Matthew 11:14

14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Eli'jah who is to come.

Matthew 11:14 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 11:14

And if ye will receive it
The words carry in them some suspicion of unbelief and hardness of heart, as though they would not receive it: however, whether they would or not, it was a certain truth, that

this
same person, "John the Baptist",

is Elias, which was for to come;
who was appointed by God to come, and was prophesied of ( Malachi 4:5 ) that he should come; and even according to the doctrine of the Scribes and Rabbins, he was expected to come before the Messiah; only they in general thought that Elijah the Tishbite, in person, was meant; though some, as before observed ^F5, were of opinion, that some great prophet equal to Elijah, and endued with the same spirit, is intended; and which is true of John the Baptist, who came "in the Spirit" and "power" of Elias, ( Luke 1:17 ) . And, as it was usual with the Jews ^F6, to call Phinehas by the name of Elias, and Elias Phinehas, because of his zeal for the Lord of hosts; for the same reason may John be called by the same name, there being a great resemblance between Elias and him; in their temper and disposition; in their manner of clothing, and austere way of living; in their very great piety and holiness; in their courage and integrity, in reproving vice; and in their zeal and usefulness in the cause of God, and true religion: in respect to which, Christ must be here understood, when he affirms John to be Elias; not Elias in person, but he that was intended by Elias, that was said should come: hence here is no contradiction to the words of the Baptist, in ( John 1:21 ) when he says, that he was not Elias; for the Jews, who put the question to him, whether he was Elias, or not? meant whether he was Elias in person, Elias the Tishbite, or not; and so John understood them, and very honestly and sincerely replies, he was not: but he does not deny that he was intended by this Elias, that was prophesied should come; yea, he says such things as might induce them to believe he was that person; hence, Christ, and he, say nothing contrary to, and irreconcilable, as the Jew ^F7 suggests, with each other.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Vid. Pocock. not. in porta Mosis, p. 219.
F6 Baal Hatturim in Num. xxv. 12. Kimchi in 1 Chron. ix. 20. Targum Jon. in Exod. vi. 18.
F7 R. Isaac Chizzuk Emuna, par. 1. c. 39. & par. 2. c. 15.

Matthew 11:14 In-Context

12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force.

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John;

14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Eli'jah who is to come.

15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

16 "But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates,