A warning spoken in a time of trouble
Jesus said this while answering his disciples’ questions about the temple, his return, and the end of the age. He described upheaval, deception, persecution, and people turning against one another. He was preparing his followers for trouble, not inviting them to panic (Matthew 24:1-3; Matthew 24:9-11).
In that setting, lawlessness is not merely private wrongdoing. It is rebellion against God spilling into human relationships. When people repeatedly see cruelty, lies, and betrayal, they may become guarded and hard-hearted. Love that once moved them to trust, forgive, serve, or pray can gradually lose its warmth.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
What kind of love is in view?
The Greek word behind “love” is agape. It often refers to a steady, self-giving love, not simply warm emotion. Jesus’ warning reaches beyond romantic affection. It concerns devotion to God and practical love for other people, especially fellow believers facing pressure together.
Jesus joined these two loves when he taught that the greatest command is wholehearted love for God, followed by love for one’s neighbour. So a cooling love might show itself in neglected prayer, unforgiveness, withdrawal from Christian community, or indifference to someone else’s suffering (Matthew 22:37-39).
Is this only about the end times?
Faithful Christians understand the timing and scope of this teaching in different ways. Some see much of the chapter as pointing to Jerusalem’s fall in the first century. Others see it also describing patterns that will intensify before Christ returns. Both views recognise that Jesus gives a real warning for his people.
The pattern is familiar in every age. Sin damages trust, and suffering can tempt people to retreat into self-protection. Yet Jesus does not tell his disciples to chase frightening headlines or work out every date. He tells them to remain watchful and faithful.
Endurance without becoming cold
The very next sentence gives the response: endurance. This does not mean earning God’s love by gritting your teeth. It means continuing to rely on Christ when faithfulness costs something, rather than allowing fear, resentment, or deception to have the final word (Matthew 24:13).
That can look ordinary. Bring your disappointments honestly to God. Keep opening Scripture. Pray when your feelings are thin. Let trusted Christians walk beside you. Choose one concrete act of mercy or forgiveness. Paul reminded the troubled church in Corinth that real love bears, believes, hopes, and endures (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). In a cold world, such love is a quiet sign of Christ’s life at work.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.