Why They Didn't Know Elijah

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Some observations about why the Jews didn't recognize John, the Baptist, as the fulfillment of Mal. 4:5.

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The Disciples Confusion

Matthew 17:9–10 NKJV
9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” 10 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
Malachi 3:1 NKJV
1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 4:5 NKJV
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
Matthew 11:11–15 NKJV
11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
The disciples knew what was taught by the scribes. They were having trouble reconciling what Jesus said about John the Baptist being Elijah, the vision they had just seen, and Jesus telling them not to tell anyone.

The Scribes Didn’t Know Him

Matthew 17:11–13 NKJV
11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
John 1:21–22 NKJV
21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

Why They Didn’t Know Elijah

The disciples didn’t know because they were trying to reconcile conflicting information.
The scribes didn’t know because they held preconceived ideas.
We will miss the truth of Scripture when we try to reconcile it with man-made doctrines and preconceived notions.
We must let Scripture reconcile itself and put away any preconceived ideas!
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