How does Matthew 17:10 connect to the prophecy of Elijah in Malachi 4:5? Setting the Stage: Matthew 17:10 in Context “The disciples asked Him, ‘Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’” (Matthew 17:10) • This question follows the Transfiguration, where Peter, James, and John actually saw Elijah with Jesus (Matthew 17:3). • Seeing Elijah in glory made them wonder why, according to the scribes’ teaching, Elijah still had to come “first” before Messiah’s kingdom. Malachi’s Clear Promise of Elijah “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” (Malachi 4:5) • Spoken around 400 B.C., Malachi’s prophecy was taken literally by first-century Jews. • The “great and dreadful day” points to both judgment and restoration—events associated with Messiah’s coming kingdom (cf. Joel 2:31). Why the Scribes Insisted on Elijah’s Prior Return • They read Malachi 4:5 at face value: Elijah must appear before the full arrival of the kingdom. • Because Elijah never died (2 Kings 2:11), they expected his literal, personal return. • This expectation became a cornerstone of Jewish eschatology, taught faithfully by the scribes; the disciples simply echoed that teaching. Jesus’ Two-Part Reply (Matthew 17:11-12) “Jesus replied, ‘Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come…’” 1. Future tense—“does indeed come, and he will restore all things” • Affirms Malachi’s prophecy still stands; a future coming of Elijah remains literal and certain. 2. Past tense—“Elijah has already come” • Refers to John the Baptist (v. 13); he fulfilled an initial stage of the prophecy. • John preached repentance, “to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). How John the Baptist Satisfies Malachi 4:5 (the “Already”) • Luke 1:17: John came “in the spirit and power of Elijah,” turning hearts back to God. • Matthew 3:1-3: John called Israel to “prepare the way for the Lord,” restoring hearts, if not yet “all things.” • Matthew 17:12: Just as Elijah was opposed by Ahab and Jezebel, John faced Herod and Herodias—parallel rejection. Why a Future Elijah Still Fits (the “Not Yet”) • Jesus spoke of Elijah in the future tense even after identifying John (Matthew 17:11). • Malachi links Elijah with “the great and dreadful day of the LORD,” a day still ahead (cf. Zechariah 14:1-5; Revelation 19:11-16). • Revelation 11:3-12 describes two prophetic witnesses during the Tribulation—one of whom matches Elijah’s miracles (shutting the sky, calling down fire; cf. 1 Kings 17-18). • Thus, Scripture allows for: – John the Baptist as Elijah-type for Messiah’s first advent. – A literal Elijah (possibly one of the two witnesses) before Messiah’s second advent. Seamless Harmony between Matthew 17 and Malachi 4 • The disciples’ question shows Malachi’s prophecy was top-of-mind for devout Jews. • Jesus affirms the prophecy’s reliability—past fulfillment in John and future fulfillment in Elijah himself. • The “already/not yet” pattern underscores the consistency of God’s plan across both advents of Christ. Takeaways for Today • Scripture’s prophecies can unfold in stages without contradiction. • God keeps His word literally, down to specific persons and events. • Christians can trust that God’s remaining promises—including Elijah’s final appearance and Christ’s return—will be fulfilled just as surely as John’s ministry was. |
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