The Bible verse Matthew 24:12 states “And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” This verse comes from Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, where He describes events that will occur before His second coming. In this verse, Jesus predicts that in the end times, “the love of many will grow cold.” What does this mean?
To understand this verse, we first need to look at the context. In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples ask Him about the signs of His coming and the end of the age (v. 3). Jesus goes on to describe various events – wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution of believers, false prophets, and the spread of evil. He then states in verse 12 that during this time of turmoil “the love of many will grow cold.”
The phrase “the love of many” refers to the love of believers, especially their love for God and for one another. Jesus is saying that the difficulties of the end times will cause the ardent love that Christians have for God and each other to diminish. Their love will “grow cold.” Just as a flame that once burned brightly can grow weaker and lose its warmth, so the love of Christians can lose its fervency and zeal over time under difficult circumstances.
Why will the love of believers grow cold? Jesus notes it is because “lawlessness will be increased” (v. 12). As society descends into moral decay, as evil grows, and as persecution of Christians intensifies, it will test their faith severely. Fear, discouragement, spiritual fatigue, and competing priorities can cause Christians’ love for God and each other to erode. Times of hardship can breed disunity, mistrust, apathy, and worldliness among believers.
However, while Jesus foretells that the love of many will grow cold, the implication is that the love of some will endure. Throughout church history, even amid intense persecution, there has always been a faithful remnant whose passionate love and devotion to Christ stays strong. These are the faithful few who, by God’s grace, withstand the onslaught of evil without compromising their love.
So this verse serves as a warning – believers must be on guard so that their love does not grow cold in the difficult times leading up to Christ’s return (see Revelation 2:4). Here are some ways we can keep our love for God and others fervent:
- Make time for regular prayer and Bible study (1 Peter 2:2). Nurturing our relationship with Christ is essential.
- Fellowship with other believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). We need Christian community to persevere.
- Watch out for compromise with sin (Revelation 2:5). Sin quenches the Holy Spirit in us.
- Focus on eternity (Colossians 3:1-4). Keeping an eternal perspective fuels love.
- Meditate on Christ’s love (1 John 4:9-11). Reflecting on His love inspires ours.
In times of spiritual apathy, we may feel like our love is growing cold. But we can pray that God would revive and reignite our love, so that we may be those faithful few whose love for God and for fellow believers burns brightly until Christ returns.
1. Lawlessness Causes Love to Grow Cold
Jesus makes it clear that the primary reason “the love of many will grow cold” in the end times is because “lawlessness will increase” (Matthew 24:12). As lawlessness and sin proliferate, it has a direct effect on believers’ love.
How exactly does increasing lawlessness cause love to grow cold?
- It fosters persecution (v. 9). As evil spreads, persecution of righteous Christians intensifies. Facing persecution can discourage believers and cause their love to weaken.
- It creates spiritual fatigue (Revelation 2:4). Constantly battling against evil in the culture can tire out believers’ faith.
- It distracts from devotion (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Rampant sin diverts the focus away from God.
- It promotes compromise (James 1:27). Ungodliness in the culture makes it harder to live purely.
- It breeds mistrust and isolation. Widespread sin fragments true Christian fellowship and community.
In times of “lawlessness,” the easy option is for believers’ hearts to gradually drift away from the fervent love they once had. Holding firmly to faith in Christ and rejecting the sin around them becomes more of a struggle when evil abounds. But although lawlessness leads many to abandon their love, the faithful remnant continues loving God and others despite evil’s influence.
2. Christ’s Love Can Overcome Cold Hearts
Though many believers’ love will grow cold because of rampant sin, Christ’s love can revive cold hearts and set them ablaze again. Even in the end times, God’s love can melt away the hardened indifference that develops in periods of widespread lawlessness.
How can Christ rekindle our love when lawlessness threatens to extinguish it?
- He prays for us (Luke 22:31-32). Jesus intercedes so our faith will not fail.
