The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
Parallel translations
- WEB His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
- KJV And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
- NKJV And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
- NASB And His disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
- NLT Then his disciples asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The disciples ask why the scribes teach that Elijah must come before the Messiah. They are wrestling with how Jesus' messiahship fits the expected prophetic timeline.
Overview
Drawing on Malachi 4:5-6, the scribes taught that Elijah would precede the Day of the Lord. Having just seen Elijah on the mountain and heard Jesus speak of his death, the disciples are puzzled about the sequence. Their question sets up Jesus' teaching that this expectation has already been fulfilled in John the Baptist.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Mal 4:5–6Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD.
- Matt 11:14And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
- John 1:21“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
- Mark 9:11And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
- John 1:25asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
- Matt 27:47–49When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.”
- Matt 17:3–4Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 17:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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