here: do not believe.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y entonces si alguno os dijere: He aquí, aquí está el Cristo; ó, He aquí, allí está, no le creáis.
Então se alguém vos disser: “Eis aqui o Cristo”; ou “ei-lo ali”, não creiais nele.
Si quelqu’ un vous dit alors: Le Christ est ici, ou: Il est là, ne le croyez pas.
Wenn nun jemand zu der Zeit wird zu euch sagen: Siehe, hier ist Christus! siehe, da ist er! so glaubet nicht.
En alsdan, zo iemand tot ulieden zal zeggen: Ziet, hier is de Christus; of ziet, Hij is daar; gelooft het niet.
E allora, se alcuno vi dice: “Il Cristo eccolo qui, eccola là”, non lo credete;
A tedy jeźliby wam kto rzekł: Oto tu jest Chrystus, albo oto tam, nie wierzcie.
Тогда, если кто вам скажет: вот, здесь Христос, или: вот, там, — не верьте.
那時 若 有人 對你們 說：『看哪，基督 在這裡』，或說：『 基督在那裡』，你們不要 信！
And then if any man says to you, See, here is Christ; or, See, there; have no faith in it:
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Mark 13:21
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The commentators agree that verse 21 is part of Jesus’ explanation of events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Gill ties the warning specifically to “those days of tribulation” just after the tribulation is shortened. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown note that Josephus records several false messiahs in the years leading up to Jerusalem’s fall. Matthew Henry reads the whole discourse as a prophecy of the Jewish war. The command “believe him not” (μὴ πιστεύετε) is a present imperative, a habitual, ongoing refusal. The definite article “the Christ” (ὁ χριστός) makes it clear the claimant is taking the official title of Messiah. Across traditions, the verse is understood as a call to discernment: the true Messiah will not appear secretly; his coming will be unmistakable (Luke 17:24).
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- First-century fulfillment (preterist): The immediate context (vv. 14-20) describes the Roman invasion; Josephus documents false messiahs in that period.
- Future tribulation fulfillment (futurist): Parallels in Matthew 24 and Revelation; the language of cosmic signs (vv. 24-25) seems to extend beyond AD 70.
- Dual fulfillment (historical + eschatological): The pattern of tribulation and false messiahs repeats; the warning applies to any time of crisis before Christ’s final return.
What is clear: Jesus commands his followers not to believe claims that the Messiah has secretly appeared in a particular place — the true coming of the Son of Man will be unmistakably public.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Historical reference point | The warning is set in the context of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. | Some traditions (historic preterists) see this as entirely fulfilled in the first century; others (future premillennialists) read it as a prophecy of the final tribulation before the second coming. |
| Nature of the false christ | The false christ is someone who claims the messianic title and leads people astray, often with signs. | Dispensationalists see these as individual antichrist figures in a future period; amillennialists often see them as any false teacher who sets themselves up in Christ’s place across church history. |
| The elect's vulnerability | Jesus says the deception would reach almost to the point of leading the elect astray. | Calvinists hold that the elect cannot finally be deceived because God preserves them; Arminians emphasize that believers must actively watch and obey the warning to avoid falling. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jesus spoke these words on the Mount of Olives, directly opposite the temple (Mark 13:3). The disciples had just marveled at the temple’s size and stones, and Jesus shocked them by predicting its total destruction. The question that follows (Mark 13:4) is twofold: when will the temple be destroyed, and what will be the sign of Jesus’ coming and the end of the age?
First-century Jewish expectation of the Messiah was often political, a deliverer from Roman rule (see Poole’s note that they expected “a secular prince”). That expectation created a ready audience for any leader claiming to be the Christ. Josephus records several such figures: Theudas (Acts 5:36-37), the Egyptian who led thousands to the Mount of Olives (Acts 21:38), and other “impostors” who promised liberation. In the chaos of the Jewish War (AD 66-70), these movements multiplied. Jesus knew the desperation of people under siege would make them vulnerable to false hopes.
Literarily, verse 21 sits between the description of the great tribulation (vv. 19-20) and the warning about false prophets performing signs (vv. 22-23). It echoes Deuteronomy 13:1-3, where Israel is told not to listen to a prophet who gives signs but leads away from God. Jesus frames his warning with urgency, “But you watch” (v. 23), reminding his followers they have been told beforehand.
