Matthew 24:25,26 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Behold, &c.— "Behold, I have given you sufficient warning." It is remarkable, that our Saviour should not only foretel the appearance of these impostors, but also the manner and circumstances of their conduct; for some he mentions as appearing in the desert, and some in secret chambers, and the event has in all points answered tothe prediction. Several of the false Christs and false prophets conducted their followers into deserts, where they promised to shew wonders and signs; and many, being persuaded, suffered the punishments of their folly; some of them being brought back by Felix, and chastised or slain by him. The Egyptian false prophet, mentioned Acts 21:38 led out into the wilderness, four thousand men that were murderers; but being engaged by Felix, the Egyptian himself with others fled away, and most of those who had been with him were slain or taken prisoners. These things happened before the destruction of Jerusalem. And a little after, one Jonathan, a weaver, persuaded many indigent men to follow him into the desert, promising to shew them signs; but most of his followers were also slain, some made prisoners, and he himself was afterwards taken, and burned alive, by order of Vespasian. As several of those impostors conducted their followers into the desert, so did others of them into the secret chambers, or places of security; particularly the false prophet mentioned by Josephus, who declared, that God commanded the people to go up into the temple, where they should receive the signs of deliverance. A multitude of men, women, and children went up accordingly; but, instead of deliverance, the place was set on fire by the Romans, and six thousand perished miserably in the flames, or by throwing themselves down to escape them. We may here observe, that the Messiah was particularly expected about the time of our Saviour, and consequently that the prophets had before-hand marked out that very time for his coming. We read not of any false Messiahs before the age of our Saviour, nor of so many in any age after; and why did they rise in that age particularly, if the Messiah was not at that time particularly expected? And why did the Jews expect their Messiah at that time more than at any other, if that was not the time before appointed for his coming? See Bishop Newton.