Matthew 24:12, "Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold," is part of Jesus's discourse on the Mount of Olives, where he's answering his disciples' questions about the signs of his coming and the end of the age. Let's break down the meaning:
"Because iniquity will be multiplied...": "Iniquity" refers to wickedness, lawlessness, sin, and injustice. "Multiplied" suggests a significant increase and spread of this wickedness. This means an increase in things like:
Immorality
Violence
Corruption
Disregard for God's laws
"...the love of many will grow cold.": This is the consequence of the increased wickedness. "Love" here likely refers to:
Love for God: People's devotion and obedience to God will diminish.
Love for others (agape): The selfless, sacrificial love that Christians are called to show towards one another and even their enemies will decrease. Compassion, empathy, and willingness to help those in need will lessen.
Love within the Church: Relationships among believers may become strained, characterized by division, mistrust, and a lack of forgiveness.
In essence, the verse means: As wickedness increases in the world, it will have a chilling effect on people's hearts. Their love for God and for others will diminish, leading to apathy, selfishness, and a decline in moral values.
Context is key: This verse is part of a larger prophecy about a time of great tribulation, including wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution of believers, and false prophets. The increase in iniquity and the cooling of love are presented as signs that these difficult times are approaching.
Different Interpretations:
Premillennialism: This view often sees the verse as a description of the conditions that will prevail during the end times, just before Christ's return.
Amillennialism/Postmillennialism: Some who hold these views see the verse as describing a general trend throughout the church age, where periods of great revival and faithfulness are often followed by periods of decline and moral decay.
Relevance Today: Many people believe that the increasing wickedness and the decline in love that Jesus described are evident in the world today. This verse serves as a warning to believers to remain vigilant, to guard their hearts against the corrupting influence of the world, and to persevere in love and faithfulness to God and to one another. It's a call to action, to actively resist the pull of wickedness and to cultivate love in a world that is increasingly characterized by hatred and indifference.
Matthew 24:12, "Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold," is part of Jesus's discourse on the Mount of Olives, where he's answering his disciples' questions about the signs of his coming and the end of the age. Let's break down the meaning:
"Because iniquity will be multiplied...": "Iniquity" refers to wickedness, lawlessness, sin, and injustice. "Multiplied" suggests a significant increase and spread of this wickedness. This means an increase in things like:
Immorality
Violence
Corruption
Disregard for God's laws
"...the love of many will grow cold.": This is the consequence of the increased wickedness. "Love" here likely refers to:
Love for God: People's devotion and obedience to God will diminish.
Love for others (agape): The selfless, sacrificial love that Christians are called to show towards one another and even their enemies will decrease. Compassion, empathy, and willingness to help those in need will lessen.
Love within the Church: Relationships among believers may become strained, characterized by division, mistrust, and a lack of forgiveness.
In essence, the verse means: As wickedness increases in the world, it will have a chilling effect on people's hearts. Their love for God and for others will diminish, leading to apathy, selfishness, and a decline in moral values.
Context is key: This verse is part of a larger prophecy about a time of great tribulation, including wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution of believers, and false prophets. The increase in iniquity and the cooling of love are presented as signs that these difficult times are approaching.
Different Interpretations:
Premillennialism: This view often sees the verse as a description of the conditions that will prevail during the end times, just before Christ's return.
Amillennialism/Postmillennialism: Some who hold these views see the verse as describing a general trend throughout the church age, where periods of great revival and faithfulness are often followed by periods of decline and moral decay.
Relevance Today: Many people believe that the increasing wickedness and the decline in love that Jesus described are evident in the world today. This verse serves as a warning to believers to remain vigilant, to guard their hearts against the corrupting influence of the world, and to persevere in love and faithfulness to God and to one another. It's a call to action, to actively resist the pull of wickedness and to cultivate love in a world that is increasingly characterized by hatred and indifference.