Gospel of Matthew Chapter 24 Vs. 12

 

Signs of the End of the Age

Matthew 24:12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

And because iniquity... Meaning, either the malice and wickedness of outrageous persecutors, which should greatly increase. Or the treachery and hatred of the apostates; or the errors and heresies of false teachers; or the wickedness that prevailed in the lives and conversations of some, that were called Christians.

Shall abound (πληθυνθῆναι)

Lit., shall be multiplied. See Acts 6:1, 6:7; 7:17; 9:31; Heb. 6:14.

The love of... The consequence of which would be, the love of many shall wax cold. This would be the case of many, but not of all; for in the midst of this abounding iniquity, there was some whose love to Christ, to his Gospel, and to the saints, did not abate. But then there were many, whose zeal for Christ, through the violence of persecution, was greatly damped. And through the treachery of false brethren, were afraid of the saints themselves.

Of many (τῶν πολλῶν)

The A. V. in omitting the definite article, misses the force of Christ's saying. It is not the love of many people only that shall be chilled, but of the many, the majority, the great body.

Wax cold (ψυγήσεται)

The verb means originally to breathe or blow; and the picture is that of spiritual energy blighted or chilled by a malign or poisonous wind.

Not knowing who to trust; and through the principles of the false teachers, the power of godliness, and the vital heat of religion, were almost lost; and through a love of the world, and of carnal ease and pleasure, love to the saints grew very chilly.

And they left; as the instances of Demas, and those that forsook the Apostle Paul, at his first answer before Nero, show. This might be true of such, who were real believers in Christ; who might fall under great decays, through the prevalence of iniquity. Since it does not say their love shall be lost, but wax cold.

Believing Jews will be betrayed by nonbelievers (Mat. 24:10), and many will be deceived by rising false prophets (cf. Mat. 24:5; Rev. 13:11-15). Wickedness will increase, causing the love of most people (for the Lord) to grow cold.