Matthew 17:10-12 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:1-13

The Transfiguration of Jesus . ( Mark 9:2-13 ; Luke 9:28-36 .) This mysterious event was intended primarily to confirm the faith of the three apostles who were to have the chief hand in founding the Church. The Lord had just announced his future sufferings and death. This prediction had been a grievous blow to Peter, and doubtless to the others also. He had stumbled at the cross, and had brought on himself a stern rebuke for his slowness and worldliness. So to comfort the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:1-13

The Transfiguration. I. THE GLORY . 1 . The attendant circumstances . Six days had elapsed since the memorable conversation in the parts of Casarea Philippi. That conversation must have filled the hearts of the apostles with strange, awful thoughts. He with whom they had lived so long in the intercourse of familiar friendship was indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God. They had marked the dignity of his Person, the authority of his words, the power of his miracles; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:9-13

The harbinger. After the Transfiguration, Jesus and his disciples came down the mountain side. Ecstasies, even in religion, have their sombre interludes. But in these we may still remain in the blessed company of Jesus. As they descended, Jesus "commanded his disciples, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead." This command astonished them. Interpreting the prophets, the scribes expected Elijah to come as the harbinger of Messiah. As Elijah had now... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:10

Why then ( οὖν ) say the scribes that Elias must first come? The illative particle "then" shows that the apostles' question arose from something immediately preceding. The connection seems to be this: Elias had just appeared and then had vanished again; how could this visitation be reconciled with the scribes' interpretation of Malachi's prophecy? If Elias was to come before the advent of Messiah, and Jesus is the Messiah, how is it that he has only now shown himself? If he has a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:10-13

The Elijah ministry of John the Baptist. The disciples were perplexed at what they saw on the Mount of the Transfiguration. There Elijah appeared with Moses in conversation with Christ, and the vision recalled to mind the familiar expectation of the Jews that the prophet should precede the advent of Christ. Was this the coming of Elijah? Surely not, for it was but a momentary visit in a solitary place. Yet if Elijah had not come first, how could the Christ have come? Thus the disciples were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:11

Elias truly shall first come ( ἐ ì ρχεται , cometh ). Many of the best manuscripts and editions omit "first." The Vulgate has merely, Elias quidem venturus est . It is probably inserted in our text from the parallel passage in Mark, where it is certainly genuine. Christ is here alluding to his own second coming, which shall be preceded by the appearance of Elijah in person. This seems to be the plain meaning of the prophecy in Malachi, and of Christ's announcement, and is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:11

The coming of Elias. It is difficult for us to realize the general conviction of our Lord's time, that the Prophet Elijah was about to reappear. "Elijah was the prophet for whose return in later years his countrymen have looked with most eager hope It was a fixed belief of the Jews that he had appeared again and again, as an Arabian merchant, to wise and good rabbis at their prayers or on their journeys. A seat is still placed for him to superintend the circumcision of the Jewish children.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:12

Elias is come already. The mystical, not the real, Elias, even John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elias ( Luke 1:17 ). Christ is here speaking of the past, as in the preceding verse he spake of the future. The common Jewish interpretation confused the two events and the two personages, reducing them to one. And this mistake has been committed by many modern expositors. They knew him not. They did not recognize his true character and the import of his mission. Though... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 17:10-13

See also Mark 9:11-13.Why then say the scribes ... - The disciples appear to have been satisfied now that he was the Messiah. The transfiguration had taken away all their doubts, but they recollected that it was a common doctrine among the Jews that Elijah would appear before the Messiah came, and they did not then recollect that he had appeared. To this difficulty the word then refers. “We are satisfied that thou art the Christ, but Elijah has not yet come, as was expected; what, then, is the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 17:10-13

Matthew 17:10-13. His disciples asked, &c. Being much surprised at the sudden departure of Elias, and at their Master’s ordering them to keep his having appeared a secret, they had no sooner finished their dispute about what the rising from the dead should mean, than, addressing themselves to Jesus, they said, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come Before the Messiah, if no man must know of his coming? As if he had said, Since Elias has gone away so soon, and since thou... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:9-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:10

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:10-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:11

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 17:12

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 17:10-13

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 17:10-13

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