Jesus, Elijah, and John the Baptist

In Matthew 17:1-8 Jesus has taken Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where they see Jesus in his future glory, and talking with Moses and Elijah. When Peter wants to build a tent (tabernacle) for each of these glorified men–as a center for their ongoing glorified presence and witness–a voice from heaven (God) tells the disciples to listen to Jesus. Moses and Elijah disappear; only Jesus is left.

As Jesus and the disciples come down from this mountaintop experience, Jesus commands them not to speak of this vision until the Son of man should arise from the dead (Mat. 17:9). Earlier, Jesus told his twelve disciples that in Jerusalem, he would be killed by the elders, chief priests, and scribes–and then be raised on the third day (Mat. 16:21). And he spoke of the Son of man coming in the glory of his Father, with the angels (16:27). But the disciples focused on the suffering and death, not hearing (listening to) the raising from the dead or the glory of the Son of man. So will they now listen to Jesus when he commands them not to speak about this vision of his glory until he (the Son of man) is raised from the dead?

No, the disciples instead have a question about Elijah. For they have been listening to the scribes (rabbis) say that Elijah must come first (Mat. 17:10). And they have just seen Elijah with Jesus, and Peter wanted Elijah (and Moses) to remain on earth (in tents/tabernacles). Maybe if they spoke of this vision to the ruling rabbis, this could convince them to see Jesus as the Jewish Messiah. And then they wouldn’t kill Jesus–as he said they would; and Jesus would then lead a glorified kingdom of Israel.

Jesus responds that Elijah is indeed coming and is to restore all things (17:11). These words reflect the final words of the Old Testament. In Malachi 4:4-6, God is to send the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes; Elijah will turn the hearts of all (fathers and sons) so they remember the teaching of Moses, given to him on Mt. Horeb (Sinai) for all Israel.

Jesus then tells them: “But I say to you that Elijah already came–but they did not know him and did to him whatever they wanted; so also the Son of man is about to suffer at their hands” (Mat. 17:12). Then the disciples understand that Jesus was speaking about John the Baptist (17:13). They finally hear Jesus; they know that John the Baptist called all Israel to repent–to turn their hearts to remember the teaching of Moses in light of the coming kingdom of heaven and its rewards and punishments (see Mat. 3). But the Jewish rulers did not recognize him and killed him; likewise, they will also cause the Son of man (Jesus) to suffer (and die).