Mark 13:3-6 - Deceivers & Deceptions

We’re diving into Mark 13:3-6 this week, where Jesus begins answering His disciples’ big questions about the future with a sobering warning: “See that no one leads you astray.” In these verses, we’re stepping into the reality of deceivers and deceptions that will mark the last days—challenges that threaten to pull us off course. But here’s the good news: Jesus doesn’t just leave us with a heads-up; He equips us to stand firm. We’ll unpack what it means to expect deception, how to cling to God’s truth, and why the Word and the church are our anchors in a world of chaos. Join me as we explore God’s Word together, digging into its wisdom and looking to Jesus, our true hope!

Transcript

89 - Mark 13:3-6 - Deceivers & Deceptions

Intro

• If you have your Bibles please turn with me to Mark 13 and find verse 3.
  • We continue working our way through Mark 13 today as today we finally get into some of the meat of the passage.
• If you have been with us you know that it has been slow going but because of the nature of this chapter and the topic surrounding it…
  • We have opted to take our time and see what all this chapter has to offer.  
  • With that perspective we approach this chapter desiring to hear the teaching of Christ and be sure that it is properly applied to us today.
• In view of that our text today has much to offer us, as we step into Christ’s initial response to the question presented by the Apostles.
  • We will see that our Lord may not have answered in the way we would have hoped but we can be sure that He has answered us in the way that is needed. 
  • With that short intro let us read our verses and step into this passage.

Mark 13:3-6

• Let us start out considering the question that was just asked of these four apostles.
  • The question was…
    • “...when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
  • This two part question was in regard to what Jesus had said about the Temple in the first two verses of this chapter.
    • He simply revealed that the Temple would be destroyed and not one of its stones would be left on top of another.
      • What we must remember as we walk through this chapter and as we consider the question of the Apostles…
      • Is that the Temple was not just a place of worship for the Jewish people but it was also a representation of the blessings and favor of God upon His people.
    • Therefore the destruction of the Temple represented the judgment of God falling upon His people.
  • Which means that throughout this chapter as Jesus begins to answer this two part question He is not only talking about the destruction of the Temple but also of the judgment to come.
• Keeping this in mind helps us really understand that the question asked really is concerned with two things regarding this coming judgment.
  • These four apostles wanted to know “when” these things were going to happen and they wanted to know “what” the events leading up to this judgment will look like.
    • Like many of us when we consider the events of the last days we desire to know these things as well.
    • We would like to know when it will all begin to unfold and we want to know what the events are that will lead to the coming judgment.   
  • In our verses today Jesus begins to answer the latter part of their question..
    • Actually, as we talked about a couple of weeks ago, the majority of this chapter is Jesus addressing the second part of their question.
      • He reveals many things that will come to pass in the last days, He has much to say about what will come to be.  
    • However, Jesus does not simply just answer what is to come He also urges these four apostles with how to be prepared and how to live in spite of what is happening around them.
  • This will be the majority of our focus as we walk through these verses together.
    • As Christians, as the Church, we are the “called out” ones. 
      • We are to live as exiles and strangers to this world, we are to be different.
      • Our citizenship is not here but rather found in the Kingdom of God.
    • Consider how Peter addresses the church in 1 Peter verse 11, he writes….
      • 1 Peter 1:11 - “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
        • What interesting language he uses in that verse to point out to us that as followers of Christ we are outsiders.
          • We are simply sojourners, we are just passing through.
          • Or, we can be counted as exiles, someone who is displaced from their homeland.
            • What rich imagery exists for the church in that description.
        • Throughout Israel’s history they existed as both sojourners in Egypt and exiles in Babylon and Assyria.
        • They knew what it was to be in land not their own.
      • The same can be said to us, we exist in a land not our own, we are just passing through, exiled here for a time.
    • When Jesus addresses these apostles in Mark 13 He primarily focuses on how we are to live even as these things unfold around us.
      • Though He does not use the same language as Peter, the principle is certainly the same.
    • Jesus addresses how we should live in view of the coming judgment.  
  • With that in mind if we were to read through this chapter we would find many warnings from Christ as well as many assurances from Christ throughout this chapter.
    • All of it centers around how we are meant to live even as the world caves in all around us.  
  • How does the Lord instruct us to live?
• Let us step into our first warning that we see from our Lord.
  • He wastes no time in telling these apostles and us today…

