John came as Elijah

[tonychanyt]

Who is Elijah?

He was one of the major prophets in the OT.

Why does Jesus say in Matthew 11 that John the Baptist is Elijah?

Malachi is the last book in the OT. He prophesied in 4:

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.

In the intertestamental period, Jews were waiting for the coming Messiah to accomplish the Day of the LORD.

Matthew 17:

10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Jesus pointed out that Elijah in Malachi 4:5 was fulfilled by John the Baptiser, and he himself was the Messiah.

 

[KevinT]

And they were further confused when the ACTUAL Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration.

So in a sense, there were 2 different Elijah's that came.

KT

 

[Spiritual Jew]

Who is Elijah?

He was one of the major prophets in the OT.

Why does Jesus say in Matthew 11 that John the Baptist is Elijah?

Malachi is the last book in the OT. He prophesied in 4:


In the intertestamental period, Jews were waiting for the coming Messiah to accomplish the Day of the LORD.

Matthew 17:


Jesus pointed out that Elijah in Malachi 4:5 was fulfilled by John the Baptiser, and he himself was the Messiah.

It isn't made clear in the original prophecy, but the New Testament makes it clear that John the Baptist fulfilled the prophecy about the Elijah to come. It turned out that the prophecy was not about Elijah himself coming, but one like Elijah.

Luke 1:13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Malachi 4:5-6 and Malachi 3:1 are referenced in Luke 1:17.