- He sends the Spirit (Romans 5:5). The Holy Spirit pours God’s love into us.
- He reminds us of eternity (Revelation 2:10). He refocuses us on eternal reward.
- He disciplines us (Revelation 3:19). His loving discipline leads us back to devotion.
- He calls us to repent (Revelation 2:4-5). He urges us to turn from lukewarmness.
If our love starts feeling cold, we can come to Christ and open our hearts again to His love that burns brightly despite the darkness and evil in the world. He can stir up fiery love within us again, just as Paul prayed for the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
3. Warning Signs That Our Love is Growing Cold
How can we assess if our own love for God and for fellow Christians is starting to decline amid the lawlessness of the end times? Here are some warning signs from Scripture that our love may be growing cold:
- Lack of joy (Matthew 13:20-21). When love fades, so does spiritual joy.
- Impatience with others (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). As love declines, grace and patience do too.
- Compromise with sin (Revelation 2:4-5). Cold love leads to moral laxity.
- Neglect of fellowship (Hebrews 10:25). Waning love isolates us from the body of Christ.
- Loss of spiritual zeal (Revelation 3:2). Cold love is half-hearted about God’s work.
- Focus on worldly things (1 John 2:15). Decreased holy love increases worldly desires.
These warning signs show that our hearts need revival when our love is no longer fervent. Thankfully, by God’s grace, we can escape coldness by clinging to Christ and seeking the Spirit’s rekindling fire (2 Timothy 1:6).
4. How Enduring Love Defeats Coldness
Though the love of many believers will tragically grow cold as lawlessness spreads, those who persevere in love will be greatly rewarded by Christ. Here are some ways we can, by God’s strength, maintain fervent love amid encroaching coldness:
- Uphold Christ’s Word (John 14:15). Obeying God’s commands fans the flames of love.
- Gather with believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). Christian fellowship strengthens us.
- Look to reward (2 Timothy 4:8). Keeping our eyes on Christ and eternity motivates love.
- Pray for revival (Psalm 80:18-19). Asking God to stir up love in us and others.
- Exercise spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1). Using our gifts edifies others and expresses love.
Clinging to Christ in prayer and fellowship, rejecting worldliness, and serving one another in love – this is how believers can keep the fire of love burning brightly until the end. Our love may be tested by evil, but empowered by the Spirit, it will prevail.
5. Jesus’ Parable of the Persistent Widow
Jesus told a parable in Luke 18:1-8 that provides helpful perspective on maintaining fervent love in seasons of spiritual coldness leading up to His return.
In this parable, Jesus describes an unjust judge who did not fear God or care about people. A widow persistently came to this judge seeking justice against her opponent. At first the judge ignored her, but because she kept pleading her case, he finally granted her request just to get her to leave him alone.
Jesus uses this parable to encourage persistence in prayer. Just as the widow kept pleading to the judge, Jesus says believers should keep praying and not lose heart (v. 1). Even when it seems like God is not answering prayer or that Christ is delaying His return, believers must persist in prayer.
This parable offers insight about maintaining love as well. The widow could have grown tired and given up because of the judge’s indifference. But she persevered. Like the widow, believers must persistently fan the flame of love through continual prayer, fellowship, and reliance on the Spirit. We must persistently plead with God to sustain our love, even when circumstances tempt us toward apathy.
Jesus concludes by asking if at His return He will find any faith and love left on earth (v. 8). Like the persistent widow, may we be those whose enduring faith and love He finds burning brightly upon His return.
6. Biblical Examples of Burning Love
Throughout Scripture we see examples of believers who maintained fervent love for God and others even amid difficult times that tended to cool love:
- Mary – Poured expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet out of deep devotion, even as His death approached (John 12:3).
- Job – Despite intense trials from Satan, Job clung to faithfulness and love for God (Job 1:20-22).
- Peter – Though he denied Jesus, repented and was restored to fervent love and ministry (John 21:15-17).
- Epaphras – Paul said this man had burning love and constant concern for the Colossian believers (Colossians 4:12-13).