Do Not be Led Astray - Vs. 5-6

• I have to say that I love that as the Apostles approached and were alarmed of what was to come…
  • The first thing Jesus tells them is not necessarily the answer to either of their questions…
    • But it is exactly what the apostles as well as the church needs to know about the coming judgment.  
• Think with me about this for just a few moments…
  • Much like the apostles we want to know when things are going to unfold, we want to know how things are going to unfold.
    • We have theories, charts, and much of our discussion about last days centers upon speculation.
  • To be clear, I am not saying that all things regarding last days are mere speculation.
    • Church, Christ is coming back for His people. 
      • We know this with great certainty…
      • However, when and exactly how those things are going to unfold is open to a bit of interpretation.
    • There is much about the last days we do not know but what we must realize is that God in His Divine Wisdom has given us exactly what we need.
  • So let us realize that sometimes what we need, when it comes to the last days, is not a chart, it is not a timeline of events, but instead it is a warning.
  • Our passage today begins with this first warning from Christ.  
• Read it again with me beginning in verse 5.
  • Mark 13:5
• Jesus begins to answer their question by issuing a simple and straightforward warning…
  • “See that no one leads you astray.”
  • We have to love the heart of Christ in this moment.
    • He is not necessarily answering the question in the way we or the apostles may have wanted but He is providing exactly what is needed.
  • He knows that surrounding the fall of the Temple and the judgment that is still to come that there will be many who seek to lead people astray.
• We must recognize that when it comes to the study of and the discussion of the last days there will always be those who use the interest surrounding it for their own gain.
  • More than that we also learn that much of their efforts will be successful, look with me at verse 6…
    • Mark 13:6
  • There exists in these two verses a warning for the church today…
    • We must realize that there are those who exist to lead people astray and that we must make every effort to not be led down that road.
  • For the next few minutes I want us to really lean into this warning so that we walk away with practical applications for how to avoid being led astray.
    • First, let us talk about what Jesus means by being led astray…
• It is important that we know that in the original language there is one word that is translated as two words in our English translations.
  • In verse 5 the one word is translated as “leads…astray” and in verse 6 this same word is translated as “lead…astray”.
    • Same idea in both instances although there is a slight difference that we will need to discuss.
      • In verse 5 the word is used in the singular, meaning that Jesus is warning the individual to not be led astray.
      • However, in verse 6 it is used in the plural sense reminding us that there are indeed many who try to lead us astray.
    • In both instances we have before us a warning that we are to be on guard and stay vigilant.  
  • I also think it is also important to know that this word is used 39 times throughout the New Testament, although it is not always translated as “lead…astray”.
    • Depending on the use we see it translated as…
      • “Wandering” or “wanders”, “straying”, and “seducing”, and as “deceive” or “deceived” or even “deceiver”
      • the majority of those uses being translated as deceive or deceived.
    • The picture is that there are many who will be trying to deceive us…
      • To cause us to wander…
      • Who will try and seduce us to follow something untrue…
      • And we must make efforts to prevent that deception.
    • Let me try to illustrate it this way…
      • Many of us have driven in a storm, the wind blows us and we know that we have to stay alert otherwise we may find ourselves in the wrong lane or off the road entirely.
      • The wind and rain can make an effort to lead us astray but a good driver knows that he has to stay alert and adjust as needed to prevent being led astray.
    • The same principle applies when it comes to this warning from Christ.
  • There are many who make great efforts to lead us astray…
    • There are many who prevert the message of the Gospel, who distort the person of Christ, who are nothing more than charlatans who are seeking to bring glory to themselves.  
      • Just like a strong wind and heavy rain they have influenced many and caused them to be deceived.  
    • Christ is urging these apostles and likewise us to stand against such leadings.
  • So, in view of this warning from our Lord today let us now turn our attention to how we are to stand on guard against deception.
  • As we do, let us make two observations about these verses on how we can stand against deception.
• The first observation is that we should expect deception…
  • Just as it would be good for us to know if a storm is approaching…
    • So also is it to our benefit to know that there are those who would like to lead us away from the Truth.  
  • This is an unfortunate reality that we face, and the church has faced throughout its history.
    • Many have arisen and have tried and often been successful to lead people astray.
    • As we have talked about before there is no shortage of people today that are making the same efforts.
      • Who exist not for the good of the Church but rather to lead people off course.
    • These same types of individuals existed in Paul’s day and he likewise warned the church to avoid these individuals.
      • We see this at the end of Romans 16 where he writes…
        • Romans 16:17-18 - “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
      • There were those in his day and there are those in our day who would like nothing more than to lead others astray.
    • Those that fall into this category of deceivers are just reflecting their true father…
      • Jesus points this out in John 8 as He is dealing with the religious leaders of His day and the deception they were propagating…
      • He said to them…
        • John 8:44 - “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
        • Harsh words, but let us realize that when someone leads a person away from the Truth of Christ, when they pervert the Gospel for their own gain, they are very much akin to the devil.
      • Consider the writings of John in Revelation 12, writing about the devil he penned…
        • Revelation 12:9a - “And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan,...
          • Listen to what he says about him next, John calls him…
          •  “…the deceiver of the whole world…”
        • Something interesting to know is that this same word used to describe satan in Revelation 12 as the “deceiver” is the same Greek word used in our verses in Mark 13.
      • Which again reminds us that those who make efforts to deceive and to lead people away from the Truth are really doing the work of the ultimate deceiver…
