Matthew 17:12

Hebrew Bible Modern 1977

אבל אמר אני לכם כי אליהו כבר בא ולא הכירהו ויעשו בו כרצונם וכן גם בן האדם יענה על ידם:

What Does This Mean?

Jesus says that Elijah has already come but people didn't recognize him and treated him badly. He also says the same will happen to the Son of Man, meaning himself.

Explained for Children

Imagine if your friend dressed up like a superhero but you didn’t realize it was them until later. Jesus is saying something similar happened with Elijah. People didn’t see who he really was and treated him badly. And just like that, they will do the same to Jesus too.

Historical Background

Matthew wrote this gospel around 80-90 AD for a primarily Jewish-Christian audience. At that time, there was an expectation that Elijah would come before the Messiah as prophesied in Malachi.

Living It Out Today

In modern life, we might not recognize someone's true intentions or character until it’s too late. For example, a community leader might be doing good work quietly and go unnoticed or even face opposition until their contributions become widely recognized later on.

Topics

• Messiah
• Prophets
• Recognition
• Persecution
• Jesus' Suffering
• Elijah

Related Verses

• Malachi 4:5
• Matthew 17:10-13
• Luke 1:17
• John 1:21
• Mark 9:11-13

Recommended Reading

Commentary Matthew Commentaries → Get This Bible Hebrew Bible Modern Study Bible →

Frequently Asked Questions

Why didn't people recognize Elijah when he came?

People often do not recognize important figures due to their own expectations and preconceived notions. In this case, the people were looking for a specific kind of appearance or behavior from Elijah that did not match John the Baptist's role.

How does Matthew 17:12 relate to Jesus' suffering?

Jesus is drawing a parallel between his own fate and that of Elijah. Both faced rejection and mistreatment, highlighting that Jesus would also suffer at the hands of people who failed to recognize him.

Who did Jesus say was Elijah in Matthew 17:12?

In this context, Jesus is referring to John the Baptist as the fulfillment of the prophecy about Elijah. He came before Jesus to prepare the way for Him.

What does it mean that people did ‘what they pleased’ with Elijah?

This phrase suggests that those who encountered Elijah treated him poorly, likely persecuting or mistreating him because they didn't recognize his true identity and purpose as a prophet of God.