The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 195

roundly e.~ouneed himself ~ be t~at voice in the wilderness of which Isaiah Rpako (see John 1. 23). 3. In this qual,ity John was recognized by Juus. (1) He did so practically, for he did not commence his preaching until John had ended hie public ministry. Thus: "When he heard that John was delivered uf, he withdrew into Galilee," and it is anded, "From that time began Jesus to preach' (of. eh. iv. 12-17 • Mark i. 14, 15). (2) The importance of this question of time is eviucnt also from th~ reference to it again by Peter when he came to preach the gospel to Cornelius (see Act.s x. 36, 37). Peter evidently viewed it as an important mark of Messiah. (3) Jesus in his teaching, as well as in his conduct, aeknowledgedJohn as.the Elijah of prophecy. He did so to the multttude after the retirement from him of certain disciples of John who came to him with a message from John in his prison. "This is he of wbom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. . . . And if ye will receive it, this is Elijah, which is to come" (see eh, :xi. 10-14). In this passage our Lord refers to both the prophets who mention the harbinger of Messiah, Isaiah and Malachi, and applies their prophecies to John. In the text also Jesus declares John to be" that Elijah" as" come already,n Il. THE COMING OF ELIJAH AS THE HER.i.LD OF THE JUDGHENT, 1. Such a coming may be presumed. (1) For Christ is yet to come in judgment. Before his Transfigura- tion he announced this solemn fact (see eh. xvi. 27). The Transfiguration was itself a symbolic anticipation of that coming. As the first advent of Christ was heralded by an Elijah, so may we presume that the second advent also will be. (2) Daniel dis- tinguishes the first and second advent.s of Messiah; otherwise the comings are so blended in the visions of prophecy that they appear as one. The distinction is now fully manifest since the first advent has taken place. By parity of reasoning we may infer that the prophecies concerning the harbinger are to be fulfilled in two acts. (3) Differences may be presumed in the two appearances of the harbinger to corre- spond to the differences of the two advents of Messiah. The Baptist came in symbols of sorrow, without miracle, to introduce Messiah e.s a Priest coming to suffer for Bin. The coming Elijah may be expected to appear in symbols of power, working miracles, to introduce Messiah in his quality of Kiug. (4) 'fo anticipate this second comiug, Elijah appeared in glory on the Mount of Transfiguration. Trypho objects to Justin Martyr that Messiah can have no power until anointed by Elijah. He over- looked the fact that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost when he was baptized by John (cf. eh. iii. 16; Luke iv. 18; Acts x. 37, 38). That anointing was to inaugurate Christ as a Prophet. But when Elijah was present in the holy mount, Jesus received his further anointing as a King. 2. The prUU,mption is now cm.firmed. (1) John's -disclaimer that be was Elijah, while he declared himself to be the voice cry1ng in the wilderness (see John i 21-23), can only be reconciled on the understanding that Elijah was yet to come in another form. Mede makes John the Baptist to come again instead of Elijah in full form. The disclaimer of John would rather point to Elijah in person. The appearance of the literal Elijah in the holy mount would also point this way. The Jews say, "When Elijah comes he will solve hard questions." His coming will solve this. (2) The coming of the Baptist has not fully satisfied prophecy. He came not immediately "before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord" (Me.L iv. 5). For that day is yet future. He came more in pursuance of the prophecy of Isaiah than of that of .Malachi. Yet is there a second fulfilment also for the words of Isaiah. (3) In affirming that Elijah had come in the person of John the Baptist, our Lord did not say that there was no future coming of Elijah. When the disciples quoted the scribes, Jesus did not say that they were wrong in expecting Elijah to come, but in not discerning that the Baptist bad come in the character of Elijah. (4) Far from this, our Lord says plainly," Elijah indeed cometh, and shall restore all things." This coming of Elijah in the future is all the more remarkable in that it was spoken after John had been beheaded. (5) This.Elijah of the future is to" restore all t¥ogs." . Th~s did not John. He restored wme things. He preached repentance, and his doctnne 1s still restoring. Bnt the " time of the restoration of all things" is that of the second advent of Christ (see Acts ill. 19-21). Why did Jesus command his disciples, saying, "Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen from the dead " ? 1. One of the purposes of the vision was to inti.wate that the Old Testament must give place to the New. The time for the aboli- t.H, xvu. 1-27,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. M.A.TTIIEW. 199