Matthew 24:10

Matthew 24:10, in plain English

Jesus warns that many people will lose their faith and turn against each other. When times get tough, some will betray the people they once called friends.

Why it's here

Pressure has a way of revealing what's real. Jesus is saying that hard times will show who truly believes and who was just going along with the crowd.

Who's speaking

Jesus warns about the painful reality of broken trust and abandoned faith under pressure.

Where it sits in the story

This is one of the hardest aspects of persecution: the betrayal doesn't just come from enemies but from people you thought were on your side.

The scholarly reading

Jesus describes internal community collapse: 'many will fall away' (skandalisthēsontai polloi) — the verb skandalizō means to be tripped up or to apostatize. Betrayal (paradōsousin) and mutual hatred (misēsousin) will fracture the community from within.

Language and setting

Internal division and betrayal were significant challenges for the early church (cf. 1 John 2:19; 2 Tim 1:15). Persecution creates pressure that reveals true and false faith.

Voice

Jesus warns about the internal dangers that persecution creates within the community of believers.

Significance

The threat is not only from outside. Under pressure, some believers will abandon their faith and even betray former brothers and sisters. Persecution exposes what's real.

8All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.

10At that time many will fall away and will betray and hate one another,

11and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.

12Because of the multiplication of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.

Read all of Matthew 24 — The disciples ask when the end will come. Jesus answers with wars, earthquakes, and a warning: stay awake, because no one knows the hour.