- Philadelphia church – This faithful church persevered in love though they had little strength (Revelation 3:7-9).
Like these heroes of faith, we too can follow their example of maintaining fiery love despite circumstances that threaten to cool our hearts. May God keep our love burning!
7. Christians Must Not Isolate During End Times
Why does lawlessness often lead to erosion of believers’ love in the end times? One major reason is that rampant sin leads Christians to isolate and disconnect from each other out of discouragement, fear, or mistrust.
Hebrews 10:24-25 warns believers not to forsake gathering together, especially as they see the Day approaching. Isolation breeds coldness. That’s why the writer of Hebrews instructs believers to spur each other on to love and good works all the more as Christ’s coming draws near.
Loners are in danger. God made us for Christian community, and we need each other all the more when lawlessness abounds. Group prayer fuels revival and fellowship provides mutual encouragement to fan the flames of love.
As sin grows in the culture, we must resist the temptation to go it alone. This leads only to spiritual coldness. Instead, we must actively seek out fellowship with other believers – gathering together, praying together, and spurring each other on.
Our love will grow colder in isolation. But together, we can surround ourselves with God’s people who will rekindle our hearts with grace, truth, and Christ-centered fellowship – defying the darkness with burning love.
8. How Suffering Can Refine Love
While lawlessness often dampens believers’ love, godly suffering and endurance through trials can actually refine love and make it burn more brightly. The faithful who endure under tribulation provide the best example of this.
How can suffering strengthen our love?
- Suffering draws us nearer to Christ (Philippians 3:10). We identify with His sufferings.
- It exposes false faith (1 John 2:19). Shallow love falls away, while genuine love remains.
- It teaches obedience (Hebrews 5:8). As Christ learned obedience through suffering, so do we.
- It helps us comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). We can encourage others with the comfort given to us.
- It instills maturity (James 1:2-4). Suffering develops perseverance, refining our character.
So while tribulation causes some believers’ love to grow cold, the faithful see their love purified and strengthened through their suffering. They identify more with Christ, develop Christlike maturity, and become able to encourage others.
If we find our love growing cold during times of difficulty, we can receive it as discipline from the Lord in order to reignite love. For as Hebrews 12:11 states, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” By embracing suffering in faith, we gain righteousness – and refined love.
9. Clinging to Christ When Love Feels Cold
We’ve explored many reasons why “the love of many will grow cold” in times of lawlessness, and how we can maintain fervent love. But what if we examine our own heart and realize our love has already grown quite cold?
Here are some biblical steps we can take when we sense spiritual frost in our souls:
- Confess and repent (Revelation 2:4-5). God promises to restore us when we repent of cold love.
- Ask God to revive love (Psalm 80:18). Pray for personal revival and grace to love again.
- Draw near to Christ (James 4:8). Spend time praying, reading Scripture, recalling the cross.
- Obey God’s commands (John 14:21). Obedience and love are intertwined.
- Fellowship with believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). Gathering with God’s people rekindles love.
- Look to Christ’s return (2 Timothy 4:8). Setting our minds on eternity motivates love.
Even if our love feels cold, Jesus stands ready like the father of the prodigal son to welcome us back with open arms and full restoration the moment we repent and return to Him. He can revive the coldest heart and make it burn for Him once again.
10. Continual Tests and Trials
As the end times progress toward Christ’s return, tests and trials will continually threaten to erode believers’ love. The enemy will do anything to make our love grow cold amid his assaults. We must be ready for frequent spiritual battles.
But sustained fiery love is possible through the power of Christ. As Peter wrote:
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:6-7)
Our faith and love will be tested by the fires of affliction, but as we rely on Christ’s strength, our love will emerge from the flames like pure gold – bringing glory to God.
So as lawlessness increases and darkness grows, we must continually fan into flame the gift of love within us (2 Timothy 1:6). And by God’s grace, our burning love will withstand every test until the Day dawns and Christ appears.