    • Again, we must expect it, we must be on guard for those who would want to lead us away from the truth.  
  • The reason we must expect it is because otherwise a strong gust of wind could blow us off course.
    • Going back to our illustration, it is a lot easier to compensate for a gust that you know is coming rather than to have to correct afterwards.
      • This is especially true for those who are young in the faith or new to Christianity.  
    • This past week I had the opportunity to visit with a few other pastors and this topic of deception and being led astray came up.
    • One fellow pastor shared about a community member in his area that he had visited with on multiple occasions.
      • This man did not attend his church or any church but would claim to be a believer.
        • He had at one point early on in his life latched on to a false teacher that had perpetuated certain deceptions.
      • Though some of what he taught would align with the Word of God most was delusions of his own making.
    • This man early on having latched on to these teachings, and without the influence of the local church and faithful teaching, has at this time been led astray.
  • Friends, we must realize that false teaching is just as prevalent today as it was 2000 years ago.
    • Even in saying that I think an argument could be made that it is more prevalent today than it has ever been.
      • Consider the day in which we live, where a bad idea can spread like wildfire around the globe before breakfast.
      • Outside of the authority of the local church any person can record anything making any claims and it can be very damaging to new believers…
        • Or those considering Christianity.
    • To add to this problem…
      • We live in a time for which attending church and being committed to a local church has been reduced to an online presence.
      • Whereas there can be great use in sharing our services with an online audience at the same time we must realize that it does not replace the gathering with the saints.
  • We must stay committed to gathering with local believers, submitting ourselves to service and fellowship of the local church, all the while expecting and being on guard for deceptions.
    • This is the first observation, expect deceptions, expect those who would try to lead us astray.  
• The second observation that we must make is that we must cling to truth.
  • It is certainly important to expect deceptions and expect those who would stand against Truth.
    • However, it is much more important to cling to Truth.
      • For if we cling to Truth then when something false arises we can recognize it and stand against it.
    • When it comes to clinging to Truth I think this something…
  • We do in two primary ways, and remember the warning from Christ was to the individual.
    • Which means we all have an individual responsibility to prevent ourselves from being led astray.  
  • Again we do this in two ways…
    • First, we must read, study, and obey the Word of God.
      • This is the primary way we can stand against the deceptions that we will find in our world.
        • If we know what is true then we will be able to quickly recognize what is false.  
      • The only way for us to have success in this regard is to spend time reading and studying and applying the Word of God.
        • I think about Deuteronomy 6 when I think about this point… 
          • Moses writes to the new generation of Israelites and urges…
          • Deuteronomy 6:6 - “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.”
        • The Word was to be written on their hearts, likewise it should be written upon ours.
          • Assuming that these verses in Deuteronomy represent how we are to write it upon our hearts, we find many practical ways we can do just that.
        • Moses continues in the next verse…
          • Deuteronomy 6:7 - “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 
        • Do you want to know this book?
          • Then teach it to your children…
        • Do you want to know this book?
          • Then talk about it to others day by day…
            • While you sit in your house…
            • While you walk or drive down the road…
            • When you lie down and when you arise, think about and talk about the Word of God.
          • Practically it means reading it and then discussing it.
        • Moses does not stop there but he goes on and tells us…
          • Deuteronomy 6:8-9 - “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”
        • Do you want to know the Bible?
          • Then write it down…
      • All of this gives us the idea that our lives are to be saturated with the Word of God.
        • That we would think about it, that we would talk about it, that we would write about it.
        • As we do those things the Truth of scripture will be written upon our hearts.
      • Resulting in us knowing the Truth and being much harder to deceive.
      • This is arguably the most important thing we could do to prevent us from being led astray but it is not the only thing we can do.
        • Nor is it the only thing we should do…
    • Secondly, we must be committed to the local church.
      • I cannot stress the importance enough of finding a local church that you agree with doctrinally and practically and then place yourself under the authority of the local church.
      • That is because Christ has established the local church to guard against such deceptions.
        • Do you realize that it is much harder to lead a group, even a small group, astray?
          • It is much easier to lead an individual away from the truth if he or she is stripped away from the group.
          • Which means that if we do not commit ourselves to the local church then we open ourselves up for deception.  
        • We guard against the deceptions that are present in our world by maintaining fellowship and involvement in the local church.
      • What the local church is really able to help foster and what the local church should be about is discipleship.
        • Proverbs 27:17 - “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
          • That is what we are talking about, mutual edification where we are made more like Christ together.
    • I urge you today to consider these things in light of how you are living your life.
  • Do you spend time in the Word, are you committed to the local church?
• As we draw to a close today…

Closing

• I want to remind you of the bottom line by summing up everything we have discussed…
  • Deception will come, there will be those who will try to lead us astray so we must be on guard.
    • By reading, studying, and correctly applying the Word and…
    • By committing ourselves to the local church for our mutual discipleship.  
• Lastly, there is one way that we can be assured that we are deceived and remain deceived and that is failing to submit ourselves to Jesus. 
  • So in closing I just want to remind you of the Gosel and urge you to place your faith in Christ.