Matthew 17:12 - but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.”
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What does "Matthew 17:12" mean?
This verse is Jesus explaining to his disciples why they had been asking about Elijah needing to come before the Messiah (Jesus). Let's break it down:
"But I tell you that Elijah has come already..." Jesus is referring to John the Baptist as the Elijah figure. The Old Testament prophecy in Malachi 4:5-6 foretold that Elijah would return before the "great and terrible day of the Lord." While John the Baptist wasn't literally Elijah resurrected, he fulfilled the spirit and power of Elijah, preparing the way for the Lord through his message of repentance. This is further supported by Jesus' earlier statements in Matthew 11:14, where he says, "And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come."
"...and they didn’t recognize him..." The religious leaders and the people generally rejected John the Baptist's message and authority. They did not see him as the one preparing the way for the Messiah.
"...but did to him whatever they wanted to..." This refers to the imprisonment and beheading of John the Baptist by Herod Antipas, influenced by Herodias and her daughter (Matthew 14:1-12). This highlights the rejection and persecution John faced.
"Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.” Jesus is directly connecting John the Baptist's suffering to his own impending suffering, death, and resurrection. Just as John the Baptist was rejected and mistreated, so too would Jesus be rejected, persecuted, and ultimately crucified by the religious authorities and the people. He's foreshadowing his own fate.
In summary, the verse means:
Jesus explains that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of the prophecy about Elijah coming before the Messiah. However, the people failed to recognize him and treated him terribly. In the same way, Jesus, the Son of Man, will also suffer at their hands. He is drawing a parallel between the rejection and suffering of John the Baptist and his own coming suffering and death. The verse is a warning and a prophecy about the path of suffering that Jesus will walk.
Matthew 17:12 - but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.”
What does "Matthew 17:12" mean?
This verse is Jesus explaining to his disciples why they had been asking about Elijah needing to come before the Messiah (Jesus). Let's break it down:
"But I tell you that Elijah has come already..." Jesus is referring to John the Baptist as the Elijah figure. The Old Testament prophecy in Malachi 4:5-6 foretold that Elijah would return before the "great and terrible day of the Lord." While John the Baptist wasn't literally Elijah resurrected, he fulfilled the spirit and power of Elijah, preparing the way for the Lord through his message of repentance. This is further supported by Jesus' earlier statements in Matthew 11:14, where he says, "And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come."
"...and they didn’t recognize him..." The religious leaders and the people generally rejected John the Baptist's message and authority. They did not see him as the one preparing the way for the Messiah.
"...but did to him whatever they wanted to..." This refers to the imprisonment and beheading of John the Baptist by Herod Antipas, influenced by Herodias and her daughter (Matthew 14:1-12). This highlights the rejection and persecution John faced.
"Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.” Jesus is directly connecting John the Baptist's suffering to his own impending suffering, death, and resurrection. Just as John the Baptist was rejected and mistreated, so too would Jesus be rejected, persecuted, and ultimately crucified by the religious authorities and the people. He's foreshadowing his own fate.
In summary, the verse means:
Jesus explains that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of the prophecy about Elijah coming before the Messiah. However, the people failed to recognize him and treated him terribly. In the same way, Jesus, the Son of Man, will also suffer at their hands. He is drawing a parallel between the rejection and suffering of John the Baptist and his own coming suffering and death. The verse is a warning and a prophecy about the path of suffering that Jesus will walk.