“For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”
Many will come in my name, claiming, I am he, and will deceive many — the false messiahs who come in Jesus' name (claiming his identity or authority) will appear before the genuine coming of the Son of Man. The I am he (egō eimi) is the divine self-identification that Jesus uses of himself — false claimants will appropriate the formula. Deceiving many communicates the effectiveness of the deception: this is not an easily-spotted fraud but a convincing presentation.
Church Fathers on Mark 13:6
Because the Lord, when some were praising the buildings of the temple, had plainly answered that all these were to be destroyed, the disciples privately enquired about the time and the signs of the destruction which was foretold.
In answer to the disciples, the Lord tells them of things which were from that time forth to have their course; whether He meant the destruction of Jerusalem which occasioned their question, or His own coming through the Church, (in which He ever comes even unto the end, for we know that He comes in His own, when His members are born day by day,) or the end itself, in which He will appear to judge the quick and the dead.
But before answering their question, He strengthens their minds that they may not be deceived.
Read all 6 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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