Therefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Read Chapter 24
Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
If, therefore, they shall say, &c. Christ here denotes Simon of Gerasa, who collected a multitude of robbers and soldiers in the deserts and mountains, on the pretext that, being Messiah, he would defend the Jews against the Romans. He was admitted into Jerusalem to be a check upon the Zealots, but he acted as tyrannically towards the citizens as the Zealots themselves. (Josh. Bell57.)
In the secret chambers; that Isaiah , the innermost and secret places of the Temple, where God is accustomed to manifest His presence and aid the Jews, that He may now protect them by means of His Messias from the Romans. Christ here signifies Eleazar and John , the leaders of the Zealots, who occupied the inner court of the Temple, on the pretext of defending the city against the Romans , but in reality that they might rule over it and despoil it. So Josephus (de Bell61,4 , and711). He relates that when the Temple was on fire, many Jews fled to the porch without the Temple, because a certain false prop...
Behold he is in the desert. This prediction of false Christs, may be understood before the destruction of Jerusalem, but chiefly before the end of the world. (Witham)
As we have mentioned above, in note on verse 5.
And see how He secures them; Go not forth into the deserts, enter not into the secret chambers. He did not say, Go, and do not believe; but, Go not forth, neither depart there. For great then will be the deceiving, because that even deceiving miracles are wrought.
