9 When they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” 10 And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 And He answered and said, “Elijah is coming and will restore all things; 12 but I say to you that Elijah already came, and they did not recognize him, but did [ d ] to him whatever they wanted. So also the Son of Man is going to suffer [ e ] at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

Matthew 17:9-13 (NASB)

Down the mountain

In the last post, Jesus has been transfigured in front of these 3 disciples, the Father has spoken and glorified the Son and then it was over as quickly as it began. As they head back down the mountain, they have a conversation that Matthew lets us peek into.

Jesus tells them to keep this quiet until He (the Son of Man) has risen from the dead. This is now the second time in a week that He’s specifically talked about His death. The first time, remember how Peter opposed Jesus then Jesus rebuked him (Matthew 16:21-23)? Peter has learned to listen to Jesus and not oppose Him and His Kingdom. So neither he, James or John tell the other disciples about this…until after Jesus’ resurrection.

Elijah is coming

In those days, the religious leaders had an expectation that Elijah would come back to earth. They know he was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire without dying (2 Kings 2:11-12) so expect he can return. Orthodox Jews even leave an open seat at seder dinners for Elijah. The expectation is based on Malachi 4:5 which clearly declares, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” So the disciples ask their question.

Multi-fulfilment prophecy

Prophecy is often fulfilled in multiple ways and/or time periods. Jesus, the Word of God, who completely understood the OT and its prophecies, replies that Elijah indeed will come in the future and restore all things. Some think Elijah will be one of the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-13. Though that very well could be, this passage does not seem to explain, “restore all things”. 

In Luke 12:51–53, Jesus prophecies there will be divisions among people, even within families. “The days of division will come to an end when the Messiah reigns, and His reign will be preceded by a herald who will function as Elijah.” (gotquestions.org) But we don’t know who that will be.

Yet Elijah has already come, figuratively, in the form of John the Baptist, as the disciples figure out. We read this in Matthew 11:7–14 (esp. verse 14) where Jesus quotes from Malachi 3:1. Not to mention Elijah just appeared with Moses at the transfiguration, though this was not the time of restoring all things either.

RЯeflection

• The Bible is full of prophecy. A good portion of them, likely at least half, have been fulfilled (or partially fulfilled); the rest have yet to come. Fulfilled prophecy can bolster our confidence in the reliability of God’s Word and give us expectation and hope for the future.