Confused about Elijah

[P3nguin1]

Matthew 17 talks about Elijah and John the Baptist and finishes with these verses:

11Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." 13Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Does this mean that John the Baptist was Elijah re-incarnated?

 

[jbarcher]

Er, there is no reincarnation, and I would say that Jesus is using a metaphor...let me check a book I have.

 

[artnalex]

Metaphor.

Elijah was the first prophet, and John the last. Both were bookends, of sorts.

Elijah will come again with Jesus.

 

[P3nguin1]

Metaphor.

Elijah was the first prophet, and John the last. Both were bookends, of sorts.

Elijah will come again with Jesus.

I dont understand. He didnt say Elijah was the first and John the last. I am confused....

 

[JVAC]

He was using Elija as a metaphor, just like artnalex said. Just as when Elijah came he was not so revered, the same will happened with Jon, and, at this certain moment in time, will happen to the Christ.

We must understand that 'nowhere is a prophet without honor than his hometown', that is to say, also time. We don't truly understand or appreciate a prophet until he is gone. This happened with Elijah, it happened the same with John. That is what he was getting at. It is true to say that even the same happened to Jesus.

The Elijah you referenced, is more useful in this place because Everyone knew him! that is why he didn't use tom, dick or harry. Everyone knew his story so he didn't have to explain himself. You could inference such things.

If this didn't work for you I might could explain it a different way.

 

[pmarquette]

Matthew 17 talks about Elijah and John the Baptist and finishes with these verses:

11Jesus replied, "To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.
the Jews expected " Elijiah 2 , the sequel " ; not the return of the mantle of Elijaih , the prophet , preahcing repentance & preparing the way for messiah
12But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. John the baptist , wore the mantle of Elijiah , fulfilled the prophecy of the voice crying in the wilderness , preaching the acceptible year of the Lord ( Isaiah 61.1-3 )
In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."
seeing but not perceiving , hearing but not understanding ... will miss
their savior , for looking for an earthly king like solomon or david
13Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Does this mean that John the Baptist was Elijah re-incarnated?