What does Matthew 24:4 mean?

Jesus begins to answer a two-part question from the disciples. They have heard His declarations about the coming judgment on Jerusalem, as well as His statement that He will leave and return. They have asked Jesus when this judgment will come and what the sign of His return will be.

The first response is a warning to the disciples to watch themselves, so they are not deceived. He tells them to make sure nobody leads them astray, referring to the time when He will be absent from them. He will warn in the following verse about deceivers who will pretend to be the Christ. He wants them to be clear that He alone is the Messiah.

This begins the main portion of the so-called Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:3), which will extend uninterrupted until the end of chapter 25 (Matthew 25:46).