Textual Notes
Reception History
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Context of Suffering: This warning comes during a time of unprecedented oppression (v. 19). Desperate people are more suggestible. Jesus knows that pressure tests discernment.
- The Claimants: They say “here is the Christ” or “there.” They point to a particular location, offering a savior on human terms. The pattern repeats: a leader, a place, a promise of deliverance.
- The Command: “Don’t believe it.” The present imperative (μὴ πιστεύετε) means keep refusing. This is not a one-time check but a sustained posture of skepticism toward any secret messiah claim.
Five-point outline
- The temporal anchor: “then” points to the period of tribulation described before (vv. 17-20).
- The grammatical signal: “if anyone says” (ἐάν τις εἴπῃ), a third-class condition, presenting a possible future scenario.
- The false call: “Look, here is the Christ!” (ἴδε ὧδε ὁ χριστός). The interjection ἴδε demands immediate attention.
- The specific warning: Jews expected the Messiah to appear in glory, not in secret; any secret claim is suspect.
- The protection: Jesus pre-warns them so they do not fall. Beholding, I have told you all things beforehand (v. 23).
Illustration hooks
- A scam phone call that sounds exactly like a family member in distress, the caller ID is spoofed, the voice is right. The only safe response is to hang up and verify through a known channel. Jesus says the same about messiah claims during crisis.
- A crowd gathers at a field outside town because someone claimed to see a vision of Jesus. Well-meaning people drop everything and run. But Jesus said he would come like lightning, not in a field.
- During a natural disaster, rumors spread about a charismatic leader who can rescue the community. People follow him blindly. The church’s job is to be the voice that says, “Wait. Compare what he says with what Jesus already told us.”
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know if a spiritual leader or prophecy is from God, especially in confusing times?
- Could this warning apply today when someone claims a special revelation of Christ’s return or a new “move of God”?
- Why would Christians ever be vulnerable to a false Christ if they already know Jesus?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is part of a longer warning from Jesus about the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age. As you read Mark 13:21 in context (vv. 19-23), notice how Jesus combines hard predictions with personal care: he is telling the disciples these things so they will not be deceived.
Discussion questions
- Read Mark 13:21-23 aloud. What feelings does the warning “don’t believe it” stir in you?
- Why do you think Jesus specifically mentions false christs and false prophets who perform signs and wonders (v. 22)? What does that say about the kind of deception believers face?
- Look at Deuteronomy 13:1-3. How does that Old Testament passage help explain what Jesus is saying?
- In the first century, many believed the Messiah would be a political liberator. How does that background help us understand why people would be drawn to false christs during the Roman war?
- Do you think this warning is limited to the events of AD 70, or does it apply to the church in every generation? Why?
- How can a Christian today “test” claims about a special appearance or revelation of Christ? What resources has God given us to stay grounded?
- Share a time when you or someone you know was nearly misled by a convincing spiritual claim. What helped you see clearly?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Deuteronomy 13:1 | If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, |
| Deuteronomy 13:3 | you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams; for Yahweh your God is testing you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul. |
| Matthew 24:5 | For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray. |
| Matthew 24:23 | “Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There!’ don’t believe it. |
| Matthew 24:25 | “Behold, I have told you beforehand. |
| Luke 17:23 | They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away or follow after them, |
| Luke 17:24 | for as the lightning, when it flashes out of one part under the sky, shines to another part under the sky, so will the Son of Man be in his day. |
| Luke 21:8 | He said, “Watch out that you don’t get led astray, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ Therefore don’t follow them. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
3 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize that believers must refuse to be drawn by any claim that Christ is physically present in a particular place. Such reports are deceptive and should be met with immediate disbelief, as Christ’s true presence is not subject to human location or sight.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill warns that during the tribulation, false reports will claim the Messiah has arrived specifically to deliver Israel from Roman oppression. He insists believers must reject such hopes for political deliverance, since the true coming will be unmistakable and not hidden in any particular location.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB sees Christ's warning as vividly fulfilled in the historical events Josephus recorded before Jerusalem's destruction. He emphasizes that while false christs and prophets will almost succeed in deceiving even the elect, the phrase "if it were possible" guarantees their final security. This impossibility is a precious assurance.