Why do the scribes say Elijah must come first according to Mark 9:11? Context and Immediate Text “Then they asked Him, ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ Jesus replied, ‘Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Yet how then is it written about the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be rejected? But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.’ ” (Mark 9:11-13) The Scribes’ Source: Malachi 4:5-6 The scribes grounded their teaching in the final prophetic oracle of the Tanakh: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6) Because these are the closing words of the Hebrew canon, rabbinic schools routinely taught that Elijah must appear prior to Messiah’s kingdom. The scribes therefore expected: 1. A recognizable re-appearance of Elijah. 2. National repentance and covenant renewal. 3. Protection from the “curse” accompanying the Day of Yahweh. Intertestamental and First-Century Jewish Expectation The expectation matured between Malachi and the Gospels: • Sirach 48:10 describes Elijah as one “ready for the appointed time, to calm wrath before it breaks out.” • 1 Maccabees 2:58 and 4Q558 (Dead Sea Scroll fragments) anticipate Elijah as an eschatological herald. • The Babylonian Talmud (Eruvin 43b) later records: “Elijah will come neither on the eve of Sabbaths nor on the eve of festivals, so as not to disturb Israel.” These traditions show how deeply embedded the doctrine was by Jesus’ day. Jesus’ Identification of Elijah with John the Baptist Jesus affirms a literal expectation (“Elijah does indeed come first”) while asserting a present fulfillment: “For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who was to come.” (Matthew 11:13-14) John the Baptist: • Came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). • Dressed and lived like Elijah (2 Kings 1:8 compared with Mark 1:6). • Preached repentance and covenant restoration in the wilderness, fulfilling Malachi’s heart-turning mission. Hence Jesus can say, “Elijah has indeed come,” while pointing to John’s rejection and martyrdom (“they did to him whatever they wished,” cf. Mark 6:17-29). Double Fulfillment: Already and Not-Yet Scripture often operates with prophetic telescoping. John the Baptist fulfilled the role typologically, but another “Elijah” figure still appears in future eschatology: • Revelation 11:3-6 describes two witnesses with Elijah-like power (shutting the sky, calling down fire). • Matthew 17:11 records Jesus saying, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things,” using a present-tense prophetic certainty. Thus Malachi’s prophecy is partially realized in John and consummated at Christ’s second advent. Synoptic Harmony Matthew 17:10-13 parallels Mark 9:11-13 and Luke 9:30-31 (Transfiguration) jointly underscore: 1. Elijah’s anticipatory function. 2. Messiah’s necessary suffering (“it is written about the Son of Man”). 3. The seamless narrative of redemptive history: law (Moses), prophets (Elijah), and gospel (Christ) converge. Theological Significance • Covenant Renewal: Elijah’s task to “turn hearts” prefaces the New Covenant inaugurated by Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 22:20). • Validation of Jesus as Messiah: Fulfilled prophecy authenticates His identity (Acts 3:18). • Suffering Before Glory: Elijah’s pattern of persecution mirrors the Messiah’s passion, reinforcing Isaiah 53. Early Church Witness • Justin Martyr (Dialogue 49) links John to Elijah as herald of Christ. • Irenaeus (Against Heresies 3.10.5) teaches a future literal coming of Elijah as well, adopting the dual-fulfillment view. • Tertullian (On the Resurrection 22) cites the martyrdom of John as the prophetic “suffering” Jesus referenced. Practical Application Believers are called to the same preparatory repentance John proclaimed (Mark 1:4), to await Christ’s return with purified hearts (1 John 3:2-3), and to recognize Scripture’s remarkable predictive cohesion. Answer Summarized The scribes cite Elijah because Malachi taught his pre-Messianic arrival. Jesus confirms the prophecy, identifies John the Baptist as its initial fulfillment, and hints at a still-future consummation. This integrates Old Testament expectation, New Testament realization, and eschatological hope into a single, coherent redemptive narrative. |
    |