Jesus and his close disciples have just descended from the Mount of Transfiguration. This is where Jesus’ divine glory is shown to the inner circle of apostles and Moses and Elijah have appeared to speak to Jesus about the Exodus he is to accomplish later at Jerusalem. Jesus has commanded his disciples to tell nobody of what they have seen until after his resurrection.
10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”
The disciples posit the question to Jesus, after seeing Elijah at Jesus’ Transfiguration and being told to say nothing until after the resurrection “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”. It is important to clarify a few things here about what the Jews believed.
The disciples knew their scriptures even if they were, as some scholars suggest, illiterate. The practice of memorizing the Law from a very early age was the standard and further study on the Prophets was common too. The important component for context here is that the Scribes occupied the position of authoritative interpretation of the Law. So the Scribes say, as according to Malachi 4:5-6, that Elijah must come before the day of the Lord. They knew this prophecy from their studies but the authorities of the Law add the gravity to their understanding, they do not interpret scripture by themselves. They have just seen Elijah appear, so obviously, they’re thinking “oh this is it” but Jesus is going correct this in interpretation.
11 He replied, “Elijah does come, and he is to restore all things;
Jesus confirms the prophecy of Malachi, Elijah does come and he is going to restore sons to their fathers and all things but the way he comes is not what they just observed.
12 but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not know him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands.”
Jesus continues telling the disciples that Elijah has already arrived and he was not recognised when he came. “They did to him whatever they pleased”. This is of course in reference to John the Baptist who came in the spirit of Elijah and was imprisoned and killed. Then Jesus says, “So also the Son of man will suffer at their hands”. Jesus invokes the divine messianic title of his as he says that he will suffer something similar to that of John. He will be arrested and killed.
13 Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
This explanation that Jesus gives seems to suffice for his disciples to understand that he was referring to St John the Baptist. A rare moment considering usually they are more confused by his explanations.
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